By Bruce Karnick

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Bus Driver Appreciation Day has been a big deal for a while now, but the pandemic shined additional light on just how important school bus drivers are to the everyday lives of families across the US. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz declared Feb. 23 as Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

House of Representatives member Tony Jurgens makes it a point to come to Hastings to personally greet the drivers of Hastings Bus Company bright and early in the morning. He arrived just before 6 a.m. to see as many drivers as he could. He was joined by school officials Dr. Robert McDowell, Interim Assistant Principal at Hastings High School Trent Hanson and later in the morning, Mayor Mary Fasbender.

Senator Karla Bigham stopped at the Big River Bus Terminal on Highway 61 to do her own welcoming and greeting of as many bus drivers and aides as she could. Big River services more than 50 special education routes in South Washington County, a location near and dear to Senator Bigham’s heart.

As part of the full day celebration, both terminals served doughnuts at breakfast for the staff and then grilled hot dogs along with all sorts of side dishes for lunch.

At 9 a.m. in Hastings, Mayor Mary did her own proclamation for the City of Hastings and Hastings Bus Company declaring the day Bus Driver Appreciation Day locally.

Photo by Bruce Karnick

Photo Courtesy of Senator Karla Bigham

Big River Bus Company had a special guest on Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Senator Karla Bigham joined in on the celebration greeting drivers and aids as they came in for their routes.