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Elks leader dies in building collapse

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 28, 2006

CLINTON, Mo. - An Elks Club leader who had gone upstairs to memorize a speech for an initiation ceremony was found dead in the rubble of the brick lodge Tuesday after the century-old building collapsed.

Tony Komer, the 32-year-old "exalted ruler" of the Clinton Elks Lodge, was the only person killed in Monday night's collapse. About 50 others - including nine men who were trapped for hours - made it out alive.

"We could have had massive deaths," said Don Eaton, one of the nine trapped men. "But the one is bad enough."

Lodge members had just finished dinner when they heard a snap, and within seconds, saw the third level collapse into the second.

"I looked over and a whole section of the floor was just falling away," Elks member Jim Glasscock said.

Most were able to make it down a staircase, but Komer had gone to the third floor to memorize a passage he was to deliver at the initiation ceremony for new members.

The other nine trapped men were in a small opening among the debris. They contacted emergency officials by cell phone, huddled together and prayed. As debris fell and the rubble shifted, it felt like aftershocks and they feared they would never emerge alive.

"At one point, the nine people called 911 on their cell phone and said, 'We feel the rubble shifting. Please tell the workers to pray for us,' " said Clinton police Lt. Sonny Lynch. "I think a lot of people did."

Authorities said the building had been renovated in recent years, but it was not clear Tuesday what caused the collapse. Structural engineers were being dispatched to examine the site.

It took five hours before the first man was rescued, and another five hours passed before the last man emerged. Rescue workers had to tunnel in through a neighboring building, crawling through openings.

Seven of the trapped men were able to walk away from the building without assistance; the other two were taken on stretchers. At least four were still hospitalized Tuesday afternoon, though their injuries appeared to be limited to gashes and broken bones.

Komer was remembered as a loving family man and a generous friend.

"He was always fun," said Jeff Stone, an Elks member. "You'd laugh and you'd have a great time if you were with Tony."

Explosion collapses part of motel in Georgia

BREMEN, Ga. - An explosion that appeared to be caused by a gas leak rocked a motel Tuesday, and a maintenance worker was feared trapped in the rubble, authorities said.

The blast rattled the 73-room motel shortly before 9 a.m., investigators said, collapsing the roof over a corner of rooms and dumping debris on cars parked below.

Six to eight rooms were destroyed, with the damage centered on a laundry-maintenance room, said Bremen fire Chief Clark Farr.

Most of the motel's occupants had checked out, and only three or four people were inside at the time, said police Capt. Richard Harrison. All the motel's guests were accounted for, but a 44-year-old maintenance worker was missing and feared trapped in the collapsed corner of the building.

After three hours of searching, no sign of the worker had been found, Farr said. The search was hindered initially by lingering hot spots, which were eventually extinguished. Search dogs were aiding the effort.

The explosion could be heard at least 2 miles up the road.

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said the explosion is under investigation.

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 02:06:17]