Man Awarded for Tornado Work
Lawrence County Deputy Mark Wheeler has received a Medal of Valor from the Kentucky Sheriff’s Association for his work during the March 2 tornadoes. Wheeler was off duty when the storm hit near his home. He rushed to his car and drove toward the damage, encountering a 15-year-old boy walking in a daze. When he couldn’t drive any further, he continued on foot through the dark, heavy rain, fallen trees and debris to the home of Karen Wood. Her mother and daughter were killed in the storm. Wood told the station that Wheeler “risked everything by going into a crumbling house to try and save” her relatives. She said, “I can never thank him enough for what he did. He truly deserves that medal.”
