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Tornado Devastates Calhoun Community

659 views · Published 4 February 2013 · 2:57 · Indexed 29 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2013 · News & Politics

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by John Madewell

2-year-old Zane McFarland will be forever remembered in
the community off Highway 53 just east of Calhoun.



A ravenous tornado ripped through the farmland Wednesday
and destroyed homes on both sides of the highway. 



McFarland was staying with his great grandmother when the
tornado struck. All that's left is cinder blocks stacked two high. The house is
in pieces strewn between two huge uprooted trees.



And tonight, McFarland's alive because of his brave great
grandmother, Betty Stewart.



His grandmother, Frances Pettit, told us what Stewart
did. With the tornado bearing down, she rushed Zane to the hallway. She covered
him with pillows and blankets. Then, she laid on top of him.



After the vicious storm passed, neighbors found them
about 150 feet away near Highway 53.



Phillip Rader lived next door and rushed to check on
them. He motioned to the ditch when he said, Right on this side of the
road, she was holding it in her hands. And I thank God they're alive.



Pettit called Stewart amazing. Even with two
broken legs and bleeding on the brain, Zane was her main concern. Rader
vividly remembers the moments after the ferocious storm. I think the baby
probably got its leg broke. I thought she was dead when we got there. The
paramedics looked at them and she was breathing, then they took them to the
hospital.Paramedics rushed Stewart to Erlanger Medical Center and
McFarland went to Children's at Erlanger. As of this report, the baby boy is in
stable condition. His great grandmother is in critical.



Scott Rainwater also had to go through medical treatment
for a broken foot. He lives about 75 yards behind McFarland. Rainwater vividly
described what happened. I looked out the window and I seem metal coming
off the barn over there. I started down in the basement, opened the basement
door. The roof come off the house, Sheetrock 
knocked me plum down the steps.

The tornado flattened his house and destroyed his truck,
van and car. He has insurance but knows the road back is a long one. I'm
going to do the best I can, I guess.



Meanwhile, Rader, who also lost his house, stays strong
with Zane and his neighbors on his mind. We gotta do what we got to do,
just can't give up. God spared me like he done so many others here.

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