TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[mister happy]

THIS article exposes what the " leaders" in West wanted to do, and what their congressman finally, after months of wrangling, convinced them to do with regard to the stupid football field.

Please note how much they wanted to spend for artificial turf. ( over $900.000).
Please note what the congressman said about the proposal hurting their chances of getting FEMA aid in the future!!
Also, note the date of the article. Didn't happen days or weeks after the blast but a few months.

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/greate...cle_f2a55df9-9197-5d11-b8d1-a48238811f2d.html

This is not speculation, not rumor. It's news. And, it's my last post about how utterly lost those in positions of management in West. TX are. A member of Congress in their district had to tell them to shape up and be fiscally responsible. :banghead:

Had to chuckle a bit at that because I've always heard the HS football is "everything" in Texas.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

THIS article exposes what the " leaders" in West wanted to do, and what their congressman finally, after months of wrangling, convinced them to do with regard to the stupid football field.

Please note how much they wanted to spend for artificial turf. ( over $900.000).
Please note what the congressman said about the proposal hurting their chances of getting FEMA aid in the future!!
Also, note the date of the article. Didn't happen days or weeks after the blast but a few months.

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/greate...cle_f2a55df9-9197-5d11-b8d1-a48238811f2d.html

This is not speculation, not rumor. It's news. And, it's my last post about how utterly lost those in positions of management in West. TX are. A member of Congress in their district had to tell them to shape up and be fiscally responsible. :banghead:

The artificial turf saga was initiated by West ISD. IMO, absolutely stupid in oh so many ways. JMO.

 

[SeekingJana]

Sorry you feel I shouldn't have said it's on the internet. Ummm, in the big picture, there aren't that many people here at WS compared to the rest of the State, let alone the greater West area. How do you think I was told they were printed? (And no, it's not a FB "legend.") The local folk know all about it, it spread quickly.

I agree with those who really were surprised/upset at the whole "let's get turf" ASAP...that didn't go over well in this area, either. Not a priority. :banghead:

As we can see right here as a little pulse on opinions, there are conflicting perspectives in the West area, as well. That is all I said with this morning's post. Re the alcohol/THC, it's an emotional topic which many feel one way, and others feel another. I think most local people understand these were volunteers, who didn't know they were going to get called out. I have only tried to give a local perspective and have tried to remain neutral and be fair to both sides. I haven't given my personal opinion yet, I don't believe.

It's not YOU Dep. Dawg. It's what our society has become and demands in the way of " has to be sensational to be important enough to read". I do blame Social Media for this shift in how the truth can be and usually is distorted and the pain that people can and do feel from the disinformation. But it's not your fault.

I was never going to speak of this but I think I owe an explanation for my opinion about truth and also sensitivity in news reporting by MSM outlets.
I had a very negative situation occur out of the blue a few years ago in which a family member, the perpetrator of domestic violence against me, gave a false version of what happened to me to the local LE. I had given my written statement and oral statements and they were accurate and consistent. Local LE, in turn, put a sensational spin on the story to make it into a national news item ( and FAILED!!!) which was based upon the lie of the accused, not me, the victim.

So, I know, I really really know what it's like to have social media judge and almost crucify an innocent person. No matter what I do, the erroneous news blurb will stay on the Internet news sites and both of us , abuser and victim, look like complete fools. He, because of what he DID, and me, because the local LE LIED about the reason I was abused to make the story sensational.

Therefore, I am very much against the carrying of tales as I was victimized by the " sensationalized version" which was a stupid and sick LIE. Twice- once as a victim of abuse and the second time, in the made up story the abuser told LE, which was SO STUPID they should be embarrassed to print it. In fact, it is my belief that it never would have been " spun" so dramatically if not for the public's hunger for sensationalism.
As I told the LE personnel responsible and the DFW media who did run the untruthful version-- You don't re-victimize a crime victim.

Again, this is my own personal hurt coming through, but it was tough to know that I had been beaten, then laughed at because a spouse gave a farce of a story about how and why I was beaten.
I swear to you that this did happen, and is still online with the lies intact.

Hugs and I'm sorry if you were upset by the strong way I worded my objections.
Maria

 

[SeekingJana]

Had to chuckle a bit at that because I've always heard the HS football is "everything" in Texas.

