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Central IL Man Recalls 1946 Peru Twister
PERU, Ill. (AP) -- Augie Wilke remembers exactly what he was doing when a violent tornado hit his hometown of Peru in 1946.

Wilke was 16 years old and out riding ponies when the storm swept into town 65 years ago Sunday.

He tells the (LaSalle) News-Tribune that trees were flying by him as he tried to herd his pony into a friend's garage.

He and the others made it to safety, but seven other residents weren't so lucky and were injured.

Wilke says a 26-year-old who survived World War II without being injured was hurt so badly by the storm that he limped for the rest of his life.

Homes across town were also damaged, and Wilke says roofs were "landing everywhere."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 11 11 by Newsroom
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