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Even as recently as the early 1990s, Davis and other employees were given no safety equipment besides a hard hat and goggles. They went into the cylinders wearing only jeans, cotton shirts and steel-toed boots, and even provided their own mule-hide leather gloves, which tended to absorb the ­chemicals.

"You'd take your gloves off and your skin would be three shades of yellow," Davis says. "Literally, it would just peel two or three layers of your skin off, and you would be sore and hurting for days and weeks on end until you healed."

Today employees at the tie plant who enter the cylinders or work directly with hazardous chemicals are equipped with full-face shields, respirators and Tyvek rubber suits, boots and gloves, said Shaw, the Koppers representative, in his deposition.

According to Cheremisinoff, such protective gear should have been provided decades earlier.

Coal-tar products were among the first substances known to produce cancer in the workplace. In the late 18th century, English physician Sir Percival Pott observed a high incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps caused by chimney tar and soot. Subsequent studies of occupational diseases linking creosote to skin cancer in railroad workers were published in the 1920s in the British Medical Journal and the 1950s in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Today coal-tar creosote is classified as a known human carcinogen; the tie plant for decades also used other heavily restricted pesticides, such as pentachlorophenol and chromated copper arsenic, which have been linked to cancers and birth defects (see "Toxic Town: Birth Defects").

As recently as 1980, chemical manufacturing companies warned against clothing contamination and skin contact with coal-tar creosote solutions. Some recommended that employers provide showers and work uniforms to preclude laundering contaminated clothes at home.

The warnings appeared on material safety data sheets, or MSDS, a system for cataloguing information such as toxicity, health effects and suggested protective equipment for chemicals and chemical mixtures. MSDS have been prevalent since the 1950s; the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration has mandated their use since 1986 under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

Dennis Davis, who served as safety committee chairman at the Somerville tie plant in the early 1990s, says he never saw or even heard of an MSDS until Koppers bought the facility. Several current and former tie-plant employees have testified that nobody ever informed them that the chemicals they handled on a daily basis may cause cancer.

Davis's uncle, Don "Slim" Hightower, worked at the tie plant from 1969 to 1995 as a machinist. In a November 2002 deposition, he described how he routinely got splattered with creosote while using a pressure hose to clean the inside of the cylinders. When he complained to a superintendent, he was told to "just go on with your work and just wash your hands or whatever."

In the late 1990s, Hightower was diagnosed with skin cancer that rapidly ate his face, nose and the bones on the roof of his mouth. "People stare at you; they wonder what happened to you," he said in his videotaped deposition, wiping his eye. "Little kids point at you; they don't understand why this is."

In November 2001, Hightower filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway under the Federal Employers Liability Act, which gives railroad workers not covered by regular workers' compensation laws the right to sue their employers for on-the-job injuries.

He received an undisclosed settlement in June 2003, and died 18 months later.
_____________________

In depositions, former Somerville tie-plant superintendents Samuel Barkley and Vernon "Gene" Welch both admitted they had no clue what chemicals comprised creosote or whether any were considered carcinogenic. Though ultimately responsible for worker safety, both said they never informed employees about potential health risks.

They also expressed a general belief that exposure to low concentrations of creosote and the other heavy-duty pesticides used at the plant did not require any special precautions.

"I don't recall that we gave them — that I gave them any instruction," said Barkley, superintendent from 1971 to 1986, in an April 2003 deposition. "I mean, I would assume that they would make every effort not to get anything on them."

Barkley said that MSDS were kept on file in the main office, where rank-and-file employees were not ­permitted.

"...I never knew that there was a hazard in creosote," he said, adding that he never researched the subject or received any special training from his corporate bosses at the railway company.

Today 82-year-old Bark­ley has skin cancer, but he does not attribute it to chemical exposures at the tie plant.

"I was exposed to creosote all my working life," he said in his deposition. "It didn't bother me."

Welch, a Somerville native, junior college dropout and former town mayor who worked at the tie plant for four decades, including eight years as Barkley's handpicked successor as superintendent, from 1986 to 1994, said he believed adverse health effects could only occur in cases of "extreme exposure" — such as, if workers swam in creosote or drank it.

"I don't think that the exposure that the men at the Santa Fe treating plant had was harmful to them," he said in an April 2003 deposition. "...Based on my 40 years of being there, my father working there before me and his father before him, and we never had any problems."

