August 4th, 2026 — 5:57 p.m.
By Martin Hale, Staff Writer

Communication with Bellweather Memorial Hospital was lost late Friday evening as violence spread into the surrounding streets.

The final transmission received from the hospital requested immediate assistance on the second floor. Gunshots and screaming could be heard in the background before the line went silent.

Sheriff Daniel Mercer has requested assistance from residents with medical, military or law-enforcement experience. Volunteers are being told to report to the sheriff’s department rather than travelling directly to the hospital.

Officials have also asked residents in rural areas to remain inside and secure all doors and windows.

Reports received by the County Record suggest that the disturbances are no longer limited to Bellweather. A farmer west of town reported shooting an intruder who continued moving after suffering what should have been a fatal wound. Another caller described a blood-covered man crossing a field near the old roadside diner.

Deputies responding to the western county road did not return to their checkpoint.

The roadside diner is currently sheltering several residents who were unable to reach the community centre. Those inside have pushed tables against the front windows and are monitoring a police scanner.

A notice transmitted shortly before 11:30 p.m. warned residents not to travel toward the cemetery, hospital or eastern bridge. The transmission ended before the dispatcher could explain the warning.

There are now unconfirmed reports of bodies disappearing from the hospital morgue.

The County Record has been unable to reach the county administrator’s office.

Telephone lines are failing throughout Bellweather. Electrical outages have been reported east of Main Street, and the county radio repeater is operating intermittently.

Residents are advised to conserve batteries, fill available containers with water and remain inside until daylight.

Someone has written a message across the front doors of the sheriff’s department.

It reads:

THEY GET BACK UP.