Downtown Canton businesses are still assessing the damage from a gas explosion two weeks ago that killed one and injured 12 others.
Ann Tucker-Lockhart, former head of United Way of Knox County and now in charge of UW of Spoon River Country says a federal investigation has concluded and been turned over to the owners of individual businesses.
The Canton Chamber of Commerce is also organizing a relief fund to aid businesses affected to get back on their feet.
As far as United Way of Spoon River Country, they remain exiled from their office space, the Opera House on Canton’s square.
Tucker-Lockhart is working out of an office in the Canton YWCA temporarily but she’s also searching for other potential housing options.
She’s currently considering an option to move operations to an old funeral home for potentially six to 12 months.
An attorney that works across the hallway was told by authorities his space was virtually untouched, but United Way employees still haven’t been able to enter the building
“We’re still hopeful we can get in their and at least recover a few things,” Tucker-Lockhart says. “My laptop, records, financials and things like that. But, I’m still kind of waiting.”
She says in this trying time, Canton residents are “really pulling together”.
Tucker-Lockhart says talk around town is focused on a sense of relief that the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
