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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 27, 2006 Click image for larger view Beaver Tree Service workers Joe Brophy, top left, and Joe Oliver remove a tree from the roof of a Phoenix home as Tyler Graham loads a wood chipper. The tree upended from the roots during Tuesday's high winds and damaged a home and carport at Horizon Mobile Village on South Pacific Highway. (Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta) BIG BLOW UPROOTS TREES Storm damages home, carport in Phoenix, knocks out electricity By anita burke Mail Tribune High winds toppled several big trees in Phoenix Tuesday morning as a storm front roared through the Rogue Valley. A towering cedar tree crashed down at Horizon Mobile Village, damaging a home and a carport and knocking out electricity to the neighborhood along South Pacific Highway. Oak and walnut trees crashed down on a home, several vehicles and utility lines in two separate instances on West Fourth Street and a downed tree also briefly blocked Colver Road. No one was injured in any of the incidents, which all happened between 8 and 9 a.m., just as a storm passed over the region. The peak winds blew in just ahead of the front at around 8 a.m. Tuesday, said Mike O'Brien, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Medford office. Sustained winds of 23 mph and gusts of 37 mph were recorded at the Medford airport, and winds were stronger at the south end of the Rogue Valley, he said. A wind advisory had warned of possible wind damage across Jackson County. Robert Talbott, 23, wasn't home when a massive cedar tree crashed into the trailer he shares with his sister Shelly Hinklin, her husband Chris and her 10-month-old daughter, Haley, but he got a frantic call from family members at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Advertisement "You never think it can happen to you," he said. "It's kind of a slow-down, like a car crash. It makes you think about it all." Chris Hinklin and his baby daughter were in the back bedroom, which was crushed by the tree, while Shelly Hinklin was in the living room, Talbott said. Chris Hinklin threw himself across the baby's crib when he heard the crashing, Talbott recounted. The ceiling in the bedroom caved in about 4 feet under the weight of the massive tree, he said. The couple, baby, their cats and a dog escaped safely, taking necessities with them to stay with extended family around the area, Talbott said. The trailer's roof wasn't leaking and they planned to recover the rest of their possessions today. The tree also smashed the carport at a neighboring trailer and knocked down a power line that serves the entire park. "We had that line sparking and a resident called 9-1-1," said Jeanette Shaw, who manages the park with her husband, Doc. The Medford Fire Department and Pacific Power responded immediately, but, because the mobile home park has a private electrical system, the Shaws had to call Kaylor Electric to get the power back on by the end of the day. "Thank the Lord no one was hurt," Shaw said. The Phoenix Fire Department responded to several reports of trees down Tuesday, firefighter Aaron Bustard said. The first came at 8:12 a.m. when a tree crashed through the roof into a house at 217 W. Fourth St. The owner was away for the holidays, so firefighters removed debris from the roof and covered the hole with a tarp to prevent water damage inside. The fire department worked with police to find the traveling owner and notify him of the damage, Bustard said. At 8:45 a.m., firefighters were notified of a fallen tree blocking Colver Road near Hilsinger Road and removed it so travel could resume, Bustard said. At 9 a.m., they were called back to Fourth Street, where another tree had fallen across the street from the first downed tree. It broke through a phone line and its branches struck two vehicles, which sustained minor damage, he said. "We just try to salvage and protect what we can," Bustard said. The weather service isn't predicting any more high winds as this storm system continues to creep through the region. Rain should diminish to showers by tonight. Clouds and fog will linger into the weekend with less chance of precipitation, according to the weather service. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com