CAVE CITY — The powerful EF4 tornado that swept through central Arkansas on April 27 carried with it more than debris from what it destroyed in its path. It also carried treasured memories in the form of photographs.
At least three people in the small town of Cave City found such photographs.
Paige Haynes, a senior at Cave City High School, found a picture of a young girl.
“It was almost completely perfect,” Haynes said. “I found it Monday morning completely under the tire of my car. I posted it on a Facebook page for lost photos.”
Haynes received notice the next day that someone recognized the girl in the photo, and later that day, Haynes learned who was in the photo and received an address of where to send it.
The photo was of Whitney Tittle, a member of the Paron family in Pulaski County that lost three family members in the tornado.
“I am very pleased to be able to help put together the pieces of this family’s life that was blown away in a matter of seconds,” Haynes said. “They are experiencing so much loss and tragedy right now; I am honored to be able to return the photo that may bring back joyful memories.”
Grant Walling, also a senior at Cave City High School, found a photo in the driveway of his home in Sidney, which is about 15 miles east of Cave City.
“It was pretty dirty at first,” Walling said of the photo. He, too, posted the photo on the Facebook page but had not received any feedback from his post.
Brandi Schulz, who owns Key Moments Photography in Cave City, also reported finding some photographs.
“It was actually my husband, Bart, who found the photos,” she said Wednesday.
“We have a cattle farm at Sidney. He had gone out to check the cows and found two photos that looked to be circa 1990. There were no dates.
“Then last night (Tuesday), he went out to check the cows and found a third photo,” she said. “I’ve posted them on Facebook.
“It’s amazing that they traveled so far and stayed intact. I’m hoping someone will recognize them so I can return them.”
Among the Facebook pages where such items may be posted are these addresses:
www.facebook.com/groups/466163843514503/ and www.facebook.com/arkansastornado.