The National Weather Service had its damage assessment people here today, and the official verdict is that it was an F-2 tornado, with sustained winds of up to 112 mph. Early damage estimates put it between 5 and 7 million dollars. Four families were left homeless. At least 64 buildings received some degree of damage, including the High School with major roof and classroom damage and between 50 to 70 windows broken out, and Northeastern Junior College, where the roof was torn off of a women’s dormitory. The stadium at the County Fairgrounds also received major damage, as did the Little League baseball fields.

It’s actually pretty depressing to see all the damage ….. but like any other town, we will rally and come together to help each other out. That’s the cool part. That’s when you see the best in people. That’s …. rural America. That’s …. America.