Article clipped from The Decatur Daily Review

Tolono Man Killed Twisters Batter Central Illinois By Dave Petrina Central Illinois took the brunt of a severe rain and wind storm which spawned death-dealing tornadoes Wednesday afternoon. At least two persons died in the storm and scores were injured. Property damage was extensive. In Champaign County, the coroner's office confirmed that Lonnie Huffman, 29, of Tolono was killed when a twister hit his mobile home. The storm, sometimes with tornadoes, skipped northeasterly to the Indiana Illinois state line. A twister touched down at Anchor, in McLean County, where nine farms were damaged and three homes were reported destroyed. In Piatt County, a large barn and corn crib were leveled on' the Elmer Meece farm, located about 2 miles east of Hammond. There also were unconfirmed sightings of the tornado at Sidney, a District 10 State Police officer said. The storm moved on to Pierson Station in Piatt County, where a large tree toppled onto a car at the Louis Badger residence, the sheriff's office reported. Another splinter of the storm continued into Champaign County, where state police said three semi-trucks and three cars were blown off I-74. The mishaps occurred just east of the town of Ogden. No one was injured in the overturned vehicles but one person received a minor injury in a related traffic accident, state police said. The twister moved northeast into Vermilion County where heavy damage and several.injuries were reported at U.S. 45 Closed Bismarck, near the Indiana state line. A school building was reportedly hit by high winds in Bismarck, but no one was hurt. There was severe wind damage in several parts of Coles County. On the Sam Cunningham farm, the storm damaged his house, barn and trees. No one was injured. The farm is five miles south of Charleston on Fourth Street Road. Three or four homes were damaged by wind on Salem Road near Charleston, according to the Coles County sheriff's office. In Heritage Woods subdivision southeast of Charleston, two new homes under construction were damaged by high winds and siding was ripped off other houses. Wind damage also was reported at the Green Thumb Nursery north of Mattoon, the Tuscola sheriff's office said. U.S. 45 has been closed to In Fayette County slight through traffic between damage- was reported to the Pesotum and Arcola because Shrine Club building, where a part of the guard rail on the blown down. overpass at Tuscola became sun porch was Several trees also were toppled, loose. primarily around Vandalia The 75-foot railing did not fall Lake. Wednesday, but pulled away High winds lashed most of from the posts and was hanging Montgomery County with large over the edge of the embankhail and rain. Macoupin County ment. sheriff's office reported high State Police at Pesctum said winds and rain but no damage. the highway would not be reNear Patoka in Marion County opened until the railing is hail as big as golf balls fell for a repaired. They had no estimate short time. of how long the repair job would Sanagmon County sheriff's take. office reported high wind and Traffic is being detoured over rain Wednesday afternoon. Spr- North Line Street, north of the infield's Capital Airport said overpass, and south to U.S. 36 in winds reached 54 miles an hour. Tuscola. The high overpass There were unconfirmed reports carries the highway over the of scattered hail in the county Baltimore & Ohio and Missouri2½ inches in diameter. Pacific Railroad tracks. SPRING SALE ON ALL PHILCO APPLIANCES & TV 3 DAYS ONLY THURS. - FRI. - SAT. 16 Cu. Ft. FROST-FREE REFRIGERATOR 3-WHITE 3--COPPER at 3-AVACADO 2--GOLD

Article from 04 Apr 1974The Decatur Daily Review(Decatur, IL)

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