By Emily Ingram
Waco Tribune-Herald staff writer
A small but powerful storm pummeled parts of the Crawford area with hail Friday night, but President Bush and the 200 family and friends in Central Texas for his daughter’s wedding were in Salado, more than 50 miles south.
The storm, bringing nickel-sized hail and winds up to 50 mph, at one point appeared centered over the 1,600-acre Bush ranch — site of this evening’s wedding of first daughter Jenna Bush and Henry Hager. No reports of damage were immediately available.
Frank Patterson, emergency management coordinator for McLennan County, said that while hail hit the president’s ranch, Crawford — about seven miles to the east — reported high winds but no hail and no damage. The storm spent only minutes in the area before moving east.
Jenna Bush, first lady Laura Bush and daughter Barbara weren’t even in Crawford most of Friday. Early in the day, the three attended a bridal lunch for family and friends at an inn in Salado. Later, parents of the groom hosted the rehearsal dinner for members of the family and the wedding party at the Old Salado Springs Celebration Center.
Later, wedding guests attended a “Texas-sized celebration” at the Salado Silver Spur Theater.
The National Weather Service says there’s a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in McLennan County about the time the couple say “I do” tonight.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
