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Residents of Willow Springs Health & Rehabilitation Center evacuated after a May 18 tornado damaged the west Abilene facility returned Tuesday.

“One resident came in and said, ‘I’m going to go in there and hug every cook there and tell them how much I missed them,’” said Evelyn Hanson. Willow Springs administrator.

There were 62 residents in the facility when an EF-2 tornado struck the city at 5:46 a.m. that Saturday, starting just a few blocks away. The storm damaged the front doors, tore down a privacy fence, caused electrical issues and blew out several windows in residents’ rooms and sliding glass doors in the dining area, Hanson said.

In addition, a roof from a house behind the facility struck the facility’s backside, knocking down bricks. A window of the Willow Springs van also was knocked out, as was the window of a resident’s vehicle, Hanson said.

More:Weather Service: Saturday's tornado in Abilene covered 2.3 miles, was 300 yards wide

“We had five employees in the building at the time this happened, and they got everybody where they needed to be to get away from the glass and whatever else,” Hanson said. Doors later were open, and residents could be seen in hallways.

Sixty patients were transported to Coronado Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after the tornado. Two who were receiving therapy and were to soon return home were taken in by family members, Hanson said.

Repairs related to health and safety have been made and passed inspection Friday by a state official from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Hanson said. Cosmetic repairs, such replacing the privacy fence, are yet to be completed.

Residents who were mobile or able to ride in a wheelchair were taken back to Willow Springs via vans from sister nursing homes or Citylink handicap buses, Hanson said. Others were transported by MetroCare ambulances.

Nursing staff from Willow Springs and their sister facilities did an assessment on each resident leaving Coronado and again when entering Willow Springs to check for bruising or any other issues that can arise during transport, Hanson said. State officials also were present to monitor the residents during transfer.

More:Tornado, storm causes major damage in Abilene near Winters Freeway and South 7th

“Everybody was fine. Nobody was any worse for the wear,” said Susie Myers, vice president of sales and marketing with Fundamental Clinical and Operational Services, a consultant for Willow Springs who was at the facility Tuesday.

“Many were crying. They were so happy to be home. That made the staff cry. It was good to see. It was very heartwarming,” she said.

One of the lessons learned from the tornado was the importance of always being ready, Hanson said. She is a new administrator from the Austin area who was slated to start May 20. She came to the facility early once she was alerted about the tornado.

“You never know what’s going to happen, so always be ready,” Hanson said. “We have to do our emergency preparedness and not take it lightly, and our folks did that. They did not take it lightly.”

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Damage was hit and miss across the city.

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — Kammie Robertson said when a powerful storm whipped across Fredericksburg Thursday night she heard the damage before she saw it, from her vantagepoint as the manager of the Inn on Barons Creek.

"I didn't see it. I heard it. The first big sheet of metal that came down, I heard it and I was like oh my gosh, what was that?" Robertson said.

Robertson said she ran outside and was shocked to find most of the roof of her building wrapped around utility poles and blocking the street three floors below where it had been.

"I thought somebody drove into the building and I walked out and I saw it and I saw the wind blowing," Robertson said, adding she quickly ran back inside but that's when things got even more exciting.

"Then I had to do crowd control because everybody wanted to go back out and take pictures, as it's blowing!" Robertson said.

Robertson said she is grateful that fire, police and city crews showed up immediately to start with the recovery effort and she said a contractor she hired to address the roof had workers on site soon after the wind stopped blowing.

"Nobody was hurt. None of the rooms were damaged so we were really lucky there, and crews were out here first thing this morning cleaning it up and we've got it under control," Robertson said, adding that she's not surprised by the response because that's how things get done in Fredericksburg.

Looking at the random damage around town, where some properties are bearing witness marks of high winds and some are completely unscathed, Robertson said people are talking about the fact that there might have been a tornado, instead of straight line winds, but she said nobody has made a commitment on the matter.

"I've been through a tornado before and that's exactly what happened. It hit my house, missed the next house, hit the next house. It' crazy how mother nature works," Robertson said.

There were other commercial buildings that were hit as well.

The Hill Country Memorial Rehabilitation center at 402 West Windcrest lost its roof as well. A hospital spokesman said although there were a few people in the building at the time, there were no injuries reported.

Bright and early Friday morning, a contractor was already on site, clearing away the debris and developing a plan to restore the building. The spokesman said in addition to building repair, they are scrambling to make sure all of their patients will be able to continue treatment while the work continues.

On West Main, it looked as though someone had taken a can opener to the metal roof atop the Friedhelm's Bavarian Inn.

A nearby witness said two power poles on the property were damaged as well, leading to a power outage at a nearby business that lasted a few hours.

Around town, the roar of the storm was replaced by the whine of chainsaws and power tools, as homeowners began cutting up and hauling off downed trees, while city crews with heavy equipment scooped up the remains for safe disposal.

