Ran Friday, August 3, 2007
St. Croix divers called to Minnesota disaster
By Leader-telegram Staff
A St. Croix County emergency team was asked to help at the Interstate-35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis for three hours Wednesday night.
Wes Halvorsen, operations manager for the EMS unit, said the team of four people was called to the site with a rescue boat.
The dwindling daylight hours restricted the crew from getting into the water, even though it is capable of working at night, Halvorsen said.
"We stayed around in case they decided to do some diving at night," he said.
The team was on-site for three hours, said Ken Kolbe of St. Croix EMS and a First Responder.
"They wanted to do as much as they could while they still had daylight because they don't want to put rescue people at odds," Kolbe said.
St. Croix County has a mutual aid agreement and often works with Pierce County and with Minnesota's Washington County. But this incident was unusual.
"It's pretty rare to go far into the Minnesota side," Halvorsen said.
Halvorsen said the crew was called shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday and mobilized quickly. Arriving at the staging area on the Washington Street bridge with many other fire department, police and rescue personnel, he said authorities took inventory of available equipment.
All the emergency personnel, bystanders and victims created an atmosphere Halvorsen described as "chaotic."
"There was a lot of stuff going on," he said.
Scheduled to return to the site on Saturday, the St. Croix County dive team is expected to participate in a recovery mission. They will look for vehicles or bodies of missing motorists or personnel, Halvorsen said.
The crew consists of Halvorsen, dive coordinator Glen Hartman and divers Jay Penfield and James Duffy. All four are from Hudson.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Regis grad witnessed collapse
Ran on Friday, August 3, 2007
Regis grad witnessed collapse
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
A flat tire often causes frustration, but Tony Wagner was thankful for his co-worker's car trouble Wednesday night, when he was delayed just long enough to narrowly avoid the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The 21-year-old Eau Claire native and 2004 Regis graduate lives and goes to school in Minneapolis, where he is a student at Augsburg College. He left work at First Commercial Bank to drop off a co-worker who had gotten a flat tire before work that morning.
Wagner was on I-35W trying to rush home to meet friends and then go to the Minnesota Twins baseball game.
As he drove, Wagner suddenly couldn't figure out what was happening on the highway ahead of him. He slammed on the brakes of his Acura Integra, 200 feet - and, he estimated, 30 to 60 seconds - before driving onto the bridge.
"It looked like a giant sandstorm," Wagner said of his approach to the Mississippi River crossing. "I pulled my car off (the road) and took another bridge home."
During the rest of the ride, Wagner caught glimpses of the I-35W bridge and realized what had happened. The 1967 truss-style span collapsed into the river shortly after 6 p.m.
"I wanted to get a hold of all of my friends and make sure they were all OK," he said. "It turns out I was the closest one to the bridge by a long shot."
Deciding to skip the Twins game to help keep the roads less congested, Wagner and his friends watched rescuers from his balcony about a block from the bridge.
They were ready to help if needed. "I wanted to be able to do whatever was asked of me and help however I can," he said.
Wagner said he could hear police, fire and rescue crews working late into the night.
Once the news got out about the bridge, calls flooded cell phones, shutting down circuits and restricting communication. Wagner was able to leave a phone message for his parents, Vicki and Steve Wagner, of Eau Claire letting them know he was safe. They spoke about 90 minutes later.
As Vicki Wagner watched TV coverage of the tragedy, she recognized the area as her son's neighborhood.
"We were concerned," Vicki Wagner said by phone on Thursday. "We have two kids in college; it's really scary when they are gone."
Vicki Wagner said she doesn't think it was a coincidence that her son and the bridge share a name. The bridge originally was called St. Anthony's Bridge; Tony's full name is Anthony.
"Somebody was watching over him," she said.
Tony Wagner, who is majoring in business finance, accounting and economics, is working this summer as a commercial loan administrator. He wasn't sure when or how he would make it to work Thursday.
"All the major roads I'd normally take are closed," he said at 11 a.m., four hours after he usually arrives at work.
