KELLOGG – Last week's windstorm resulted in widespread damage across the region, leaving behind downed trees, property destruction and significant power outages that disrupted daily life for many residents. 

The Kellogg School District's Administrative Annex campus was hit particularly hard, with more than a half-dozen large pine trees ripped up at the roots and knocked over. The towering trees had stood for nearly 50 years, making their sudden loss especially striking. 

The good news is, according to KSD Superintendent Lance Pearson, the district plans on replanting the trees and restore the area to its former beauty. 

Many of the district's staff and students were without power for several days following the storm, leading to closures for all schools right before the start of the scheduled holiday break. Because of this, Pearson isn't rushing anything. 

"We are just extremely grateful nobody was hurt," he said. "We will begin the arduous process of cleaning up once we have power and people can concentrate on the tasks at hand." 

Many people were saddened to see the mature pines lying on their sides, while others expressed concern over the potential loss of such a significant green space that had long provided shade and character to an area commonly referred to as "the prison."  

Stephen Shepperd, a local historian and retired teacher who taught at the building formerly known as Kellogg Junior High, provided some historic context on the building and its grounds.  

"There was no grass on the campus when it opened in 1972," Shepperd said. "The area had been part of the city dump and it was genuinely ugly. When Bob Dutton became superintendent, the district had turf installed on the east and north sides of the building and added some trees.  It looked less like a maximum security prison then. 

    One of the blown-over trees near the KSD Administrative Annex.