Repairs resume in city damaged by rare December tornado

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Officials in a central Illinois city that was struck by a devastating tornado say warmer weather is allowing construction work to resume five months after the rare December twister.

The Dec. 1 tornado injured over 25 people in Taylorville, which is 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Springfield with a population of 11,000. Over 700 buildings were damaged by the EF-3 storm, which has winds between 136 and 165 mph.

It was part of a tornado outbreak that swept the central U.S. and killed one person in Missouri.

The Herald and Review reports that Mayor Bruce Barry says that local ministerial alliances and fundraiser group Missions for Taylorville have raised $700,000 as recovery work continues. Barry added their goal is to establish long-term reconstruction plans.

___

Information from: Herald & Review, http://www.herald-review.com