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Tornados swept across northern IL, 04/09/2015. The most-destructive was a wedge tornado, running from Rochelle IL to Fairdale IL. This overturned semi was parked at Grubsteakers Restaurant, a beacon in the area, located on the northeast corner of the IL RT 64 & IL RT 251 intersection (just west of I-39) in Rochelle’s far northern part [family lives in the main part of town, based south, along IL RT 38 (Lincoln Highway)].

I’ve traveled through this area many times as a kid & adult. Just east of this restaurant, I remember an old motel sat vacant for years, complete with an abandoned brown Ford Thunderbird (1977-1979) parked in the lot. From this intersection, the wedge tornado continued northeast, across Lindenwood IL (on the outskirts of which I watched a “castle” house being built ~15 years ago) & took aim on Fairdale, destroying the town & killing 2 people. Fairdale is the 2nd small town east of I-39 along IL RT 72.