TINGLEY, Iowa — Nearly two months after a tornado tore through the city of Tingley, close to the Iowa-Missouri border, residents and city leaders are working to repair its beloved community building.
The building served as the site for a lot of important events including Tingley City Council meetings and community gatherings.
And for city councilperson, Bob Johnson, who has lived in Tingley nearly his whole life, said he’s never seen or experienced a tornado like the one that passed through his hometown in April.
“I drove out on the east side of town here, and I looked up and saw the tornado coming in, and turned around and ran back, and all I heard was a big wind sound,” Johnson explained. “It didn’t last very long. It went through in a hurry.”
The building, now completely gone and all that is left are bricks and pieces of shattered glass. Johnson said city leaders plan to meet within the week to decide on future reconstruction of the community building.
It’s the same scenario as when you look elsewhere across the city. Foundations of many families’ homes being rebuilt and repaired, months after the tornado.
“It’s nice to see the new stuff coming up,” said Mayor Larry Jarred. “Everybody is progressing along. I think everybody has got a plan.”
Johnson said the city is still receiving donations to help rebuild its community building, those donations can be received at: PO Box 153 Tingley, IA 50863.