There is no city-wide damage estimate at this time, but it could be noted that the storm did bring significant rain in the area as well.

On the "Fredericksburg Weather Share" page on Facebook, one woman gave thanks for the 3.7 inches of rain she received near Willow City.

There are many still pictures and videos of damage on the public group page which has more than 3,000 members:

Our panel members list their favorite courses for a cheaper round.

By Mark Kazlowski and Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News

12:47 PM on May 7, 2022 CDT

Fee is the cost of a greens fee and cart plus tax for a prime Saturday tee time. Fees are from March 2022. Actual rates may vary. To be eligible, a course must have been rated by five panel members.

x-original design; y-redesign. NR-not ranked; *Ranked in a different price category in 2021. No longer ranked: 6. Ross Rogers Golf Complex, Wildhorse Course, Amarillo; 7. Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio; 10. Butterfield Trail GC, El Paso; 11. Panorama GC, Conroe; 15. Rayburn Country Resort, Brookeland; 19. Houston National GC; 21. Olympia Hills GC, Universal City; 22. Golf Club of Texas-Concan; 23. Courses at Watters Creek, Traditions, Allen; 24. Grapevine Municipal; 25. ShadowGlen GC, Manor.

COURSE RATING CRITERIA

VERSATILITY: Does the course create a good mix for the high and low handicappers? Are better players challenged, while the high handicappers are able to enjoy play through the use of shorter teeing areas, alternate routes, location of hazards and accessible pins?

SHOTMAKING: Does it test accuracy, finesse, length and putting without putting too much emphasis on any of these skills?

DESIGN: Is there a good balance? Differing lengths? Doglegs right and left? Placement of hazards? Contours and shapes of greens?

AFTERTHOUGHTS: How much do you remember about the course? Do one or two holes stand out as great or bad?

BEAUTY: Do the scenic values add to the pleasure of a round? Trees, shrubs, hills, mounds, flowers, etc.?

MAINTENANCE: How would you rate the course conditions, factoring in all aspects — tees, greens, fairways, bunkers? Spring, summer, fall or winter when viewed?

ENJOYMENT: How do you feel about being at the course? What about the amenities? From arrival to departure, was it a good, bad or indifferent golf experience?

THE PANEL

David Altemus, general manager/ COO, Royal Oaks CC, Houston

William Aycock, The Woodlands amateur

Mike Bailey, Houston-based golf writer

Robert Banta, Frisco amateur

Walt Barnes, Addison amateur

Brent Blackburn, head professional Corpus Christi CC

Curt Breaux, Montgomery amateur

John Brechin, Dallas amateur

Bruce Burger, superintendent The Quarry Golf Club

Ben Burns, head professional Crown Colony CC, Lufkin

Mark Button, senior director of communications Texas Golf Association

Tony Campagna, golf course sands and materials consultant

Miles Carlson, golf course superintendent at Grand Pines GC in Montgomery Tx

Greg Clark, Frisco amateur

Beth Cleckler, Austin amateur

John Cochran, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for South Texas, Kingwood amateur

Kyle Coody, Plano amateur

Brent Cooper, Dallas amateur

Jacque Cooper, Rowlett amateur

Daniel Coughlan, director of golf Bent Tree CC

Robert Couture, Dallas amateur

Barry Denton, PGA professional, Cordillera Ranch, Boerne

Thomas Devanna, assistant professional Tangle Ridge GC, Grand Prairie

Cameron Doan, head professional Preston Trail Golf Club, Dallas

Conrad Doss, The Woodlands amateur

Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi amateur

Lou Duran, Frisco amateur

Bob Elliott, PGA Life Member, Dallas

Zane Ellis, King-Collins Golf Design associate, League City amateur

Gilbert Freeman, PGA professional emeritus Lakewood CC, Dallas

Edward Gatlin, PGA life member, Athens

Kenneth Gorzycki, director of agronomy Horseshoe Bay Resort

Bill Hanley, past president of Texas Golf Association, Fort Worth amateur

Todd Harbour, Royal Oaks CC GM/COO, Dallas

Mark Harrison, executive director/CEO of the NTPGA

Malcolm Holland, past president of Texas Golf Association, Dallas amateur

Danny Jones, head professional, Walden on Lake Conroe

Mark Kazlowski, Texas Golf editor, Cedar Hill amateur

Robbie Kearney, GM Cimarron Hills Golf and CC

Trey Kemp, golf course architect, Dallas amateur

Keith Kirkendall, The Woodlands amateur

Ryan Kossick, assistant executive director/COO of the NTPGA

Nancy Kromar, Austin amateur

Kellen Kubasak, COO of Golf San Antonio, San Antonio amateur

Phyllis Kwedar, Fort Worth amateur

Ricky Lyons, general manager Westwood Golf Club, Houston

Cathy Marino, Jesuit golf coach, LPGA professional

James McAfee, Former NTPGA executive director, golf writer, Planoamateur

Mike McCabe, general manager Golf Clubs at the Tribute

Sam Morrow, Houston amateur

Terry Olson, Director of Sales and Marketing, Lajitas Golf Resort

Casey Paulson, President of Sales and Operations, Driftwood Golf Club

Mike Peterson, PGA Tour rules official, Garland amateur

Kevin Porter, Dallas amateur, Texas Golf Association director of competitions for North Texas

