Neighbors helping neighbors

Late Wednesday evening, severe storms crashed through Vernon County, with the hardest hit areas in the southern portion of the county. Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman said that damage reports were sparse, despite an unconfirmed tornado sighting reported in the Sheldon area. On Thursday, residents were out in Bronaugh, cleaning up Mother Nature's mess. Large branches were ripped from some trees by high winds during the storm in Bronaugh and in a rural area near N Highway. At left, Chandler Troupe, in the tree, helps cut away damage from a tree at the home of Sharon Cline; he'd already addressed the damage at his own home and neighbors reported they'd been working throughout the day on cleaning up fallen branches. Meanwhile, workers had removed a tree that had fallen into the roadway on a dead-end road in Bronaugh as well. Chandler Troupe is assisted by Richard Troupe, holding the ladder, Derek Dice and Bonnie Troupe. --Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail