Info and updates about the
Chippewa Falls Marching Band bus crash

[Main page: CFMA.info]

(Last modified: $Date: 2009-10-16 14:23:41-05 $ GMT)

In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 16, 2005, the Chi-Hi Marching Cardinals were returning from a marching band competition in Whitewater (near Madison) home to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. They were proudly carrying home their third-place trophy in AAAA state competition, after their best-ever performance. Tragedy struck at about 2:00 a.m., as the lead bus in the four-unit convoy hit an overturned semi-trailer truck on I-94 near Osseo. Thirty-nine passengers were injured, and five were killed, including their beloved band director, Doug Greenhalgh. I will maintain this web page to give information to anyone who seeks it. If you have advice on what I should put on here, let me know. - Tom Arneberg, tom@arneberg.com (father of Ben, 10th-grade trumpet player) October 16, 2005 (See photos from the visitation and funeral for Doug Greenhalgh and family.) Current and former students and parents in Chi-Hi music groups -- subscribe to CFMA-News to get periodic updates via email: (If you can't subscribe with the above method, try simply sending a blank email to "CFMA-News-subscribe@yahoogroups.com".) (Click here for old updates.) Latest Updates: (Click here for links to old news articles.) Recent news links: (first article) 10/16/2005, 10:37 AM -- Chippewa Herald (CH): Bus carrying students from band competition crashes, five dead [...] (older articles moved to archives) Obituaries: Doug Greenhalgh (Chi-Hi band director) Therese Greenhalgh (Doug's wife) Morgan Greenhalgh (Doug & Therese's granddaughter) Paul Rasmus (Bus driver) Branden Atherton (Student-teacher from UWEC) Online guest books where you can leave (and read) comments: Guestbook for The Entire Chi-Hi Band (Chippewa Herald) Cassie Gast (CF Middle School 6th-grader at Gillette) Jessi McIlquham (band member in Marshfield hospital) Brian Collicott (9th-10th grade band director at Rochester Mayo) (Brian's wife Jennifer created another guestbook on Thurs., Oct. 20) Doug Greenhalgh (11th-12th grade band director) Therese Greenhalgh (wife of Doug Greenhalgh) Morgan Greenhalgh (granddaughter of Doug & Therese Greenhalgh) Paul Rasmus (bus driver) Branden Atherton (student teacher) (He also has a funeral home guestbook.) Amy Bowen (Chi-Hi grad, UWEC student, instructor) Jessica Rozga (Whitnall HS grad, UWEC student, instructor) Selected writings (columns and essays) 10/17/05: Bus crash is every parent's nightmare 10/18/05: Chippewa Falls has lost a legend in Doug Greenhalgh 10/18/05: Former drum corps judge, band director killed in bus crash 10/22/05: Visitation, funeral unite a city -- now rhythm of life goes on 10/27/05: A lovely rose swaying in a breeze shows band's affection 11/04/05: Reflections of a Senior Cardinal, by Danielle Hetke 12/17/05: Collicott rises to the occasion, foretelling of things to come 12/29/05: Brady Nyhus's recap 01/16/06: Bus crash web page preserves memories of October week 05/14/06: Jim Bonney's blog after the May 13 Memorial Concert at Chi-Hi (part 1 and part 2 and part 3 [photos]) 05/14/06: Oct. 16, 2005 still has impact 10/26/06: Former members are the unsung heroes of the Marching Cardinals 11/07/07: Some band parents just can't quit serving once they find their niche How can you help? "Frigid 8" -- run to benefit injured students Various Chi-Hi music alumni are brainstorming about creating a memorial garden, putting together a DVD of marching band footage, and planning a music reunion fund-raiser. Contact them directly if you'd like to help. You can send memorials to the family, as they would also like to direct funds toward organizations important to Therese and Morgan. Scholarship fund has been set up by CFMA. Greenhalgh Family Endowment fund -- "The G Fund" has been set up by Chi-Hi alumni to support the band. Branden Atherton Memorial Music Scholarship Fund has been set up by the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. Brian Collicott Recovery Fund has been set up by CFMA. Other links: Photos and short video of Collicott in recovery (Mon, 11/22/2005) Photos from visitation for Greenhalghs (Wed., 10/19/2005) Photos from funeral for Greenhalghs (Thurs., 10/20/2005) Photos of Doug Greenhalgh in action Photos of Brian Collicott in action Chi-Hi's official web page Photos of Marching Cardinals at 10/09/2005 competition in Menomonie Sermon notes from one church that devoted its worship service to this tragedy Condolences from other bands Center for Loss & Life Transition Fitting "Thank you" songs in memory of Doug Greenhalgh Lyrics to song written down by Jessi in hospital room

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This page is maintained by Tom Arneberg (tom@arneberg.com) (Last modified: $Date: 2009-10-16 14:23:41-05 $ GMT)