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Marshall Resident Among Survivors: Minnesota-to-Toronto Flight Crashes in Strong Winds
Issue #203
In this Marshall Area Insider issue…
☀️ Marshall, MN Weather - Sunny with a high of 9
🗞️ Marshall Resident Among Survivors: Minnesota-to-Toronto Flight Crashes in Strong Winds
🗞️ Commissioners Seek Clarification on Nonprofit’s Budget Request
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📌 Know of other local events not listed? Send us the details!
Marshall Resident Among Survivors: Minnesota-to-Toronto Flight Crashes in Strong Winds
A Marshall resident was among the 80 people aboard a Delta Air Lines jet that overturned while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday. Despite the severity of the crash, all passengers and crew survived.
The flight, which departed from Minneapolis, carried 76 passengers and four crew members. At the time of landing, wind gusts at the airport reached 40 miles per hour, contributing to the rough conditions. More than 20 people sustained injuries, though all but two had been released from the hospital by Tuesday.
The Marshall passenger, John DeVos, frequently makes the trip to Toronto for work.
As the president of North American animal nutrition at Barentz, he often visits the company’s office in New Hamburg, Ontario. He was flying in on Monday, a Canadian holiday, to ensure he was in the office the following day.
During the descent, passengers were informed of strong winds and the potential for a bumpy landing.
Sitting in an aisle seat, DeVos had limited visibility outside. When the plane touched down, it hit the ground hard. Instead of bouncing and stabilizing, the aircraft began to tilt.
The plane ultimately flipped upside down after a wing detached from the fuselage.
Passengers and crew quickly worked to unbuckle their seatbelts and evacuate in an orderly manner.
A delay in exiting occurred due to jet fuel pouring near the emergency exit, but those in the exit row managed to open the door, allowing passengers to escape onto the tarmac.
Braving the cold, survivors moved away from the aircraft, some taking temporary shelter behind a fire truck to shield themselves from the wind. Injured passengers were transported via emergency vehicles, while the rest were taken by bus to the airport, where responders provided water and food.
Without his phone, which was lost in the wreckage, DeVos borrowed one from another passenger to contact his wife. His phone was later recovered by a fellow traveler, allowing him to update family and colleagues on his safety.
Passengers were then taken to an airport hotel.
DeVos’ Ontario-based colleagues stepped in to provide essentials such as a coat and a change of clothes, as he had exited the crash with only his wallet, passport, and the clothes he was wearing.
Opting to shorten his business trip due to continued poor weather, DeVos planned to drive to Detroit to catch a flight back to Minneapolis, where his wife would meet him for the final stretch home.
Despite bruising from his seatbelt, DeVos was otherwise unharmed.
He credited seatbelt use and the structural integrity of the fuselage for the survival of passengers in his section.
After later seeing footage of the crash, he realized the full extent of the fire and smoke as the aircraft skidded to a stop.
Surviving a commercial plane crash is rare, and DeVos expressed deep gratitude for having walked away from the incident.
Commissioners Seek Clarification on Nonprofit’s Budget Request
Lyon County Commissioners discussed a funding request from the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) this week but postponed a final decision due to uncertainty about whether the request had been submitted in time for inclusion in the county’s 2025 budget.
SWIF, a regional nonprofit focused on economic development, entrepreneurship, and child care, requested a $5,500 annual appropriation.
However, county budget records did not show the request as part of the 2025 budget plan. County Administrator Loren Stomberg expressed hesitation in approving the funding without confirmation that it had been properly submitted during the budgeting process.
Commissioners debated the request, with some acknowledging SWIF’s contributions to the region while others voiced concerns about funding items outside the established budget.
The county has provided funding to SWIF in the past but has not done so consistently over the past two decades.
To clarify the situation, Stomberg reviewed county records during a break in the meeting but did not find a documented request from SWIF.
However, he acknowledged the possibility of having overlooked it. Given the uncertainty, commissioners opted to table the discussion and instructed Stomberg to follow up with SWIF to confirm whether the request had been submitted earlier in the budget cycle.
Upcoming Area Events
🗓️ Have an event to add? Send us the details!
Saturday, February 22nd
2025 Mustang Gold Rush Raffle at R/A Facility at SMSU social hour starting at 6:00 PM
Tickets are $100/ person which includes entry into the event & into the reverse raffle.
Enjoy live and silent auctions, along with casino games and a variety of other fun games.
The grand prize of $5,000 is awarded to the last remaining raffle ticket holder.
$2,000 is awarded to the second remaining ticket holder.
3rd, 4th and 5th remaining ticket holders will each be awarded $1,000.
A $100 prize will be awarded seven other times during the raffle.
$500 will be awarded for the 350th ticket drawn.
Sunday, February 23rd
Brunch at the Wood Lake Community Center from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
free will donations
Wednesday, February 26th
2025 State of the City Address at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Upper Conference Center starting at 11:30 AM
Tickets are $20 for Chamber Members and $25 for Non-Chamber Members
Lunch included
Monday, March 3rd
Marshall Area Cancer Support Group Meetings at Living Word Lutheran Church in Marshall at 6:00 PM
For patients, survivors, and caregivers looking for support
Wednesday, March 5th (first Wednesday of every month)
Dementia Caregiver Support Group from 10:00 - 11:30 AM at Adult Community Center in Marshall
Open to everyone, come when you can, no cost or obligation to attend, refreshments available
For questions contact Jane Nelson Como (507) 829-1143
Friday, March 7th
KC/VFW Fish Fry at VFW Post 2980, 116 E Saxon St., Ivanhoe, MN from 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Serving Beer Battered Cod, French Fries, Vegetable & Dinner Roll
Adults $13, Children (age 10 & under) $9
Saturday, March 15th
Downtown Marshall St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 3:00 PM
Friday, March 21st
KC/VFW Fish Fry at VFW Post 2980, 116 E Saxon St., Ivanhoe, MN from 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Serving Beer Battered Cod, French Fries, Vegetable & Dinner Roll
Adults $13, Children (age 10 & under) $9
Saturday, March 22nd
Spring Fling Pet Event at Animal Health Center in Marshall from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
FREE Photo Booth: Bring your kids and / or pets for spring themed pictures
Free goodie bags for all pets
Free juice and cookies for humans
…and more!
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