THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

If all goes as planned, a community shelter should become a reality at Keith High School by the fall.

The storm shelter will hold 100 people. It is made of steel, said Pam Cook, director of the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency. It is the second such shelter in the county in as many years.

The shelter and installation is expected to cost a total of $114,809, with $86,107 coming from grant money and $28,702 in local funding.

Most of the local money will come from in-kind services, Cook told the Dallas County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Monday. Those in-kind services include using the county engineer&8217;s workers, bulldozer and gravel, she said.

About $7,803 will come from the county&8217;s general fund, Cook said.

Last year, a tornado touched down in the area, said Commissioner Clifford Hunter of District 4, adding that safety was one of the concerns he had.

A man was killed and 30 to 40 homes were destroyed when a tornado touched down in a residential area in Millers Ferry last March.

The shelter also will serve people in Commissioner Curtis Williams&8217; District 3. Williams said he was appreciative of Cook&8217;s work. &8220;She&8217;s always Johnny-on-the-spot.&8221;

This will be the second community to receive a shelter from the county. In August 2006, two tornado shelters were delivered to the Tipton area. Those cost about $106, 800, and a grant to the emergency management agency covered most of the costs of their installation.

Commissioner Connell Towns of District 1 was responsible for bringing those shelters to the area. In previous severe weather, Tipton residents sought shelter at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.