Family devastated by storm gets relief
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008
Curbs throughout Siloam Springs remain littered with organic remnants of a storm that tore through the town in the pre-dawn hours of May 2.
More than a week later, drivers halted at stoplights during morning commutes likely see rain weathered tree trunks lying on their sides and tarp-covered rooftops throughout the town.
While aggressive community wide repair is underway, and numerous families have relocated from damaged homes while they wait for reconstruction, one local family is scarcely beginning to heal from the ravaging straight line winds, rain and hail of two Fridays ago.
For Eliana Chacon's family, the storm has not yet passed. The 15-year-old Siloam Springs High School sophomore was killed in her bed in the early-morning hours of May 2 when 70 mph winds pitched an oak tree onto her family's mobile home located on Lake Francis Drive.
Chacon's 10-year-old brother, Edwin Rodriguez, a student at Southside Elementary School, was sleeping on the top bunk of the bed and escaped the calamity with minor injuries.
According to Siloam Springs'police spokeswoman, Brenda Balk, Chacon was found on the bed's bottom bunk when the tree was extricated from the bedroom of her home.
In the aftermath of the lethal catastrophe, local residents, students, city and school officials and businesses have launched a collaborative campaign to financially help Chacon's mother, Margarita Rodriguez, and Edwin.
"Around $ 11, 000 was donated from a variety of sources including area churches, individuals and businesses," said Stacy Vaughn, communication assistant for Siloam Springs. "These funds have been used so far to help with funeral expenses, to secure the rental property for at least a six month lease, and also to replace some household items."
Soon after the tragedy an account, No. 18366150, was set up for the family at Arvest Bank.
The duplex that was rented was in an area of Siloam Springs that Chacon had always aspired to live in, said friend and sophomore Maria Ballesteros.
"We donated a chaise lounge and two chairs to their new home," said Kevin Harmon, general manager at La-Z-Boy of Arkansas on Friday. "They were delivered to the duplex this morning."
Students and faculty at the high school joined in the money gathering effort during school hours and in off time.
"We made three batches of red ribbons for people to wear in her honor and got over $ 400 for her mom and brother," Sophomore Amy Garcia said. "We also made shirts in memory of Eliana."
The black T-shirts feature a picture of the late Chacon framed by the words "In Loving Memory of Eliana Chacon"and lists both her birth and death dates. Students wearing the shirts could be seen throughout the high school corridors Friday.
"The money for the shirts didn't go toward her family, it just paid for them," Garcia said. "We got them made at a store here because we wanted to have them to remember her by."
Students also garnered $ 675 from money collection boxes placed at five different stores.
"We are all devastated and it was a tragic loss," Ken Ramey, Siloam School District superintendent said. "I am very proud of our students, staff and community in the way that they have honored Eliana and responded to her family."
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