Storm leaves its mark

By Deb PattersonStaff WriterA thunderstorm that rolled through the area around 9:30 p.m. Monday night left its mark south of Syracuse and left thousands without power until early Tuesday morning.A strong thunderstorm, with heavy rains and projected winds of up to 40 miles per hour, hit the Milford area around 9:10 p.m. causing a brief power outage and a few downed limbs. But when it hit Syracuse 20 minutes later, wind speeds had increased and a number of downed trees, limbs and power lines were left in its path.The National Weather Service of Northern Indiana reported Tuesday it had estimated the winds reached 70 miles per hour on the south edge of Syracuse. The strong storm had a swath that ranged from near CR 1000N to the National Weather Service station at the continental divide near CR 800N. Officials with NWS, who have surveyed the damage, report the damage to trees was caused by straight line winds. Officials received one report of damage to a home, which was minor.Vawter Park Road appeared to be the hardest hit. The road was closed to traffic until around 8:30 a.m. this morning when NIPSCO crews could replace several downed poles caused by a large tree falling in the area of 7766 E. Vawter Park Road. County highway crews were at the scene this morning clearing away the debris so NIPSCO crews could continue the line repair. The county also had closed CR 800E due to a large downed tree hanging over the roadway.Wind damage was also noticeable south of the entrance to Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, and north of Grandview Drive. A cable was pulled from the pole and fell to the ground, as well as several large limbs.In the Deer Creek subdivision, Nash Drive and Creekside Trail, debris was littered throughout the addition. David and Dala Bruemmer on Creekside Trail, had two large limbs from cottonwood trees fall in their backyard, narrowly missing their home.Road hazard and storm damage was also reported in the 1400 block of South Harkless Drive and in the 3500 block of East CR 1000N.