In case you was wondering

At approximately 7:15 this evening Bates County Sheriff's Office dispatch began receiving calls that a few peoples phones had been alerted to a possible tornado in the immediate or close area. Bates County has not had a tornado warning issued. 

After researching with the National Weather Service, it appears that those specific phones were receiving signal from towers South of Bates County, where a tornado warning was issued.

This occurs when a cell phone tower is physically in an area where a tornado warning is issued. It will send notification to any cell phone that is receiving signal from that tower.