From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Monday, September 11th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz. Topping our news
From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, here is your news for Monday, September 11th, on Mix 104-1 and Talk 101-3 The Buzz.
Topping our news today, from the Chattanooga Times Free Press…
A Wacker Polysilicon official said Friday the chemical explosion that sent a cloud of hydrochloric acid into the air and several people to the hospital on Thursday was the same substance involved in an Aug. 30 incident that injured five plant workers, even though a company spokeswoman said the two incidents are not related.
Meanwhile, the $2.5 billion plant that manufactures hyperpure polysilicon for solar panels is closed and will stay that way while the company and state and federal investigators figure out what went wrong.
“We are going to take the time necessary to understand what accident or what incident caused this explosion and chemical release,” Mary Beth Hudson, vice president for Wacker Polysilicon and site manager at the Charleston plant, said in a news briefing Friday.
Though the incident is over, she said, “We won’t restart until we can ensure [the community] is safeguarded and secured.”
Hudson said the investigation has just begun into the cause of the blast and chemical leak, which shut down Interstate 75 and local roads for fear of exposure to the acid-tainted air. Law enforcement and emergency responders warned people to take shelter indoors and turn off air conditioners. A plant worker, a firefighter, four deputies and seven local residents were treated at hospitals as a result of the incident.
She said the chemical release was contained by pouring water on it, and the huge plume that hung over the plant for hours was mostly water vapor. She said the escaped chemicals were contained on site.
Troy Spence, director of Bradley County Emergency Management, said his agency and Wacker have worked together on emergency planning since before the plant broke ground and there’s a “lot of trust” between the two. The plant opened in 2016.
Residents of Cleveland/Bradley County and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message and email by texting CBCEMA to 888777 or registering at http://www.nixle.com.
In news today…
The Bradley County Young Republicans will host Taco Tuesday tomorrow, September 12th. If you enjoy tacos and making your community a better place, you are encouraged to join them to discuss what is going on in politics and our community over a delicious meal. Tacos are only 99 cents. The event will be held at Tres Hermanos Mexican Restaurant at 2502 North Ocoee Street, at the corner of 25th and Ocoee Streets. It starts at 7PM.
Also in news today…
Due to the rainy conditions forecast for the beginning of the week from Hurricane Irma, the Don Ledford drive event at Black Fox Elementary has been moved to Tuesday, September 19th, beginning at 7:30AM. Five hundred drivers are asked to test drive a car. If they do, Black Fox will receive $10,000 from Buick and Don Ledford. Those who come to drive can vote for their favorite school. The school with the most votes will win the privilege of hosting the next drive event. Again, the Don Ledford drive event scheduled for this week has been moved to Tuesday, September 19th, due to the rain forecast from Hurricane Irma.
From the Cleveland Daily Banner…
When disasters like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit, many people help by donating money to disaster relief efforts.
However, the Better Business Bureau is urging those who wish to help to make sure they are giving to charities which will actually use donations to help people in need.
While there are many legitimate charitable organizations helping people begin the road to recovery, scam artists have also responded to the recent disasters.
Shortly after Hurricane Harvey, the BBB began seeing “crowdfunding appeals of a dubious nature” on social media and websites which allow individuals to set up personal fundraising campaigns.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance rates established charities based on its 20 “Standards for Charity Accountability” and lists them on a website, http://www.give.org/. One can type in the name of a charity to see an individual report.
This has been your local and state news. You can get news anytime by visiting our website, mymix1041.com, powered by Pioneer Credit. From the Tennova Healthcare Cleveland News Desk, this is Jeremy Gault reporting.
