Journal Star
- Football takes back seat to community relief
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 05:14 PMThe game will go on.Washington (12-0) will visit Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (12-0) in a Class 5A football state semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday.
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - ID still be required to enter affected areas of Washington
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:36 PMWASHINGTON – Authorities will continue to request identification from residents as recovery efforts continue in Washington, where no one has been reported missing in the wake of Sunday's tornado damage, Police Chief Don Volk said Monday."At this point, we are going to deny access to the areas that we know are severely damaged or destroyed," Volk said at an afternoon news conference in the parking lot of Tractor Supply Co.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Some schools in storm path damaged
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:50 PMChad Allaman lost his house in the tornado that devastated Washington. But it doesn't appear he's lost one of his schools.During the storm Sunday, Central Intermediate School sustained slight to moderate damage, Allaman said Monday.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Testimony to beginfor Peoria man accused of shooting at police
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:43 PMPEORIA — Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of a Peoria man accused of trying to shoot a Peoria police officer who was chasing him last year.Tony M.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Fans flock to Washington tornado relief Facebook page
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 02:12 PMWASHINGTON — About an hour after the EF-4 tornado touched down Sunday in central Illinois, the Facebook page Washington IL Tornado Recovery was online. Within 10 minutes it had 100 "likes," and by 3 p.m.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Children vulnerable to emotional trauma from tornado devastation
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 12:46 PMPEORIA — A tornado is a terrifying event, even if you don't lose everything you own to one. Children are particularly vulnerable to the kind of emotional turbulence brought about by surviving a devastating storm like the one Sunday that damaged or destroyed 500 homes in Washington."The child will be just as awestruck by the tornado as the parent is.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Peoria County agencies assist with tornado response efforts
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 06:29 AMPEORIA - Several Peoria County departments began to contribute to the clean-up and recovery effort in Tazewell County within hours of the deadly tornado. County Administrator Lori Curtis Luther said the county's EMA, sheriff's department, health department and planning and zoning staff were in contact with their counterparts in Tazewell County to offer assistance.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Gov. Quinn to speak in Washington about tornado recovery efforts
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 05:34 AMWASHINGTON -- Where a tornado stripped trees and leveled buildings
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Bailey: Two frantic minutes, then eerie silence
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 03:29 AMWashington's Devonshire subdivision was Ground Zero for Sunday's tornado. That's where I live.I had taken the TV warnings to "seek cover immediately" seriously enough to go back and forth between the basement and the first floor, but was at my front door with camera in hand when I saw that ominous black funnel cloud rise over a home at the end of the street, sucking debris up into its vortex, swallowing homes like they were made of toothpicks, coming right for us.
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Washington relief efforts take shape after devastating tornado
Sunday - 11/17/2013 - 05:05 PMWASHINGTON — Local centers, schools, churches and the Red Cross coordinated aid efforts for victims of the tornado that ripped through town Sunday morning.Five Points Washington served as a transit point for victims, family and friends wanting to help.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Washington mayor surveys the damage: 'Our heart goes out to them'
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 08:12 PMWASHINGTON — Washington Mayor Gary Manier got his first look at the magnitude of the damage to the community during a helicopter tour just after sunrise Monday morning. "Unfortunately, as the sun got brighter, you could see more of the devastation," he said.After surveying parts of the devastated community Sunday after the storm, Manier said even he didn't realize how extensive the carnage was until he saw it all at once."This looks bad, but [...]
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Secretary of State's Office waives fees for replacement documents
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:41 PMPEORIA – Residents who lost some key documents in Sunday’s tornado can obtain copies for no charge from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.For the next 30 days, Tazewell and Woodford county residents — as well as those in the other five counties declared state disaster areas by Gov.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Small kitchen fire extinguished quickly in Washington
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:39 PMWASHINGTON — A small kitchen fire was put out within minutes of firefighters responding to a call Monday. Authorities responded to 116 Vine St. on a call from a neighbor on a fire.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Businesses work to help towns affected by tornado
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:11 PMWASHINGTON — Businesses here are doing what they can to help out in the wake of the devastation caused by Sunday's tornado."We're having trouble just getting in touch with everybody," said Roger Holzhauer, president of the Washington Chamber of Commerce who, along with his wife, runs Team Works, a screen printing/sporting goods store in Washington."With phone and power outages (in Washington), we're in a holding pattern right now," he said.
