High school damaged by devastating EF-4 tornado to be torn down

NEWNAN, Ga. — Newnan High School will be torn down after a devastating tornado hit Coweta County last March.

On Friday, Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes was at the historic building, which was built 70 years ago. A fence is up around the entire property to make sure no one gets hurt. The tornado damaged the structure of the building so badly that officials say it will have to come down.

Fernandes spoke to former students who said they will be sad to see the building go. David St. John graduated from Newnan High back in 1995, but he was at the school volunteering a lot before the tornado. His son Noah plays football for Newnan, just like his dad.

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Noah St. John doesn’t go to school at the campus his dad graduated from because, the tornado damage forced the ninth grade onto another campus.

“One thing I love about the high school, is that three out of our four years here, we were the Georgia school of excellence, which we took crazy pride in,” St. John said. “The staff there taught us a lot. Taught us lot about life.”

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St. John’s friend, Derrick Teagle played basketball. Now his son, Derrius Teagle, also plays on the team.

The building may be getting demolished, but its the people at Newnan High that the students remember.

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“(My son) loves it because of the connections he has with the teachers here, but he also loves it because of Coach Gatzemeyer,” Teagle said. “He loves the coach. Amazing coach on the court, but also a coach off the court.”

Months after devastating tornado, Newnan High prepares for emotional 1st day back

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