In case you have not yet heard, Pete got a call at 4:30 Sunday morning from the Sheriff’s department; someone had vandalized the Groove bus and Groove Offices. They broke just about every piece of glass on the bus and emptied the bus fire extinguisher inside the bus. They then broke one of the windows in the armory and entered. They found the extinguishers inside and emptied them in the Groove office, Room 9, the bathrooms, and the large open area. There was some surveillance video from the large open area.  You can’t make out the faces, but it was 2 younger individuals.

Unfortunately the Summerline group could not make make the parade in St Clair, MN, on Sunday. Instead approximately 25 parents, staff, and members showed up Sunday afternoon to take the broken glass out of the bus and clean up the offices in the Armory.  Most of the contents of Room 9 was taken outside and blown off with an air compressor. There was no damage to any of the drum equipment and “Room 9″ finally got the cleaning it has needed for some time now. (click here to see pics before & after the cleanup.)

More good news: Pete was able to get replacement side glass, windshield, and 2 rear windows from the original owner of the bus, all of which was donated! On Monday, several volunteers removed the old caulking, and Tuesday morning Dean and Pete put in all of the side glass.  Tuesday some of the Summerline parents scrub cleaned the inside of the bus, and tomorrow we will have the windshield and rear glass professionally installed. The bus will be ready to go to Sioux City this Friday! What at first seemed to be impossible has been made possible.  All through the generous volunteer time of several individuals.   

A special thanks to Dean Marty for spearheading the replacement effort. 

The Beat Goes On!!!
Leon & Pete

Tags: bus, summerline, vandalism
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