SULPHUR, Okla. (KTEN) -- The Sulphur Times-Democrat is a local newspaper in the city of Sulphur that's been in operation since the 1920s. On Saturday night, this company was one of many that was in the middle of an EF-3 tornado, but unlike many others, the company is still in operation."

"It's a tragedy for the whole community, it's, it's unimaginable."

Publisher James John and his wife Kathy were sheltered in place when the deadly tornado tore through the city. After the storm, they went out to assess the damage.

"It took us about an hour and a half to get down to our office, which is about a mile away.” John said. “We knew a little bit about it, but we didn't know the extent of the damage at that time. It was only until I saw the YouTube video the next morning that I could comprehend what had happened."

Miraculously, the Times-Democrat building was still standing, about 50 yards from the center of downtown where the most damage was done.
The extent damage to the building: some missing tiles, damaged carpets, and flooding in the basement.

""I think the buildings that we're in were pretty well built when they were built.” Stated John. “We're a concrete and steel structure building, so it withstood it better than some, but there's a lot of damage."

Even though the building is out of commission for now, the Sulphur Times-Democrat will still be sending issues out each week.

"You wanna keep trying to do your job as best you can, so, that's what we've focused on, is do what we could." John said.

"The Sulphur Times-Democrat is very important to this community. Even though it's a small-town newspaper, they've kept up with the times and with technology, and uh, and they're still able to get a newspaper out with a very small staff.” Stated Clayton Lodes. Lodes is the CEO of First National Bank in Ardmore, but has a branch in Sulphur. “It's a quality newspaper and very much needed in the community."