64 cattle trapped when building collapses

Published 9:11 am Wednesday, December 22, 2010

PLAINVIEW — Rescuers have freed dozens of cattle trapped after heavy snow caused a freestall building to collapse in southeastern Minnesota.

Sixty-four cattle were trapped when the roof came down on the building on the Ray Mussell farm near Plainview early Tuesday.

One cow died and several were injured. No people were hurt.

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Neighbors and a Winona County rescue team freed the cattle.

Four inches of snow fell on Winona in the Monday snowstorm. The wet, heavy snow contributed to the collapse of the barns.

The crew used chainsaws to cut through debris and free the last cow by about 10:45 a.m. Several cows were injured, and one was killed.

Earlier in Winona, a Boelter Industries warehouse roof collapsed from heavy snow, blocking some train tracks. No one was hurt in that collapse.

Debris was mostly cleared in the early afternoon, and the route returned to service about 3 p.m.

In Spring Valley, a roof collapsed at Marzolf Implement’s repair shop sometime Monday night.

Equipment such as tractors and forklifts were damaged.