Power Restored In Selma After Major Outage

Selma buys its electricity from Progress Energy, and the main line from the utility to the town burned out, officials said.

Crews began working to repair the damage at 10 a.m., and the power was back on by 2 p.m.

But the intervening hours cost some businesses, like Diana King's restaurant, their usual lunch-time rush.

"It's been a disaster because it's dark," King said. "It's bad because people are coming by and see no lights or anything, so it's like we're closed."

She decided to keep her restaurant opened anyway with a modified menu -- she made sandwiches by flashlight. With no working registers, they had to use paper and pencil to figure bills.

Some businesses used generators, but many just closed for the day.

"It's been kind of gloomy," said Albert Kensak, who struggled to keep his antique store opened. "We're almost dead in the water. We can't even verify any check that we take."

Selma officials and merchants were relieved to have the power back on Friday night to give them time to prepare for the town's Railroad Days Festival this weekend.