LINN COUNTY, Kan. — Clean up has begun in Linn County where a tornado leveled a 130-year-old church and toppled tombstones at an adjacent historic cemetery.
Rod Earnest, who lives in nearby Pleasanton, said he has a special connection to the church because he was baptized and married there.
When the tornado rolled through Potosi Township late Sunday afternoon, Earnest said he could see what he thought was a half-mile wide tornado heading for the church and his mother’s house. She lives next door to the church.
“It was extremely spooky cause it’s just like a huge train coming after you and it’s not stopping,” said Earnest.
The tornado spared his mother’s house, but took the roof off her barn. Bill Payne said it pained him to see headstones tossed about like Legos. Payne said volunteers have already signed up to help repair the cemetery.
“It was really hard to see that last night. I really couldn’t believe it would actually topple headstones like that,” said Payne.
While the storm destroyed the landmark church and leveled a couple barns, folks in Linn County were happy when the tornado passed no one was taken with it.
