For the last few days, Bellville was hit hard with excessive amounts of rain. The Clearfork River, as seen in many pictures, overflowed its banks so much that the bridge shut down. The junction of State Routes 13 and 97 remained closed for a day and a half. Parking lots were torn apart, baseball fields were underwater, and basements were ruined.
Today, however, the community pulled together and as a result, the bridge reopened and the state routes were reopened to traffic. The river is still high, but the sun is shining and the river is calming.
Randall S. Freeman, owner of Dairy Belle, which is located adjacent to the river and the bridge, said “We have some equipment down right now, but we plan on being open tomorrow.” Freeman had concrete floors installed after the last flood to prevent water damage in the future. The floors held up, with only mud to clean up.
Major damage, however, occured to the parking lot behind Dairy Belle and beside the blue bridge going into town. The asphalt remains in crumbles, only reminding residents of the memorable flood that passed through this week.
