Posted on 09/08/2005 8:22:39 AM PDT by JFC
Story last updated at 9:51 a.m. Thursday, September 8, 2005 Storm victims get glimpse of new home BY JAMES GALLAGHER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Patricia and Harold Collins saw their new home for the first time Wednesday.
During a tour of Lubbock, the couple who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina passed by the apartment building they plan to move into this weekend.
"It's beautiful," Patricia Collins said. "We're going to love it."
James Gallagher / Avalanche - Journal Hurricane evacuee Melvin Johnpierre looks at buildings along 82nd Street during a tour of Lubbock on Wednesday. Johnpierre said he hasn't seen his wife since Friday and hoped a tour of the city would ease his mind.j Order a print
The couple said they decided to stay in Lubbock after the outpouring of support and love the city has shown them. The American Red Cross and city emergency management personnel set them up with an apartment near the intersection of 82nd Street and Avenue U.
Seeing their new apartment proved to be the highlight of a three-hour driving tour of the city that more than a dozen evacuees took Wednesday.
Hurricane victims are being given the opportunity to take a trolley tour of Lubbock to see the sights, including the Lubbock Landmark historical site, Texas Tech, University Medical Center and the North Overton redevelopment project.
Two tours will be offered today.
"We knew some of them weren't sure where they were," said City Council chief of staff and tour guide Dixon Platt, adding that he had distributed maps of Texas and Lubbock to many of the 400 or so evacuees staying at the Reese Technology Center. It is hoped the tour will help the evacuees get a better idea of what Lubbock is like.
A-J Photo / James Gallagher Patricia and Harold Collins return from a tour of Lubbock on Wednesday. The couple saw the apartment building they are set to move into this weekend. Order a print
The trip also gave evacuees a chance to get out of the Reese Center, break the monotony of the day and see Lubbock.
"I wanted to see how it was out here," said Joyce Jones. "I had never been to Texas."
So far, the only trips off Reese have been to the Wal-Mart store on Fourth Street, where hurricane victims have been able to shop with vouchers provided by Wal-Mart and Federal Emergency Management Agency stipends.
Otherwise, many of the displaced hurricane victims have spent their days lying on their cots or sitting outside, smoking cigarettes.
"It's boring," said Clarence Glenn. "You go and lay down in your bunk ... then you come out in the yard and talk with people. Some people might enjoy it, but I don't."
Glenn said he is looking forward to getting set up in an apartment in Lubbock and finding a job.
A-J Photo / James Gallagher Tour guide Dixon Platt shows Hurricane Katrina victims some of Lubbock's landmarks during a city tour on Wednesday. Order a print
For the Collins family, the tour gave them their first impression of the city they will soon call home.
"I got to see a lot of beautiful sights," Patricia Collins said.
Added Harold Collins, "Y'all have shown us a lot in just this tour today."
But for Melvin Johnpierre, the tour was supposed to help take his mind off his missing wife.
The 66-year-old said he hasn't seen his wife, Keva Jackson, since Friday, and he hasn't been able to locate her through the Internet or any of the Red Cross shelters.
"They cannot find her for me," he said. "If I can find her, I'll be all right."
Johnpierre said he sent his wife to board a helicopter out of New Orleans while he went to get his mother. When he got back, she was gone, and he hasn't been able to contact her sister or cousin in Houston.
He said he was told that he might be able to reach his wife's cousin after 9 p.m. Wednesday.
"I'm trying to ease my mind," he said. "This little trip has done me good."
I love Lubbock and enjoyed living there, but how on earth does it take 3 hours for a driving tour? They either drove very slowly or covered every single street.
Because they made stops at many places. And if you have not been to Lubbock in a while.. come back.. we are a changing.
That's the first time I've ever heard Lubbock described as beautiful. Course, Mac Davis, Buddy Holly, and a few others have come from there. Lubbock's kind of a hidden gem.
I come back once a year; I'd honestly love to raise my kids there if I could find the kind of work I like. Purely tongue in cheek comment earlier - no offense intended.
(Refrain}
O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My Heav’n, my home forever more!
My Savior comes and walks with me,
And sweet communion here have we;
He gently leads me by His hand,
For this is Heaven’s border land.
A sweet perfume upon the breeze,
Is borne from ever vernal trees,
And flow’rs, that never fading grow
Where streams of life forever flow.
The zephyrs seem to float to me,
Sweet sounds to Heaven’s melody,
As angels with the white robed throng
Join in the sweet redemption song.
