Delmont to Use Wooden Birds to Help with Tornado Recovery

DELMONT, S.D. (AP) — The community of Delmont is turning to wooden birds to further unite residents as they continue recovering from a tornado last spring.

The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reports the Cardinal Project involves having residents cut out the wooden birds from wood, paint them and hang them in trees around town as well as on two area farms hit by the twister last Mother's Day.

A shop class at Tripp-Delmont School also has been enlisted to help.

The tornado that ripped through Delmont wiped out four blocks, damaged or destroyed 84 structures including the town's new fire hall and a century-old church, and injured nine people.

Residents have been holding regular recovery meetings. At the next one, in March, they're expected to discuss plans for an anniversary event.