A tornado struck a 2nd farm near Kiester

Published 8:58 pm Monday, May 7, 2012

KIESTER — A second farm near Kiester suffered tornado damage Friday night. Meteorologists were working Monday to confirm it as a second tornado in the Kiester area.

This one is less than a mile south of the Iowa border.

A weak tornado struck the place where retired farmer Clarence Vanhove and his wife, Esther, reside, 11767 500th St. in Winnebago County. The farm is about eight miles west of Scarville, nine miles north of Thompson but just four miles southwest of Kiester.

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Don Vanhove, their son, confirmed the damage to the Tribune on Monday evening. He said the tornado totally demolished a machine shed and an old barn. He said it ruined a pole shed and caused damage to other buildings. The house was OK, and no one was injured.

“It happened so fast, and nobody got hurt,” he said.

He said family and friends have been picking up debris in the fields and the building remains have been pushed into piles.

National Weather Service meteorologists were working Monday to confirm the second tornado but had not reached the Vanhoves.

An EF0 tornado on Friday night demolished buildings on a farm belonging to Glenn and Cindy Scherb at 4430 State Highway 22 about a mile north of Kiester.

Showers are in the forecast for today, but the skies are expected to clear Wednesday and Thursday.

About Tim Engstrom

Tim Engstrom is the editor of the Albert Lea Tribune. He resides in Albert Lea with his wife, two sons and dog.

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