I heard the same thing said in every southern state I've ever lived in. " Football is king in ___". " We live for Friday nights in _____".

No, education is everything to educated people. Football is everything to the wannabe jocks of the US, including TX.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

It's not YOU Dep. Dawg. It's what our society has become and demands in the way of " has to be sensational to be important enough to read". I do blame Social Media for this shift in how the truth can be and usually is distorted and the pain that people can and do feel from the disinformation. But it's not your fault.

I was never going to speak of this but I think I owe an explanation for my opinion about truth and also sensitivity in news reporting by MSM outlets.
I had a very negative situation occur out of the blue a few years ago in which a family member, the perpetrator of domestic violence against me, gave a false version of what happened to me to the local LE. I had given my written statement and oral statements and they were accurate and consistent. Local LE, in turn, put a sensational spin on the story to make it into a national news item ( and FAILED!!!) which was based upon the lie of the accused, not me, the victim.

So, I know, I really really know what it's like to have social media judge and almost crucify an innocent person. No matter what I do, the erroneous news blurb will stay on the Internet news sites and both of us , abuser and victim, look like complete fools. He, because of what he DID, and me, because the local LE LIED about the reason I was abused to make the story sensational.

Therefore, I am very much against the carrying of tales as I was victimized by the " sensationalized version" which was a stupid and sick LIE. Twice- once as a victim of abuse and the second time, in the made up story the abuser told LE, which was SO STUPID they should be embarrassed to print it. In fact, it is my belief that it never would have been " spun" so dramatically if not for the public's hunger for sensationalism.
As I told the LE personnel responsible and the DFW media who did run the untruthful version-- You don't re-victimize a crime victim.

Again, this is my own personal hurt coming through, but it was tough to know that I had been beaten, then laughed at because a spouse gave a farce of a story about how and why I was beaten.
I swear to you that this did happen, and is still online with the lies intact.

Hugs and I'm sorry if you were upset by the strong way I worded my objections.
Maria

So sorry to hear about your personal experience, that is so sad to hear. I have a real love/hate relationship with the media. It can do so much good, but I have seen many examples of incorrect or misleading in incomplete info really distort a local community's take on local crime issues, etc. It is difficult to read some articles and have to sit on my hands and not say anything sometimes.

Re 'sensationalism' - a coworker and I were just talking about that yesterday. We've got cases to present to the grand jury today, and my coworker has one that should be indicted today, that we just know the media will pick up on. We were already laughing (with eyes rolling) at what we think the big headline will be. It will tag the suspect's (soon to be defendant!) job title. While this guy's position does make his financial crime worse, there are going to be other cases with more victims and more $$$$ lost at Grand Jury today, but we're betting it will all be about this one guy.


- - - - -
Back to West,

I think we all agree about the football turf issue, LOL. What gets me is that the ISD Superintendent must have met with his staff and the ISD Board, correct? And the majority of these people thought this was a good idea to request for $900K? Duh. :banghead:

 

[Jewels53]

On a good note!

WEST (CBSDFW.COM) - It is far from an ideal situation, but West ISD Superintendent Marty Crawford said the district will be ready for students come the first day of classes on August 26th.

“That’s going to be a huge victory for West ISD,” he said.

April’s fertilizer explosion heavily damaged three of the district’s four campuses.

Using insurance money as well as FEMA emergency relief funds, West ISD is rapidly putting together a temporary campus at the site of old middle school.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/08/13/west-isd-says-it-will-be-ready-for-the-new-school-year/

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

On a good note!




http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/08/13/west-isd-says-it-will-be-ready-for-the-new-school-year/

I'm sure your granddaughter will be so relieved!

 

[Sharyne]

The West, Texas, fertilizer plant that explosed in April, killing 15, injuring hundreds of others and causing an estimated $100 million in damages, has been cited for two dozen serious safety violations. The plant faces $118,300 in federal fines, although those may end up being reduced if the company appeals.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/11/west_texas_fertilizer_plant_fined_118300_for_safety_violations/singleton/

 

[mister happy]

The West, Texas, fertilizer plant that explosed in April, killing 15, injuring hundreds of others and causing an estimated $100 million in damages, has been cited for two dozen serious safety violations. The plant faces $118,300 in federal fines, although those may end up being reduced if the company appeals.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/11/wes...fined_118300_for_safety_violations/singleton/

Wow. Great to have all these safety rules, but if nothing is enforced until after the fact, then it is all just fertilizer (aka BS)!

