By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Lightning struck one of the huge red oak trees in the historic Paris City Cemetery, knocking large tree limbs several yards away and into an old family plot, damaging the wrought iron fence that surrounds it. The lightning strike occurred during the most recent thunderstorm.
The large limbs were knocked off the tree and onto an old Porter family plot, pushing right through the wrought iron fence around the plot in a couple of places and pulling up the base around the plot in others.
The tree is located at the rear of the cemetery, where the oldest and most historic graves are located. It is a couple of yards from the Crockett family graves.
Paris City Manager Kim Foster said the city is exploring ways that the wrought iron fence around the plot can be repaired. “Technically, it would be the family’s responsibility, but since it’s such an old family plot we’re looking into what can be done to get it repaired.”
In the meantime, Gary Paschall of the Paris Parks Department said the tree probably will be cut down as soon as city workers can schedule it.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.
The tree is located at the rear of the cemetery, where the oldest and most historic graves are located. It is a couple of yards from the Crockett family graves.
Paris City Manager Kim Foster said the city is exploring ways that the wrought iron fence around the plot can be repaired. “Technically, it would be the family’s responsibility, but since it’s such an old family plot we’re looking into what can be done to get it repaired.”
In the meantime, Gary Paschall of the Paris Parks Department said the tree probably will be cut down as soon as city workers can schedule it.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin.