Flags are flying at half-mast in Melita. The town, the region, the province and the country, are mourning the loss of two popular teenagers in a tornado that hit the Virden area on Friday night. Shayna Barnesky and Carter Tilbury, both 18, died after their pickup truck was swept up by the twister. RCMP say they were thrown from a vehicle, found more than a kilometre from where the tornado touched down near Virden.
The two were popular, both being athletes, and both working in the community. Shayna worked at the Co-op grocery store and Carter worked at a local farm equipment dealership. Crisis support will be available to both students and staff in Melita this week.
Details on a memorial service will be shared in the coming days. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with Carter and Shayna’s families and friends. An entire region. An entire province mourns your loss.
