Sheriff's office: Funnel sighted in Batesville

Independence County sheriff's office is reporting a possible tornado sighting in Batesville during Friday's storms.

A spokesman with the sheriff's office said no structural damage had been reported, but that they did have a report of a tornado.

Tabitha Clark with the National Weather Service in Little Rock said that the service's radar did not show any rotating winds and they have no reports of anything touching down in the Batesville area. Clark said the service would be sending someone to Batesville to investigate the report.

Glenn Willis from the Independence County office of emergency management said the STARS Academy daycare, 200 General St., was hit hard by the storm and that a mother and child were injured. Both were treated at the scene and released. All the other children were safe and picked up by their parents. Willis said it appeared a tornado hit the daycare center.

Clark said the weather service has gotten reports of structural damage including roofs being damaged and trees uprooted, but that the radar has been showing only straight-line winds across the state.

At 5:55 p.m. Friday, officials with the National Weather Service in Little Rock said the tornado cannot be confirmed until storm surveyors look at the damage that the storm did.

Officials said it could be late Friday night before a tornado and its rating could be confirmed.