A tornado which hopscotched across parts of Lamar County just before 1 a.m. Thursday killed two people. Authorities waited for daylight to seek additional victims. At 10:40 a.m., Major Brad White of the LCSO reported no more bodies had been found. The victims have been identified as Paul and Ellen Gunter of the 400 block of Grove Street. Southern Rivers has 1500 outages of which 1200 are in Lamar. Some may not be restored until Saturday night. The tornado apparently first touched down near the intersection of Turner Bridge and Piedmont Roads, crossed Highway 18 West crushing a home and then devastated the home of Josh and Amanda Horne on Old Milner Road but the family was unhurt. The storm then cut through the 400 block of Grove Street where it left a swath of destruction 400 to 500 yards wide, destroyed multiple homes and left two dead. Deputy coroner Cindy Killingsworth and Rev. Garth Forster were among those trying to identify the mangled bodies, a task that may have to wait for daylight. It is hoped no more bodies will be found. The tornado then crossed Hwy. 41, damaging the home of Joe and Pat Edwards on Dozier Hill and destroying the Hot Shot store and the home of Paul Buice across Atlanta Street from the store. Then it went east along the Howard, Crawford and Brook roads toward I-75. Sheriff Larry Waller has called a news conference for 11:30 a.m. Gov. Nathan Deal has declared Lamar a disaster area. More on this story as it develops from Walter Geiger who has been on the scene all night…
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