Did Paul McCartney Stop at a Circle K in Springfield, Illinois, Last Weekend?

(from sj-r.com)

Here's today's WTF article: A story in the Springfield, Illinois, State Journal-Register claims that a group of fans ran into Beatle Paul McCartney at a Circle K last Saturday. From the article:

On Saturday afternoon, a group of Springfield guys stopped at the Circle K on their way to St. Louis for the Cardinals-Phillies game. While in the parking lot, they saw someone walk by who looked just like McCartney.

“We were getting in the car as he was walking in,” says C.J. Lowder. “I said, ‘Man, that looks like Paul McCartney.’”

The Bronco parked on the side of the gas station, not in the front. The man who looked like Sir Paul didn’t buy anything inside, but used the station, just off Interstate 55, for a “pit stop.” Nobody at the gas station even noticed him, Lowder said.

“Josh (Lowder, C.J.’s brother) said ‘Hey, Paul!’ and he said, ‘What’s up?’ with this real thick English accent, and I knew it was him,” C.J. Lowder said.

McCartney said he and his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, were on their way to St. Louis, but not to the ballgame. He posed for a picture with the boys — besides Josh and C.J. Lowder, they included Jared Lowder (a cousin), plus Cory Neuhoff and Jeremy Judd. McCartney then spent a couple of minutes talking and left.

The article goes on to give more proof of why it's very likely that it was McCartney -- such as...

*The Bronco had New York license plates and Hamptons access sticker (both of which fit locations McCartney and his girlfriend have been). And the NYC-based Web site Gothamist published a pic of the couple smooching in a similar-looking vehicle.

Who knows what to believe? Either way, my question is: If this is true, what was McCartney doing in St. Louis last weekend? Anyone see him? When a Beatle comes to town (who's not named Bob), it's certainly a big deal.

A to Z will stop pretending that we're Gawker tomorrow.

-- Annie Zaleski