George Priolo, GM of golf operations, Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes, Amarillo

Jim Quinn, Golf manufactures rep, board member of The First Tee of Fort Worth, Arlington amateur

Jerry Ransom, Greenville amateur

Jan Rapp, Dallas amateur

Paul Richards, Austin amateur

Corey Roberson, director of golf Cordillera Ranch, Boerne

Robert Rodriguez, San Antonio amateur

Chris Rowe, head professional Whispering Pines, Trinity

Linda Sackett, San Antonio amateur

Lee Sandlin, Dallas amateur

Carey Schulten, past president of the Texas Golf Association, Dallas amateur

Zach Sewill, president BestGrips.com, Conroe amateur

Wesley Shaw, Dallas amateur

Marty Slade Perlman, Dallas amateur

Randy Smith, PGA professional emeritus, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas

Shane Smith, Conroe amateur

Mark Steinbauer, vice president of Spirit Golf Association

Tom Strueber, PGA professional emeritus Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton

Eldon Tarver, Austin amateur

Steve Termeer, GM/COO University of Texas Golf Club, Austin

Matt Trevino, director of golf, Riverhill CC, Kerrville

Tammy Trichell, San Antonio amateur

Mark Tylenda, Lewisville amateur

Casey Wade, head professional High Meadow Ranch GC, Magnolia

Pat Wheeler, Host of Texas Links on the Air, Dallas amateur

Nannette Wheelis, Waco amateur

Jim Whitten, Arlington amateur

Greg Wille, Belton amateur

Chris Winn, Houston amateur

There is a fight brewing north of Fort Worth near Haslet where neighbors are opposing a development proposed to replace the golf course that’s been a landmark of their community for nearly 60 years.

The owner of the Willow Springs Golf Course says his business is no longer profitable. As he works to finalize a deal with a developer hoping to buy the property, everyone’s watching to see whether the Fort Worth’s planning commission will approve a plat that plans for 400 homes on 5,000 square foot lots.

“Right now this plat has 3 homes backing up to one home around the golf course. Now I know the people that bought around the golf course at that time did not expect that to happen,” said Kraig Eggspuehler who bought his Willow Springs West home 20 years ago.

Eggspuehler’s been playing golf at Willow Springs long before he moved in. He’d love to see the golf course remain a golf course. But if it doesn’t, he hopes to see it replaced with a development that’s comprised of larger lots more consistent with what already exists.

“There’s an awful lot of people who’ve invested everything they have, hard money, time, everything else to come out here that that whole way of life seems to be slowly taken away from them,” said Eggspuehler.

He like several neighbors have written letters to the city, signed a petition and plan to be at a public comment meeting Wednesday.

“At the end of the day he does have a right to sell the property. We are just strongly against the plat that was submitted by the current developer, said Kristin Schultz.

Schultz’s home backs up to the golf course. She and her husband purchased the home two years ago because of its proximity to the 18th hole. Now as they imagine a reality without it, they’re asking the city to consider the infrastructure hundreds of new homes would require before allowing them to be built.

“We have one lane roads in either direction. During rush hour we have an incredible backload of traffic,” said Schultz.

Dacus Lindsey who owns the golf course says it remains open until any deal is finalized. As the current plan continues to receive pushback, he expects that could take some time.

It’s time for another road trip, y’all! This one is definitely long overdue since Texas is so full of beauty. But no worries, we’re gonna see it all, from the rushing waters of Gorman Falls to the towering mountains of Big Bend. The entire “best natural wonders in Texas” trip takes around 20 hours, so you’ll probably want to take a long weekend and spend the night in a few places – an easy and relatively cheap thing to do on this trip considering campgrounds are available at nearly every stop.

As usual, dear adventurers, a Google Map with detailed directions has been made for you. All you have to do is sit back, drive, and enjoy the beautiful scenery that our state has to offer. Happy road-tripping!

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Who’s ready to hop in the car to check out some of these amazing wonders? Or, if you’ve been to any of them, which ones were your favorites? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

For a spooky road trip that’s perfect for those that have a penchant for the paranormal, check out this Terrifying Texas Road Trip Itinerary!

While we’re on the subject, this video gives you the scary details behind the Reindeer Manor:

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