Replies

A couple more interesting articles I ran across tonight. This set from AltaVista News Search:
Alta Vista Search Results: 10/25

EXPLOSION

Minnesota:
Explosion rocks grain elevator in southern Minnesota
(LR - Sure hope this is your "typical" grain explosion, 2 within 1 week seems a little high for the odds, in my uneducated opinion...)
VERNON CENTER, Minn. - An explosion flashed through a southern Minnesota grain elevator complex, blowing a huge hole in the roof and sending a fireball high into the sky. At least six people were hurt, five seriously.
(...)Crystal Valley Co-op General Manager Roger Kienholz said the organization would try to find ways to accommodate farmers who are already having trouble finding places to take their corn harvest.
"This shuts down a key facility right in the middle of harvest," Kienholz told The Free Press of Mankato. He did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
(...)It was the second explosion at a Minnesota grain elevator since Saturday, when the Wendell Farmers Elevator near Fergus Falls was heavily damaged. No one was hurt. The cause was under investigation, but local officials said they suspect grain dust.
Robert Schoeff, a professor emeritus from Kansas State University and a national expert on grain dust explosions, said the fireball described at the Vernon Center explosion was a common feature of dust-fuel explosions.

Missouri: Explosion damages road in Binder Park
An act of arson ruined a new plastic culvert pipe at Binder Park Saturday morning. The incident caused a driveway leading to two ball fields to cave in and become impassible.
(...)Park Resources Director J.J. Gates said authorities aren't certain what was placed in the culvert that caused it to explode and catch on fire. But apparently, the explosion was large enough to be seen from Business Highway 50, he said.
(...)The explosion was accompanied by an obscenity spray-painted on the roadway.

Wisconsin:
Explosion at Arcadia plant injures two
FULL STORY:
An explosion at the Ocean Nutrition Processing Plant at 501 South Washington Street, Arcadia, Wis., occurred on Friday, October 21, at about 12:51 a.m. There were nine employees in the plant at the time of the incident. Two people were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arcadia, where they were treated and released. There were no other reported injuries. During processing, the spray dryer was in operation and an explosion appears to have occurred in that area. After the explosion occurred the plant was immediately evacuated and 911 was called.
Management from Ocean Nutrition were called to the scene, and they are presently attempting to make a determination as to the cause of the incident.

Michigan:
Small Explosion Blows Window Out Of Home
Authorities are investigating a possible firebombing after an explosive device was detonated at an Ypsilanti Township home early Monday morning.
The device -- possibly an M-80 firework -- blew out the basement window of a home on DeSoto Avenue in West Willow at about 2 a.m., said Washtenaw County Sheriff's Cmdr. Dave Egeler in an Ann Arbor News report. Sheriff's deputies investigating at the scene discovered a Crown Royal liquor bag containing a plastic bag filled with gasoline, according to Egeler.

Mississippi:
Officers Investigate Ballpark Explosion
A loud explosion shook part of Vicksburg Saturday night. Around 9 p.m., a blast in Halls Ferry Ballpark left a cloud of smoke and shook the fire department nearby.
The explosion could be heard as far away as a 1/4 mile from the park at the Vicksburg Evening Post. Police investigating the scene found the remains of used beer bottles and chemicals. The explosion occurred near the main baseball field of the park, behind the tennis courts

BOMB SEARCH RESULTS:

Indiana: Driver finds object resembling pipe bomb
A device made to look like a pipe bomb found at First and Ohio streets brought out a State Police bomb disposal team Monday morning and forced police to reroute traffic at a busy downtown intersection for about an hour.
George Ralston, chief of Terre Haute police, said the device was taken as evidence after an explosives disposal technician determined it was harmless. Police were investigating why and how it came to be there.

16-year-old survives pipe bomb attack in Desert Hot Springs
A pipe bomb thrown into a home exploded just feet away from a sleeping 16-year-old girl. It happened early this morning in Desert Hot Springs.
(...)Police say they don't know who did this or why. But they say whoever threw the pipe bomb into the apartment wanted someone hurt.