Granite Falls News Archives

“We still need to conduct a little more investigation”

The day after the crash was nearly silent. This small farming town seemed to reel Wednesday from the horrific school bus crash a day earlier that killed four children and injured 15 more people. via The Minneapolis-St. Paul Pioneer Press

“The more traffic, a higher rate of speed, the less window there is to correct for misjudgment.”

While state and federal investigators look into the cause of Tuesday's school bus accident, MnDOT officials say the intersection where the crash occurred is not considered a dangerous one. via Minnesota Public Radio

“At present, her identity is unknown”

Alianiss Nunez Morales, 23, of Minnesota, is pushed in a wheel chair while appearing at her first court appearance at the Lyon County Courthouse in Marshall, Minn., on Friday, February 22, 2008. via St. Paul Pioneer Press

Rescue workers are seen at the site of the bus crash, Tuesday Feb. 19, 2008 Grief counselors and clergy will be at a small southwestern Minnesota school today as authorities investigate Tuesday's school bus ... via The Minneapolis-St. Paul Pioneer Press

“It is especially heartbreaking when young lives are lost”

Motorists who came across a fatal school bus crash here quickly turned into rescuers, helping the driver pull screaming children out of the tipped-over bus and ferrying them to hospitals in their own cars.

Four children aboard the yellow bus were killed Tuesday afternoon, and at least 14 people were injured. An investigation was under way to see if anyone was at fault.

'I parked my car and called 911, and ran to the school bus and the driver was handing kids out the door as fast as I could take them,' Karen Mahlum told the Marshall Independent. 'They were screaming and screaming on the bus. There was so many kids.' Read more

At least three people have been reported killed in a school bus crash in southwestern Minnesota. via KARE 11 TV

“Clearly Minnesota must commit serious resources to improving and expanding its transportation infrastructure”

Even before the I-35W bridge collapse, leaders across party lines in recent years have been in agreement that Minnesota is 20 years behind in transportation investment. via Workday Minnesota

A 56-year-old Austin man has died while working at an ethanol plant under construction near Mona, Iowa, officials said. via Winona Daily News

“It's really at a point where I can't say details.”

An employee of a Minnesota-based engineering company was killed Sunday while on a work site at Absolute Energy, an ethanol plant under construction near Mona, Iowa, according to an Occupational Safety and ... via The Austin Daily Herald

A fierce wind whipped the American flags held by an honor guard as Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Kahler was laid to rest Saturday. via TwinCities

Gov. Tim Pawlenty today ordered that the United States flag and the State of Minnesota Flag be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol Complex from sunrise until sunset on Saturday, Feb.9, 2008, in honor and ... via HometownSource

A public funeral procession of a Granite Falls soldier who died in Afghanistan is slated for Wednesday. via KARE-TV Minneapolis

The public is invited to join the funeral procession of a Granite Falls soldier who died in Afghanistan last month.

The plane carrying the body of Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Ryan Kahler is scheduled to arrive at the Willmar airport at 11:25 a.m. Wednesday.

The procession will go to Granite Falls, travel past the Veterans Memorial and Yellow Medicine East High School before halting at the Wing-Bain Funeral Home.

Michelle Caveney is the Yellow Medicine County veteran's service officer organizing the services. She says Kahler's family encourages the public to join the procession. Read more

“You're always aware that death is a possibility”

All across the small Minnesota town of Granite Falls on Monday, they remembered Sgt. via StarTribune