The vandals struck sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday evening services.
"The community came out yesterday. People came out from other churches. It's just been an outpouring of people wanting to help," Carl Dailey said.-
Parts of Crossville were hit with a flash flood early Saturday afternoon, after a short stint of heavy rain that caught many off guard.More >> Parts of Crossville were hit with a flash flood early Saturday afternoon, after a short stint of heavy rain that caught many off guard.More >> Police investigating reports of an intoxicated driver made an unexpected discovery when a traffic stop yielded 335 pounds of marijuana.More >> Police investigating reports of an intoxicated driver made an unexpected discovery when a traffic stop yielded 335 pounds of marijuana.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> The Chattanooga market will add hundreds of hotel rooms in the coming year, following four years of booming revenues for its hotel industry.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Powerball ticket sold in Tennessee barely missed winning a share of an estimated $590.5 million prize. But the ticket has a nice consolation prize worth $1 million.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Knox County man is being charged for the murder of his brother, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Leaders of Nashville's convention center already are mapping out a possible future expansion of a center that spans six downtown blocks and sits on 19 acres.More >> Witnesses described a frantic scene and close calls after an elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a small Virginia mountain town's parade.More >> An emergency official says authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> A program to help soldiers get loans to purchase homes has gotten a permanent extension.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >>
By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
LENOIR CITY (WATE) - A Lenoir City congregation plans to go ahead with Sunday services, but not a big homecoming event this weekend. Lee Heights Baptist Church was hit by vandals earlier this week, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Carl Dailey, Jr. spent his Friday cleaning and scrubbing the church sanctuary after vandals damaged it sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday evening services.
"I almost felt numb. There were a lot of feelings going through me of why people would do something like that," Dailey said.
He says he just wants to do his part in the cleanup process. "Just finish the details with the windows. I still have to polish the pews where we scrubbed them so hard it took off the luster. I want to put that back on, just make it look better," he explained.
Pastor Doug Kizer says the damage was extensive in the sanctuary and the classrooms downstairs.
He says a lot of the damage was with paint and hand sanitizers, but the damage didn't stop there. The vandals also hit the fellowship hall.
"A lot of canned drinks and canned foods just taken and broken open and slung all over the floor. We did have urine on the walls," Pastor Kizer said.
A steady stream of people have been coming in to help clean it all up.
The congregation is very appreciative of the help. "It looks 100 percent better than it did. We did a lot. The community came out yesterday. People came out from other churches. It's just been an outpouring of people wanting to help," Dailey said.
The congregation has done all it can do at this point until the insurance company comes in to evaluate. They no longer need help with cleanup.
