Students lined both sides of the street to welcome their friends and classmates home.

“Four weeks and two hours” – a stark reminder of a tragic accident in Crofton a little over a month ago now that sent two local youth, Breanna and Katelynn Schieffer, two of the four daughters of Carl and Nancy Schieffer of Crofton into intensive care in Sioux Falls, and then to Omaha.

The girls have made big strides in their recovery and were able to leave their care center and return home to Crofton on October 2 of last week.

In a bit of a surprise parade and welcome home, the girls were escorted into Crofton in grand fashion with firetrucks and signage and friends and family lining the road between Crofton Elementary and St. Rose Elementary as the girls were returned home.

The Crofton Fire and Rescue was alerted in the early hours of the morning to help line up the escort, and firefighter Michael Guenther said it was a great honor to help the family return home.

Both girls will have orthopedic appointments in Sioux Falls, physical and pool therapy in Yankton, and speech therapy at Avera in Yankton, as well.

The family said they have “loved all the packages, gifts and cards sent to the hospital. They are so humbled and speechless with the generosity of the community and surrounding area.”

As of the last update on September 28, the family was planning to return home, and were happy to report that any future correspondence to the girls or the family could be finally sent to their home address at 607 W. Omaha St., Crofton, NE 68730.