These people shall never return to live in New Orleans, no matter how achingly they may remember. For they shall have truly come home to a place in America, still but a way station on the road to salvation.
I worked did intakes on the DISPLACED people from New Orleans.... and they told me since being here the skies are large, the air is clean and their is not the scum they saw before hurricane hit N.O. They are being treated with West Texas Hospitality. We are even taking in the Tulane ladies basketball team and Tulane mens baseball. I can assure you we will fill those games just like we do when out TT Red Raiders play. I am very proud of my state and my citym not to mention my President!
Sorry for my mis-spellings in advance! I get carried away... and I am not a good speller...
Lubbock has changed over the years since I lived there. Now I usually just go through it to take care of business in Amarillo. Some times I stop and drive by places I used to know well. When I graduated from there, 50th street was the last on the south side, now it's almost in the middle of the city. Lubbock offers a lot to people who have known so little. Good for them wanting to stay and make a new life.
These stories touch my heart. I am so filled with hope for the people whose worst nightmare just may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to them! The people of Lubbock, and Texas as a whole are such great representatives of our compassionate country, where one day your life is over, and the next you are reborn.
Tulane athletes arrive at Tech
BY PATRICK GONZALES
A-J SPORTS EDITOR
Dispersed by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina, the Tulane athletic department has spent the last week and a half seeking a return to normalcy.
The members of the Green Wave women's basketball and baseball teams who arrived on the Texas Tech campus Wednesday seemed to have found what they were looking for.
Tech is one of five schools in Texas and Louisiana that will house Tulane athletic teams through at least the fall semester to help get the Green Wave student-athletes back in class and the teams back on their respective playing fields.
"We've all been through a lot in the last week and a half, and some of us have been affected more than others," Tulane baseball coach Rick Jones said. "But this is the best day I know I've had and my players have had in more than a week by far. I've been here less than 24 hours and there is no way anyone could make you feel more welcomed - myself, my staff and my players - than the entire administration has made us feel here at Texas Tech."
The Tulane players who arrived Wednesday underwent new-student orientation and will be attending class as soon as today. They also will be given access to all Tech athletic facilities, equipment and training staff.
"I told my kids to look at it like you're studying abroad, only you get to play basketball," Tulane women's basketball coach Lisa Stockton said. "We're so appreciative of what the Tech administration is doing for us and how welcome they've made us feel. To be able to work with Marsha Sharp and her program is a great opportunity, and we're very fortunate to be here."
Only a few of Tulane's student-athletes had to be evacuated from the New Orleans campus last week. Most of them were freshmen undergoing orientation, while the upperclassmen waited to return until the beginning of classes.
Still, several of the players who found refuge in Lubbock were affected in some way. Stockton said sophomore Alendra Brown, a native of New Orleans, and her family lost their house.
"I can't begin to tell you all the emotions we've had throughout this ordeal," Stockton said. "There is so much going, but at the same time, I'm happy for our players and the institution that we're going to try and fulfill the athletic season. We are the face of Tulane right now. We've got a lot to live up to."
Both coaches stressed, however, that their first goal is to get all their players enrolled and attending class. Once that happens, they'll begin focusing their time on workouts in preparation for the season.
"We'll be fine, especially with the support we're receiving from Texas Tech," Jones said. "There are going to be some adjustments, there are going to be some things that we will have to go through that will be unbeknownst, just like this storm was unbeknownst. But the bonding of our team is going to continue to get stronger, because we are all so thankful to be together as a team."
How can this be....according to harrireid, no one is getting housing or food or clothes or schooling. Must be a big fat msm mistake. NO DUMOCRAT politician would LIE....oh good my hullucination is over.
I used to live in New Orleans, and many of these people have never been treated with respect in their lives. The great thing is, it was going on ALL OVER THE STATE.
Thank you. You west Texas people are the salt of the earth and we are highly proud of you. I agree, West Texas, although rugged terrain, is a great place for raising families because of the moral values instilled in that area.
This is why Texas is my favorite state, even though I don't live there any more (still working on hubby, though!)
Don't worry about your spelling...we can all see how much you love your city.
This is the kind of hard work that keeps the Feds away from your front door. Get the job done, so no one can say we need the feds to help us.
Guns up!
As a HUGE Bob Knight fan, I can't thank Lubbock enough for accepting Coach Knight with such open arms. I've been a Tech and Lubbock fan ever since.
Lubbock ping
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