September 27, 2013

September 26. 2013  School claims pipeline company did not properly notify it of a planned, controlled release.

September 23, 2013

HEROES for water, energy and food...  
GRACE Communications Foundation builds partnerships and develops innovative media strategies that increase public awareness of the relationships among food, water and energy systems. By mobilizing philanthropic resources and collaborating with like-minded non-profits and academic institutions, we educate consumers and advocate for policies that:

  • address the environmental and public health effects of industrial food systems
  • support the development of sustainable food distribution networks
  • result in common sense use of water resources for energy and food production
  • provide clean energy alternatives to conventional power systems
  • create and promote prevention techniques individuals and communities can use to improve their health

September 19, 2013

East Texas Utopia: Remembering the New London School Explosion 9/18/2013

By Amy Burke, aburke@news-journal.com



Photo: Ellie Goldberg, 2007

London Museum & Tea Room
690 S Main Street
New London, TX 75682
(903) 895-4602
It was March 18, 1937, and it was one of the most tragic days in Texas history, but it brought forth a law that would save countless lives in its wake.

The explosion that day at the New London Junior-Senior High School could be heard for miles — ripping down walls, smashing cars and killing around 300 unsuspecting students, teachers and visitors.

At the height of the East Texas oil boom, how could something like this happen at one of the richest rural school districts in the country? I set out to find some answers by visiting the place where it all began — at the self-proclaimed home of the original Friday Night Lights — New London.

The town is small — home to less than 1,000 residents — but the resilience of the locals is evident, especially inside the museum that pays tribute to the school and the victims in the aftermath of one of the biggest school disasters in the country....

September 09, 2013

Explosion Survivor Dies

Explosion Survivor
Billy Gene Thompson, 89, of New London, died Sept. 7, 2013, in a Henderson nursing home. He was born June 2, 1924, in Rusk County to Alvin A. Thompson and Bonnie Freeman. He survived the New London school explosion, and served in the Navy during World War II. He was married to Margaret Thompson for 66 years, and retired from Kelly-Springfield Tire Company. He was a member of London Methodist Church. Survivors include his sons, Kent and Linda Thompson, New London, and Gregg and Jyoti Thompson, Overton; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Rodney and Scott Thompson. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, at Burrows Overton Funeral Home with the Revs. Jim Hilton and Jerry Smith officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Henderson. Visitation will be 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, at the funeral home. Published in Tyler Morning Telegraph on September 9, 2013 

   

  

September 04, 2013

EPA funds removal of chemicals in schoolsTracey C. O'Neill, Cranston Herald  

The result of a hazardous waste settlement between commercial waste hauler Northland Environmental, its owner PSC Environmental Services (PSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has resulted in a benefit to 60 schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The settlement, resulting from EPA claims of state and federal hazardous waste violations at a Providence facility, led to the announcement of the statewide cleanup of hazardous chemicals at 33 Rhode Island schools. All schools lie within a 50-mile radius of the Providence facility where the violations took place.

New London remembers former mayor, museum director Mollie WardNEW LONDON, TX (KLTV) 
An East Texas woman who dedicated most of her life and all of her time to her community has passed away.

Mollie Ward, who was once the mayor of New London, died this morning at the age of 86. Listing all of Mollie's accomplishments is nearly impossible. There are many things that Mollie will always be remembered for--- including starting the New London Museum, which honors the victims and survivors of the New London School explosion.

In 1937, when the explosion occurred, Mollie Ward became a survivor. She used her life, which was spared, to make sure her classmates that were killed in the explosion would never be forgotten.

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