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Updated: 6:44 PM Nov 14, 2008
One Dead, Others Fight For Life After Explosion Levels Pueblo Restaurant
UPDATE: Fire investigators in Pueblo have returned to the scene of a deadly building explosion Friday morning to figure out a cause. Posted: 2:34 PM Nov 13, 2008Reporter: Leslie Fichera Email Address: LFichera@kktv.com |
Rescue crews pull out a man trapped under the rubble for more than four hours after an explosion completely levels a restaurant in Pueblo, CO.
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It's almost been a year since the tradgedy...I would give ANYTHING if I could go bacc to The Branch and sit on my barstool and talk to my bartenders. I called that place home!!! I'm 28 yrs old and I didn't know where to spend my birthday this year since it wasn't there like it was the year before...and yeah I partied there with the Banditos...and??? Me and the Wife were regulars there...we never saw any drama or fights. There were many who called me and the Wife that November 13th just to checc if we were ok. I Love Frank and Carl and see them on a regular to this day. People can think what they want but The Branch Inn brought much Joy to many people all ages, shapes and sizes!!! The point is...it was a tradgedy!!! Some lost their lives and some were hurt!!! That's what matters most!!! I will always cherish the memories I had and friends I made there!!!
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to all u people talkin down on the branch my aunt shirley used to cook it up frank n carl tryd so hard too n were doin good meth lab yeah rite biker bar gangsterbar whatever my cousins never turned no one away everyone was welcome there may have been fights but look at all da other bars around town u dont c them gettin exploited like that MY HEART N PRAYERS ARE WITH THE JOHNSON FAMILY,N ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED
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This is a time for Pueblo to band together and be strong. All of the negative comments are not necessary...at all. God watch over the inviduals involved especially Ashley's family who need you more than the world right now. Worrying about the type of bar or the people that hung out there are petty things right now. Pray for the families thats what is needed and should be done.
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Yikes. Condolences to family members of Ashley Johnson. I lived in Union Depot for several years because of the unique ambiance of Historic District. The Branch Inn, like other businesses along Union Avenue, are some of Pueblo's crown jewels.
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Tragic indeed. The Branch was a cool place. Went there as a kid w/ my family. Regardless of "why" it happened, it's a shame that so many were hurt and killed. And no matter who owns it or who the patrons were, Pueblo will not be better off w/out the Branch. It's a profound loss. I did have to say, though, that this makes no sense: If you say it's a bad place what were you doing there? You must be a bad person also! followed by ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE!!! use logic much?
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YA RIGHT PUEBLO HAS MURDERS EVERY DAY BUD
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YESTERDAY WAS A TRAGIC DAY AT THE BRANCH INN. OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE YOUNG LADIES FAMILY.GET WELL WISHES TO THE OTHER VICTIMS. THE BANDIDOS YOU ALL SPEAK SO BADLY OF ARE NOT WHAT YOU MAKE THEM OUT TO BE. THE TRUE FACTS ARE THEY WERE THE VICTIMS THAT NIGHT IN SEPTEMBER. THE IMPLICATIONS BY THE NEWS MEDIA & POLICE ARE OUTRAGEOUS. CRAZY AS IT MAY SEEM THE POLICE HAVE NEVER INTERVIEWED ANY OF THE BANDIDOS INVOLVED BUT CONTINUE TO MAKE FALSE IMPLICATIONS. JUST REMEMBER HERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY AND YOU HAVE ONLY HEARD THE POLICE'S SIDE NOT THE OTHER.
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"Angel" and "Puebloan", you are ignorant. People were hurt and one died. You're letting everone know what kind of person you are if all you can focus on is whether bikers went there or whatever else. Meth lab? Do you have any specific reason for saying that, like factual information about how meth labs work? Repeating things you don't know anything about is not a great charater trait. You just put yourself on display, and believe me, people know see what you are.
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FIRST OF ALL, condolences go out to the victims and their families of this tragic situation. You are all in our thoughts and prayers! SECONDLY, thank you to the firefighters and The Red Cross for their courageous acts during this tragedy. THIRDLY, IN RESPONSE TO "PUEBLOAN", why don't you do your homework regarding the "BANDITOS BIKER GANG". Obviously you're not educated, it's spelled BANDIDOS, you'd know that if you did your homework and if you walked by them, if you did walk by, you'd know the correct spelling. If you say it's a bad place what were you doing there? You must be a bad person also! How about commenting on the good things they do like benefits for the Rely For Life, Firefighters, etc. Here's a good idea...why don't you ask a member of the BANDIDOS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, then make your decision! Uneducated ppl, like you, give Pueblo a bad name. When tragedy hits you are the type to bring out the negative, never the positive! DO YOUR HOMEWORK & GET A LIFE! ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE!!!
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I ate lunch there and left at 12:40 along with 5 of my co-workers. My heart goes out to those who were hurt and the family of the deceased young lady.
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Get over yourselves already. Remember that an innocent life was taken and it is HER FAMILY that has to live with her not smiling at them everyday. At this point in time, the main concern should be the lives that were taken and up heaved by this explosion, not the type or bar it was, the neighbors who complained or the elements that hung out there. Remember... a young girl's family has to live with the fact that they will NEVER see there beautiful young girl again. Remember that when you start bashing each other.
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Let the Bashing Begin. You people who are down grading the incident are taking away from the true meaning of Pueblo. I know for a fact that Union Avenue banded together yesterday to try and save some of "their" townspeople who had a tragic thing happen. I send my condolences to those who were involved and I truly hope that we can all learn a lesson from the heros!! Ty all.. I plan on making sure my children know the great town we live in!!!
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i find it interesting that the authorities claim that there not sure if the leak was the cause of the explosion or ruptured after the explosion. My business blew up the same way and the gas company said the same thing. I hope the investigators remove the pipe and valve from the street because they can be tested for the reason it failed. i was ten feet from the blast and am very lucky to be alive. My police friend came in and pulled me out. the gas is under great presure. It leaked at the pipe and found its way thru the sand around it to the nearest exit, which was the building. My business was completly destroyed. But i am alive and it is a story to tell the grandkids. Here it is very sad that someone was killed. Old piping can also be to blame. this just happened in Feb08 to me so I feel for them also. but of course, the gas companies will do everything posible not to be blamed.
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It doesn't matter who owns the restaurant or whatever these people are someone's family and I can't imagine just sitting there eating or having a drink and the place blows up. Prayers for all those involved.
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That place was bad news, drugs, fights, the owners, too bad an innocent lady died. My prayers go to her family. Pueblo is better off without that place of trash. Meth Lab
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