MARSHALL - Ron Wood, the new Southwest Minnesota State University interim president, has had an interesting first few days of work. He started his position Friday, July 1, the first day of the state government shutdown in which it turned out the college was allowed to remain open. Then Friday evening a major summer storm where winds of up to 80 mph left the campus without electricity. Classes were canceled Tuesday.
"We hope to have electricity today (Tuesday)," Wood said, adding that after the power comes on it will take four hours to energize the campus. "We feel like the Lone Rangers in Marshall (because of still being without electricity)."
The other side of Birch Street where the Foundation Residence Apartments, the Campus Religious Center and the SMSU Daycare are located, has electricity. Wood said a command post has been set up at the Foundation Residence Apartments.
"We have a small group of workers - grounds crew, facility workers - and volunteers who are cleaning up," he said.
Wood had a rake in his hand Tuesday morning as did a number of faculty and staff, who raked and sawed limbs all day on campus.
In addition to the lack of electricity, SMSU suffered damaged trees, lights and signs.
"The major damage was to the football stadium - smaller lights, rooftop units, protective covers and obviously a ton of trees," he said.
Wood estimates the damage to be "not a big number, but not a small one, either."
The government shutdown does affect the college's insurance claim, however.
"We get risk management through the state," he said.
