Tornado sends 4th out with a bang

    On top of the brilliant display of fireworks put on by Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department, nature put its own twist on a Fourth of July night show.
    Having been in a tornado watch since 3 p.m. last Thursday, July 4, Holyoke residents were happy to have beautiful weather for the 9 p.m. fireworks. Shortly after that, lightning, wind and rain took over the skies during a storm that ultimately resulted in a tornado.
    Phillips County Undersheriff JR Myers said he and Deputy Nathon Nadow made a traffic stop a few miles south of town when they saw something in the sky. Not knowing whether it was a cloud or smoke, they went to investigate.
    At roughly 10:45 p.m. in the area of County Road 14 between county roads 35 and 37, Myers said a small tornado dropped down on the two sheriff’s department vehicles. He said his vehicle shook and was moved to the side of the road.
    Myers said the tornado was on the ground for a couple of minutes. Fortunately it was in open fields, and he doesn’t know of any injuries or property damage reported.
    The tornado siren was sounded in Holyoke just before 11 p.m., and the all-clear signal went off 20 minutes later.
    Myers said the National Weather Service confirmed that the radar showed rotation coinciding with the time the tornado was reported.