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Father and young son ride out Washington tornado in car
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 12:45 PMWASHINGTON — A self-described "storm-chaser," Todd Cannon found his role reversed Sunday.The Washington tornado chased Cannon, along with his 6-year-old son. They were forced to hunker down and hold onto one another as Cannon's Nissan Xterra was rocked by the tornado and pounded by debris."We rode it out," Todd Cannon said, plain-faced.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Washington family bloodied and battered, but alive, after Sunday tornado
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 12:13 PMWASHINGTON — The Davidson family hid under a utility sink in their basement, bracing for the raw blast of a tornado.First came a terrific noise, then a painful rain — of concrete.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- National Weather Service estimates central Illinois tornado as EF-4
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:13 AMWASHINGTON — The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued its preliminary categorization of the tornado that tore through central Illinois Sunday — an EF-4.A damage estimate team surveyed the Washington area before nightfall Sunday to reach that determination, examining the areas most affected by the tornado particularly the subdivision west of Washington Square.The team found damage consistent to wind speeds between 170-190 miles per hour, [...]
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - At least 400 homes destroyed by Washington tornado
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 04:52 AMWASHINGTON - At least 400 dwellings here were destroyed by Sunday's tornado, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Monday.More houses sustained undetermined damage, the Illinois Republican said as he surveyed the west edge of the city.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Tornadoes can strike any time of the year
Sunday - 11/17/2013 - 05:00 PMPEORIA — Spring is traditionally tornado season in Illinois, [...]
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - 182nd Illinois Air National Guard assists with tornado search and rescue
Sunday - 11/17/2013 - 02:35 PMWASHINGTON – Ten firefighters with the 182nd Illinois Air National Guard helped to search the devastated Washington community for people who might have been trapped in a home or building.Col.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Panthers raking through the rubble
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:06 PMTears streamed down Hayley Reneau's face as the Washington senior stood amongst the devastation of Sunday's tornado.Shocked and saddened, she searched for answers.
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Luciano: Picking up the pieces is Washington's new mantra
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:48 PMWASHINGTON At 11:05 a.m. Sunday, a tornado ripped apart Washington like never before.At 6:48 a.m. Monday, the sun rose above Washington like every morning.Not that a massive recovery is that simple.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Shelters are being offered — but many have not yet been taken
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:57 PMWASHINGTON — With so many homes being damaged or destroyed by Sunday's tornado, an unprecedented need for shelter has arisen. That's where the kindness of strangers comes in. All throughout central Illinois, people are helping anyway they can.On Monday, Crossroads United Method Church in Washington and WoodView Commons in East Peoria were open to people seeking a place to stay.The fact that his church would need to help out was immediately [...]
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Central Illinois responders coordinate massive response effort
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 11:15 PMWASHINGTON — A tornado that destroyed hundreds of homes Sunday also had drawn in hundreds of emergency responders and others intent on helping the recovery effort by Monday morning.In the immediate aftermath of the storm, that response amounted to an overabundance of volunteers.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Home builders warn tornado victims to beware of scam artists
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 12:49 PMEAST PEORIA — Owners of storm-damaged homes who receive repair offers that seem too good to be true should be aware that they probably are. That's the warning from Lisa Scott, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria, 1599 N.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- 75 homes left uninhabitable in Pekin after tornado
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 10:38 AMPEKIN -- More than 200 structures were damaged and less than half of those rendered inhabitable due to the tornado that came through the northern part of of Pekin on Sunday.Darin Gridler, Pekin's assistant city manager, said 75 homes were unfit to live in after the storm.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- How to help those affected by the tornado
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 07:00 AMThe Red Cross said financial donations are the best way to help those who have been affected. Call (800) RED CROSS or visit redcross.org to make a donation. Tell them you want your donation to go to the central Illinois tornado response.To donate to the Salvation Army, call (800) SAL-ARMY), go online at www.saheartland.org, or mail to:The Salvation Army - Disaster Relief401 NE Adams St.Peoria, IL 61603
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Number of storm victims taken to hospitals remains low
Monday - 11/18/2013 - 05:11 AMBy Monday morning, area hospitals had reported seeing at least 70 storm victims.
More | Talk | Read It Later | Share - Word on the Street: Council,Park District at odds
Sunday - 11/17/2013 - 07:08 PMNew playground equipment to be installed at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Peoria is to have a fire-department theme.Perhaps the gear could douse what appears to be a smouldering dispute between some City Council members and the Peoria Park District.The council members are displeased the Park District didn't contribute $600,000 to cover two-thirds of the cost of a proposed addition to the John Gwynn Family Aquatic Center.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
- Tornado damages 35 to 50 homes in Pekin
Sunday - 11/17/2013 - 02:39 PMPEKIN — Chainsaws and tree trimmers hummed and buzzed Sunday afternoon as cleanup efforts began in the wake of a tornado that struck Pekin earlier.The funnel cloud touched down about 10:55 a.m., cutting a path of destruction from the 300 block of Sheridan Road, past Eighth Street and across Crescent Street.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share