August 2 Stories

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode is divided into three segments and features seniors Hannah Pope, Grace Kirkpatrick, and Erik Ostrem. Pope and Kirkpatrick were at north campus the day of the explosion for cross country practice, while Ostrem was on the soccer field. All three seniors reflect on their experiences on August 2 and the impact that the explosion had on their school year as a whole.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode is a shortened version of an interview with Minnehaha chef Laura DuBois. Laura was in the school kitchen when her husband Don called over the radio that there was a gas leak and that they needed to get out. Laura escaped the building about ten seconds before it exploded. She was later reunited with her husband. This interview was recorded on May 11, 2018. To listen to the full length version of this episode, listen to "August 2 Stories #10A: Laura DuBois."

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode features Minnehaha chef Laura DuBois. Laura was in the school kitchen when her husband Don called over the radio that there was a gas leak and that they needed to get out. Laura escaped the building about ten seconds before it exploded. She was later reunited with her husband. This interview was recorded on May 11, 2018.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode features Minnehaha parent and Executive Director of Covenant Pines Ministries, Dave Cairns. Cairns was in his office in the Northwest Conference house (located on the north end of the back parking lot at north campus) when the explosion happened. He yelled for someone to call 911, then ran into the cloud of debris spewing from the rubble, ready to start looking for survivors and help in any way he could. This interview was recorded on March 19, 2018.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode features science teacher Nancy Cripe and technology support employees Sam Terfa and Jonathan Bird. Cripe, Terfa and Bird were together in the library computer lab when the explosion happened, and together they watched as the library floor fell away after the blast. This interview was recorded on February 26, 2018.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode features Minnehaha Athletic Director Josh Thurow, who was in the gym at north campus when the explosion happened. In this interview, Thurow reflects on having gone through this experience with his girls' basketball team and how he has moved forward personally. This interview was recorded on January 29, 2018.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. This episode features band/orchestra teacher Diane Hallberg and choir teacher Karen Lutgen. Both Hallberg and Lutgen were in their offices in the fine arts wing of north campus when the explosion happened, but didn't realize the full extent of the destruction until they went outside and saw the gaping hole in the building. This interview was recorded on January 25, 2018.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. Our guest for this episode is Minnehaha college and guidance counselor Kristen Overton, who was in her office meeting with a student when the explosion happened. Overton was pregnant at the time but has since delivered a healthy baby boy. This interview was recorded on December 5, 2017.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. Our guest for this episode is Minnehaha Academy President Dr. Donna Harris, who was thrown to her office floor when the explosion happened and then escaped through her window onto the roof. This interview was recorded on December 4, 2017.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. Our guest for this episode is Buildings Supervisor Curt Bjorlin, who heard about the gas leak over his radio and then tried to warn his other colleagues to leave the building. Bjorlin was near the main office area when the explosion happened. This interview was recorded on October 26, 2017.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. Our guest for this episode is Administration Assistant Mary Kate Fretheim, who heard Don DuBois' call to "get out" and then tried to warn others. She was in the student services office off of senior hallway when the building blew. This interview was recorded on September 26, 2017.

"August 2 Stories" is a Talon podcast series designed to allow members of the Minnehaha Academy community that were in north campus when the explosion occurred on August 2, 2017 to tell their stories. The series is hosted by M.A. senior Emma Melling. Our guest for this episode is Maintenance Manager Don DuBois, who was in north campus when the explosion occurred and ran through the building warning others to get out. He has since been called a hero. This interview was recorded on September 28, 2017.

Telephone interview for story published in The Talon, issue #5, April 2016.