Bridge repairs, which started about a month ago, had restricted traffic lanes and at times closed the bridge entirely. Two lanes in each direction were open when the bridge gave way.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Regis grad witnessed collapse
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
A flat tire often causes frustration, but Tony Wagner was thankful for his co-worker's car trouble Wednesday night, when he was delayed just long enough to narrowly avoid the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The 21-year-old Eau Claire native and 2004 Regis graduate lives and goes to school in Minneapolis, where he is a student at Augsburg College. He left work at First Commercial Bank to drop off a co-worker who had gotten a flat tire before work that morning.
Wagner was on I-35W trying to rush home to meet friends and then go to the Minnesota Twins baseball game.
As he drove, Wagner suddenly couldn't figure out what was happening on the highway ahead of him. He slammed on the brakes of his Acura Integra, 200 feet - and, he estimated, 30 to 60 seconds - before driving onto the bridge.
"It looked like a giant sandstorm," Wagner said of his approach to the Mississippi River crossing. "I pulled my car off (the road) and took another bridge home."
During the rest of the ride, Wagner caught glimpses of the I-35W bridge and realized what had happened. The 1967 truss-style span collapsed into the river shortly after 6 p.m.
"I wanted to get a hold of all of my friends and make sure they were all OK," he said. "It turns out I was the closest one to the bridge by a long shot."
Deciding to skip the Twins game to help keep the roads less congested, Wagner and his friends watched rescuers from his balcony about a block from the bridge.
They were ready to help if needed. "I wanted to be able to do whatever was asked of me and help however I can," he said.
Wagner said he could hear police, fire and rescue crews working late into the night.
Once the news got out about the bridge, calls flooded cell phones, shutting down circuits and restricting communication. Wagner was able to leave a phone message for his parents, Vicki and Steve Wagner, of Eau Claire letting them know he was safe. They spoke about 90 minutes later.
As Vicki Wagner watched TV coverage of the tragedy, she recognized the area as her son's neighborhood.
"We were concerned," Vicki Wagner said by phone on Thursday. "We have two kids in college; it's really scary when they are gone."
Vicki Wagner said she doesn't think it was a coincidence that her son and the bridge share a name. The bridge originally was called St. Anthony's Bridge; Tony's full name is Anthony.
"Somebody was watching over him," she said.
Tony Wagner, who is majoring in business finance, accounting and economics, is working this summer as a commercial loan administrator. He wasn't sure when or how he would make it to work Thursday.
"All the major roads I'd normally take are closed," he said at 11 a.m., four hours after he usually arrives at work.
Bridge repairs, which started about a month ago, had restricted traffic lanes and at times closed the bridge entirely. Two lanes in each direction were open when the bridge gave way.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
Ran on Sunday, July 29, 2007
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's a secret, much like Santa Claus, that kids are left in the dark about. While they play, they are learning.
At least that's the case when they play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire.
Opening to the public Wednesday, and open for a members-only sneak peek Monday and Tuesday, a freshly renovated basement at the museum will be unveiled featuring a traveling exhibit, "Song of Korea."
The new lower level also includes activity rooms and an art studio.
"It's a big initiative to introduce Asian culture through children's museums," said Executive Director Suzie Slota.
The exhibit will teach kids by integrating traditional and contemporary Korean music. It will include drums, letter-writing in Korean and a typical Korean holiday celebration.
Another aspect of the exhibit will teach children how animal sounds are made in Korea through the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
The traveling exhibit, in EauClaire until October, was funded through a grant from the Freeman Foundation. Exhibit costs range from $30,000 to more than $100,000, Slota said.
Slota said the museum has received feedback that it should teach children about non-native cultures and traditions.
Rob Anderson and his 6-year-old daughter, Madilyn, of Eau Claire visited the museum Wednesday. Madilyn said she likes to go to the museum to play but doesn't recognize she's learning.
"I don't think (kids) understand they're learning," Rob Anderson said. "I think that's how (the museum) set it up. It's intentional."