 

[Jewels53]

My Granddaughter shared this on FB today:

Very touching perspective from a young man and how much a town has suffered.

snipped

For those who lost loved ones, the grieving continues. But almost everyone in West, a town of about 2,500 people, was affected in some way.
Like Tyler Pustejovsky, the captain of the West Trojans football team, who had always dreamed of a memorable senior year.
”I’ve got that optimistic attitude, you know,” Pustejovsky said.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news...west-finds-healing-in-football-233386991.html

 

[SeekingJana]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/12/04/5392868/former-west-paramedic-sentenced.html?rh=1

Not ever connected to the West explosion. 21 months for the bomb making related charges ( in non-technical terms).

 

[Cherry]

wow; I'm surprised he wasn't eventually connected, I thought he was. i guess the evidence isn't there. There is no such thing as a coinkydink when crime is involved...usually.

 

[jjenny]

Investigation couldn't determine the cause of the explosion. Which isn't good, obviously. It's be hard to convict anyone without knowing what caused the explosion.

 

[Softail]

Dec. 29, 2013

2013 Texans of the Year: THOSE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL AT WEST

An extra minute or a spare few inches can mean everything when disaster threatens. Folks in West think about that a lot these days — those tiny increments of space and time that stand between life and death. Around sunset on April 17, fire was consuming a West Fertilizer Co. warehouse just beyond the city’s northeast border.

In the precious minutes after the first alarm sounded around 7:27 p.m., emergency personnel had to react without pausing to consider the danger ahead. Flames towered over the town, out of control, unlike anything West had ever seen. Firefighters knew the warehouse housed tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a potentially explosive chemical. Outside, tanks of toxic anhydrous ammonia gas were in danger of rupturing from the intense heat.

http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_December/texan-of-the-year/west/

 

[KateB]

The WFAA documentary "Rise Up, West" follows the town's high school football team as it restores its playing field and helps lead the recovery following the April, 2013 fertilizer plant explosion that left 15 people dead.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....76320161544.83777.55326701544&type=1&theater
If you missed the WFAA documentary 'Rise Up, West' (or want to see it again), we now have it available online:
We welcome your comments.
Part 1 - http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/Rise-Up-West-Part-I-255045911.html
Part 2 - http://www.wfaa.com/video/featured-videos/Rise-Up-West-Part-II-255046021.html

 

[Softail]

1 year later: West reflects on blast that killed 15

Some 200 homes were damaged or destroyed. Fifteen people died, 12 of them were first responders.

In the meantime, the rebuilding goes on for the living.


http://kxan.com/2014/04/16/1-year-later-west-reflects-on-blast-that-killed-15/

There will be a memorial tonight. There is video at the link.

 

[Softail]

West still recovering one year after fertilizer plant explosion

WEST, Texas -- April 17 marks the one year anniversary of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, a small town of around 3,000 people, about 20 miles north of Waco. Fifteen people died in the explosion, and the community is still recovering financially and emotionally.

Residents are reflecting on the tragic day.


http://www.kvue.com/news/local/The-...ter-fertilizer-plant-explosion-255622111.html

Video at link.

 

[Softail]

Newly released video shows West plant explosion

http://kxan.com/2014/04/17/newly-released-video-shows-west-plant-explosion/

 

[rosie_lee]

ATF HQ (@ATFHQ): https://twitter.com/ATFHQ?s=09

BREAKING: ATF announces $50K reward in West Fertilizer fire.

BREAKING: ATF Fire Research Lab determines West Fertilizer plant fire intentionally set.

ATF Houston says more than 400 interviews conducted, $2 million spent on investigation of West, TX fire.

 

[rosie_lee]

The Associated Press (@AP): https://twitter.com/AP?s=09

BREAKING: Federal official: Fire that caused fatal 2013 Texas fertilizer plant explosion was criminal act, no arrests made.