50 Car Pile-Up in Sumner County

School bus driver Ricky Graves was honored for his actions to keep students safe as 50-car pileup unfolded.

On December 1st, what seemed like a normal bus route was disrupted by an oncoming truck. When Ricky Graves noticed the headlights shining through the thick fog, he pulled his bus to the right while the car beside him went left. With fourteen students on board, a head-on crash would have been disastrous. Thanks to Grave's fast thinking and quick reflexes, no one on the bus was hurt.

The students and Graves then watched as car after car sped past the bus and into other cars. Which resulted in a fifty-car pile up. As Jeeps were spinning by and other cars were going up in flames, Graves and the students on board sat in an anxious silence. Even as a camper scraped against the bus, Graves kept the students calm and remained in control.

Ricky Graves is truly amazing, and deserves everything he has gotten: a certificate of appreciation. He saved the lives of fourteen people, not including himself. Then he waited for two hours with the children until things settled down and help arrived. Even then he loaded the children safely onto another bus and sent them to school, staying behind to transport people involved in the crash to Sumner County Administration Building--truly spectacular.

If you want to read more about Mr. Graves, then click on this posts title, and the link will bring you to the original story.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Happy Holidays!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, at least that's what all the songs tell us. I know I'm not alone when I say that the holiday season and all of it's glorious chaos puts a smile on my face. I can also admit--with pleasure--that the start of December and seeing all those decked out houses can always brighten my mood!

Being in a Minnesota winter is being guaranteed of having a white holiday. There is nothing I like more than to add a heated blanket to my bed, and a stack of good books to my nightstand. Although playing in the snow can be a great time with your friends, I absolutely despise driving through the slush! It can cause too many little mistakes (turning too fast or suddenly trying to stop). So here are some tips to make driving in our winter wonderland more manageable:

• Have your car examined before you leave.
  Be prepared for a change in course.




• Stay hydrated for the journey.




• Pack a winter safety kit for the car
  



• Make frequent rest stops.
  
  

Use this as a check-off list so you know you are fully prepared! I would also suggest marking on a map where the rest stops are just in case you need to make an emergency stop.

Happy holidays to all, and to all a safe drive!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Fight on LOUISVILLE, Ky school bus

A fight broke out on bus 0110 at about 7:30 am while transporting students to Frost Middle School. The fight was between four middle school girls and the reason for the fight is unknown. The driver was made aware of this fight by another student on board after a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors was brought into the fight. The driver pulled the bus over and contacted the police. There was no one stabbed but some students had bruises.

After the fight, the student's backpacks were searched and two more kitchen knifes were found. The students are not being charged and will receive punishment from the school hand book guidelines. There are no fights or weapons of any kind allowed on Hoglund Transportation buses! If you are caught, you will be written up. Be safe and behave.

Thank You,

Haleigh

Bus in CONEWANGO, N.Y. Hit by Stray Bullet

Just two short days after hunting started, a School bus with 35 students still aboard was hit by a stray bullet. The incident occurred on November 22 at 7:30 am. The round entered above the door and lodged itself between the driver's seat and the first row on the other side of the bus.
Narrowly missing the driver and a seated student.

The Man who shot the gun, one 59 year old William Squire, was hunting from his deer stand. He saw a buck, took aim with his 30.06 riffle, fired...and missed. Causing the bullet to travel roughly 500 yards before crossing state route 241 and connecting with the school bus. William turned himself in and is now facing charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and was cited for a DEC violation of firing across a highway.

I know that when you see that big ten pointer buck your first reaction, (if not yelling "Do you see him!") is to shoot. I'd like to suggest a rearrangement of your reactions and change the first one to thinking about what your going to hit if you miss him. Then proceed with the yelling, and gun firing when you know it's safe.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Know you are all excited to gather your families and race to Grandma's table, but I would just like to remind you that it's winter and the roads are bound to be covered in snow. Remember to take your time if you are leaving home; I'm sure that if you give a Grandma a call she'll make Grandpa wait to carve.

Here are some tips for driving in snow and ice.

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop.


• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.


• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.


• Keep your lights and windshield clean.


• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.


• Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.


• Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

Just keep these simple tips in mind whenever you have to drive in less then optimal conditions. Remember, even though Mr. Turkey doesn't seem to mind the snowy weather, you should.

Thank You,

Haleigh

You Know it's Deer Season When...

On November 10th, a deer crashed into a Licking Valley school bus. This happened when the car in front of the bus hit the deer, catapulting it throught the windsheild of the bus, where it landed seven seats back. The school bus has received serious damage, such as the seats being bent. Fortunately the school bus driver only received minor injuries and there were no students on board.

Please take this incident as a reminder to keep an eye out for deer on or along the road. If you would like to read in more detail about this story, click on the link attached to this post's title.

Thank You,
Haleigh

We're Walking Fit!

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We are starting a new get fit program here at Hoglund Transportation! This one is called Walk Fit. The goal is to take at least 10,000 steps a day, and 35 people are now participating!

Since we had such good success with our Driven Driver Challenge, we decided to give it another go. Just like with our other program, we have journals to record any and all exercise. We rent a pedometer to help track our steps and make sure everything is fair.

Other than walking, we have a converter on our progress site so we can keep track of our other activities as well. We will be doing this program for eight months. With so many people participating I cannot wait to see the outcome! Time to get walking so we can get fit!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Costumes and Candy!

Houglund Transportation would like to wish everyone a Happy (if not haunted) Halloween!!

Here are some safety tips for that night and the days of sugary goodness that follow!

• Children should always go out trick-or-treating accompanied by a responsible adult.




• Some towns set a curfew for trick-or-treating which makes it easier for people to know when they can expect no more visitors.




• Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that they have a cell phone.




• Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!




• Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.




• Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.




• Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick-or-Treating without an adult.
  

Also this is a reminder to not eat or hand out candy on the school bus. It can be dangerous and distracting! We look forward to seeing everyone in costumes this Monday! If you are interested in more Halloween safety tips or facts, click on the title and follow the link.

Thank You,
Haleigh

All In A Days Work!

In Angole, New York, Lori saved the lives of students just by being aware.

At a routine drop-off, she stopped, checked her surroundings, and after making sure it was safe she opened her door to let the students off. Just before the students left the bus, Lori noticed an oncoming vehicle and pulled her door closed. When the doors shut, an out of control vehicle skidded sideways in front of the door and across three lawns.

Parents who witnessed it were able to give the police a description of the car and a partial license plate. No news on weather or not the vehicle has been located as of yet.

Lori was presented with a certificate for her actions as well as flowers. She later said,
"It was all in a day's work, and I am glad I could be of service."

Well Lori, it was a good call and I'm very impressed! Such a good example on how important it is to always be aware of your surroundings. If you want to learn more about it, click the link connected to the title.

Thank You,
Haleigh

National Walk to School Day!

The above picture shows Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Walking to School.

National Walk to School Day was held on October 5Th this year and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez Joined students on their walks!

This event has a completely positive effect on not only the students but also on the environment! For the students, it helps wake up their minds and prepare them for the school day, while giving them a way to be active and healthy. For the environment, it cuts back on general emissions and traffic congestion.

Did you know that walking and/or biking to school is second place (right behind riding the big yellow bus) in safest way to get to or from school? It is kind of surprising to think of it that way since so many kids either drive themselves or are dropped off by a parent. All those extra vehicles, leads to traffic and people rushing to get to school on time thus creating more opportunities for accident to happen.

School buses are by far the safest way for students to go to school, but when the next National Walk to School Day rolls around...I hope to see many more people on the sidewalk!

Thank You,
Haleigh