Rob Anderson plans to bring his daughter back to the new exhibit so she can continue to be exposed to diversity.
The family recently moved from the Twin Cities area. Rob said the museum will be one way to help his daughter become more familiar and comfortable with other cultures.
The lower level renovation at the museum, which is 2 1/2 years old, is part of an anticipated expansion, Slota said. When the museum opened in December 2004 in the old Woolworth's store, the main floor was used with hopes to later use the basement and second story. "We were young, inexperienced and idealistic," she said.
Funding issues put the multi-level dreams on hold. Since then, more than 700 families have become members. Plans for more renovations on the second floor will be discussed this fall. The theme for the second floor hasn't been determined.
The lower level adds 3,300 square feet of space to the museum, including space for exhibits, offices and rooms to be used for classes and birthday parties.
So far, $700,000 of the $1.1 million to renovate the basement of the 1940s building has been raised. Most of the money came from fundraisers and donations. A new stairwell and elevator were included in the cost.
After the "Song of Korea" leaves in October, plans for a hands-on exhibit featuring water will begin.
Slota is confident future fundraising efforts will be successful.
"As soon as word gets out that we're in need (of funding) and helping the community, people will step forward," Slota said. "We work really hard to be a quality museum and be good stewards of the money the community has given to us."
Slota said she hoped the momentum the museum has built will help bring in funds needed to expand.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla. schmidt@ecpc.com.
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's a secret, much like Santa Claus, that kids are left in the dark about. While they play, they are learning.
At least that's the case when they play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire.
Opening to the public Wednesday, and open for a members-only sneak peek Monday and Tuesday, a freshly renovated basement at the museum will be unveiled featuring a traveling exhibit, "Song of Korea."
The new lower level also includes activity rooms and an art studio.
"It's a big initiative to introduce Asian culture through children's museums," said Executive Director Suzie Slota.
The exhibit will teach kids by integrating traditional and contemporary Korean music. It will include drums, letter-writing in Korean and a typical Korean holiday celebration.
Another aspect of the exhibit will teach children how animal sounds are made in Korea through the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
The traveling exhibit, in EauClaire until October, was funded through a grant from the Freeman Foundation. Exhibit costs range from $30,000 to more than $100,000, Slota said.
Slota said the museum has received feedback that it should teach children about non-native cultures and traditions.
Rob Anderson and his 6-year-old daughter, Madilyn, of Eau Claire visited the museum Wednesday. Madilyn said she likes to go to the museum to play but doesn't recognize she's learning.
"I don't think (kids) understand they're learning," Rob Anderson said. "I think that's how (the museum) set it up. It's intentional."
Rob Anderson plans to bring his daughter back to the new exhibit so she can continue to be exposed to diversity.
The family recently moved from the Twin Cities area. Rob said the museum will be one way to help his daughter become more familiar and comfortable with other cultures.
The lower level renovation at the museum, which is 2 1/2 years old, is part of an anticipated expansion, Slota said. When the museum opened in December 2004 in the old Woolworth's store, the main floor was used with hopes to later use the basement and second story. "We were young, inexperienced and idealistic," she said.
Funding issues put the multi-level dreams on hold. Since then, more than 700 families have become members. Plans for more renovations on the second floor will be discussed this fall. The theme for the second floor hasn't been determined.
The lower level adds 3,300 square feet of space to the museum, including space for exhibits, offices and rooms to be used for classes and birthday parties.
So far, $700,000 of the $1.1 million to renovate the basement of the 1940s building has been raised. Most of the money came from fundraisers and donations. A new stairwell and elevator were included in the cost.
After the "Song of Korea" leaves in October, plans for a hands-on exhibit featuring water will begin.
Slota is confident future fundraising efforts will be successful.
"As soon as word gets out that we're in need (of funding) and helping the community, people will step forward," Slota said. "We work really hard to be a quality museum and be good stewards of the money the community has given to us."
Slota said she hoped the momentum the museum has built will help bring in funds needed to expand.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla. schmidt@ecpc.com.
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