The weight of snow and rain this week was apparently too much for the roof of the Republican headquarters in Columbus. The roof collapsed inside the building on Tuesday.
Republican officials are saying the building is likely a total loss.
Former Republican county commissioner Ted Owens discovered the collapse when he went to retrieve an item from the headquarters around 11 a.m. Tuesday. He said as he opened the door he realized quickly that something was wrong. He said most probably the entire roof caved in on the building.
By the afternoon, the Columbus Police Department and power crews were taping off the property and cutting power to the building. Owens said Republican officials were contacting the insurance company to get an assessment of the property.
The building, located at 33 S. Peak Street in Columbus, was originally constructed in the 1950s or 1960s as the towns post office.
It is unknown yet where the Republican party will hold meetings or what it will do with the building.