2010 Wadena Tornado

Nate Scottum of Osceola, Wis., is one of the volunteers who came to Wadena on Monday to cut toppled trees after a tornado Thursday damaged much of the surrounding area. Dave Wallis /The Forum

Barely a tree survived the 2010 tornado at the Wadena Cemetery. Hundreds of headstones were also toppled in the storm. Pioneer Journal file photo

The roof of the former swimming pool building sits submerged in the pool following the storm. Pioneer Journal file photo

Presumably remains of the tornado still remain in wooded areas around Wadena like this one to the north of Merickel Lumber. Michael Johnson/Pioneer Journal

Finding mature trees in the path of the tornado is difficult. Those that survived have noticeable scarring that still tells the tale of the EF4 tornado. Michael Johnson/Pioneer Journal

Take a walk down "tornado alley," Seventh Street SW, and you'll see mostly young trees as they were all torn from the ground 10 years ago. Michael Johnson/Pioneer Journal

Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden holds up his "no-BS card" he said he received from Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in background, Friday afternoon, referring to state aide for the cleanup of Wadena after Thursday's tornado. Brian Basham / Forum Communications Co.

Wadena Police Officer Norm Pettis passes damaged homes and property as he walks down Colfax Avenue. Emergency personnel from all over the area arrived after the tornado to lend their assistance. Photo by Brian Hansel

Volunteer Joyce Brasel of Perham, Minn., helps clean debris from a yard Monday in Wadena after Thursday's tornado. Dave Wallis / The Forum

St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena held a service Sunday despite a large hole in its roof and extensive damage to its building.

Photos by Brian Hansel The Wadena Area Community Center was completely destroyed, and parts of the ice arena were found all over town.

Photo by Brian Hansel The June 17 tornado cut a clear trail of destruction through the west side of Wadena. Special thanks to Larry Brincefield for getting us up in the air to see the damage right after the storm. -- The Pioneer Journal

Photo by Dave Wallis/The Forum Jake Taylor of Blaine, Minn., carries a spitting maul out of the debris as he helps clean up the southwest corner of Wadena after the June 17, 2010 tornado.

An aerial view taken Aug. 22, 2009 of the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, the Wadena Area Community Center and Leaf River Ag Service.

The same three establishments on June 18, 2010, one day after an EF4 tornado hit Wadena.

This monument was part of the original high school built in the early 1900s. It was saved and its new home is at Fink Park across the street from the WDC high school. Pioneer Journal file photo

Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel Sean Casey talked about his experience with the Wadena area tornadoes.

Photo by Brian Hansel The Tornado Intercept Vehicle, with Sean Casey at the driver's seat, rolls down Colfax Avenue on June 17.

Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel Reed Timmer from the TV show "Storm Chasers" will speak at the Big Lake Chamber Expo and raise funds for Wadena on March 6.

Photo by Rachelle Klemme The leaves of a small surviving tree overlook three large stumps in September 2010. The Wadena Area Replant Project aims to replace trees lost in the June 17 tornado.

Graphic by Todd Krause/National Weather Service in Chanhassen A map of the final 2010 tornado count shows above average activity in Minnesota. The June 17 EF4 tornadoes of Otter Tail and Wadena counties are shown in red with their respective paths.

The tornado destroyed nearly the entire rink. All that was left after the tornado was the concrete slab.

On Jun 17, 2010, a tornado damaged the church, tearing part of the roof off.

The Wadena County Fairgrounds took heavy damage June 17, 2010 when an EF-4 tornado rolled through Wadena. Pioneer Journal file photo

Some of the worst of the damage to homes in Wadena can be seen in the southwest portion of town in this aerial photo following the tornado that destroyed large areas of the community June 17, 2010. Wadena Pioneer Journal archives

The remains of Wadena Community Center can be seen sitting on Wadena-Deer Creek High School moments after an EF4 tornado tore through Wadena June 17, 2010. Wadena Pioneer Journal archives