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Union Pacific Railroad Gives $15,000 To Coal City, Ill. To Help With Tornado Rebuilding Efforts

Railroad Gives Illinois Town $15,000 For Tornado Efforts
Morris Daily Herald, Ill.
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Chris Kuhn closes engine access panels on a switcher in the Union Pacific locomotive maintenance facility at the J.R. Davis Yard, in Roseville, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. Union Pacific Corp., the largest U.S. railroad by revenue, will expand its used-car shipping service beyond North America this month to boost volume and take advantage of international demand. Photographer: Ken James/Bloomberg via Getty Images

COAL CITY -- Union Pacific Railroad representatives presented Coal City Mayor Neal Nelson with a check for $15,000 on Thursday to help with tornado recovery efforts.

Union Pacific was in town for a groundbreaking and luncheon celebrating a new 285-acre logistics facility to be built in Coal City, but surprised those in attendance when they presented the check.

"Around this time of year, we are always looking for places to help," said Adrian Guerrero, director of public affairs for Union Pacific. "This year, we couldn't think of a better candidate than Coal City."

Coal City Mayor Neal Nelson accepted the check with gratitude.

"This check will go a long way in helping those people who need it," Nelson said after the presentation.

Coal City, along with Diamond, was hit by an EF2 tornado Nov. 17. The twister brought winds faster than 120 mph to the area and traveled more than 12 miles in 11 minutes, damaging hundreds of local homes and a few businesses, and left four injured. Grundy County has been declared a state and federal disaster area.

Union Pacific also memorialized Coal City as an official Train Town, USA providing them with a commemorative sign, an official Train Town, USA resolution and a specially-minted Union Pacific gold coin.

"There's not a lot of these coins out there, so if it ends up on eBay, we'll know," Guerrero joked.

___

(c)2013 Morris Daily Herald (Morris, Ill.)

Visit the Morris Daily Herald (Morris, Ill.) at www.morrisdailyherald.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

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Before You Go

Aerial Views Of Illinois Tornado 2013
(01 of14)
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In this aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, people look through the debris of a home that was destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(02 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows a home that was destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(03 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, two men walk through what is left of a home that was destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(04 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial photo taken Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows a home that was destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(05 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows homes that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(06 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows people walking down a street where homes once stood that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(07 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows homes that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(08 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows homes that were untouched and destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(09 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows homes that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(10 of14)
Open Image Modal
In this aerial photo taken Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, three people walk down a street where homes were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(11 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows three people walking down a street where homes were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(12 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows homes that were destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(13 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows the path of a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
(14 of14)
Open Image Modal
This aerial view on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, shows untouched homes and homes destroyed by a tornado that hit the western Illinois town of Washington on Sunday. It was one of the worst-hit areas after intense storms and tornadoes swept through Illinois. The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Washington had a preliminary rating of EF-4, meaning wind speeds of 170 mph to 190 mph. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (credit:AP)
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