Welch added, referring to Don "Slim" Hightower: "...You can't go around and hold a man's hand all day and say, 'Now, Don, don't get a handful of creosote and wipe your face with it or don't drink any of it.' You can put out the information and the rulebooks and tell them that they must comply with it. But, you know, it's their responsibility."

In a sworn statement, Robert Urba­nosky, who worked at the tie plant from 1977 to 1995 and now serves as a Burleson County justice of the peace, said he frequently suffered from headaches and nosebleeds while at the facility. He also testified that the treating chemicals were commonly used for dust control.

Write Your Comment show comments (62)

  1. The article is very informative but does not address the possible impact on residents of nearby cities - Lyons is only 4 miles north of Somerville. It seems unlikely that air pollution from the "tie" plant didn't blow over other areas of Burleson and Washington counties. Also, contamination of the water table is mentioned, but the article doesn't disclose whether the water source from Lyons used by Somerville residents is affected.

    Comment by Yvette Murray — December 7, 2007 @ 10:36AM

  2. This article needs national attention. This is a travesty for this town's residents.

    Comment by Concerned — December 9, 2007 @ 08:43PM

  3. This is crazy but i do agree!!

    Comment by Brian — December 10, 2007 @ 12:32PM

  4. I find this article very disturbing, to say the least. I grew up in Somerville, went to school in Somerville and even lived in Somerville for a while as a young adult. I do feel that the effects of this arsenic is catastrophic and just because you leave this 'dying' town does not mean you are immune to the poison that has been released into the community on a near-continuous basis for decades.

    Comment by Concerned — December 10, 2007 @ 03:07PM

  5. WoW....having grown up in Somervile in living there most of my adult life, it never occured to me how much the fumes, chemicals, etc. from the Tie Plant be such a threat to the community. My father worked there for years and I still remeber him coming home and smelling the cresol on him and even sneaking snacks from his lunch box and tasting the cresol in the food too. Maybe this will be a wake-up call to some of the people out there and explains alot of why so many people have gotten sick in Somerville.

    Comment by J. Jimenez — December 10, 2007 @ 09:00PM

  6. Thank you for your work in exposing this situation. It is most troubling. I grew up in a small town. In small towns, companies often get away with actions that put the people of the town at risk. The people need the employment and the prosperity that the company can bring. They keep silent. Those who do ask for repirators or make objections often find themselves out of work.

    Comment by William Bell — December 11, 2007 @ 08:28AM

  7. Somerville is my hometown and while I would naturally be concerned by these allegations, I also realize this is fueled by lawyers. What we need is an independent assessment of the situation instead of alarmist rhetoric. While I feel for these "victims," it will be difficult to directly connect their ailments to the tie plant. Other contributing factors such as smoking and genetics must be taken into account. It's good that the school superintendent is a voice of reason because it doesn't appear that the city's administration is going to take the lead on dealing with this issue.

    Comment by Voice of Reason — December 11, 2007 @ 10:05AM

  8. I am writing you in regards to the monority information that you printed about Somerville causing illnesses and in some cases, death. Do me a HUGE favor and give the rest of us a chance to be interviewed as well.



    I am 56 years old and my dad would have been 83 had he not succumed to a WWll closed head injury! When he was but a young child, he worked and the "tie plant" for 25 cents a day as a water boy. He never left Somerville except during the war years when he fought for this country, this little town we "hometowners" call HOME. Those fighting to shut our home down are move-in's and money hungry for lack of WANTING to work. I could fill your paper, for those who read it. So could so many, many citizens of Somerville. Falsified lawsuits. Do some research about the past of these same people. Do some research before you believe the money diggers. Please.



    My brother worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for 30+ years and is healthy as a horse! He retired this year. So did my older brother, sister-in-law and me. Jack Stamps worked with creasote for all of those years. Go figure. One of the now deceased former Superintendents of the "tie plant" has his widow still alive and there is nothing wrong with her and she's pushinhg 100! They lived on the tie plant premises until the homes were moved to provide more space. I spent many, many hours at their home playing. My parents were best friends with them. My own mother passed in 2000. At the request of one person we trust, she and I went to her cancer doctor and had all tests run, ruling OUT any chemical causes. Gee......she was here for how long?



    Sir, there are tons of storied out there...........YOU need to find them and give the citizens who care a chance to be heard. In the love of Somerville and the truth......

    Comment by Christine Campbell Mc — December 11, 2007 @ 11:15AM

  9. IS SOMERVILLE CONTAMINATED? THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT WHAT ABOUT PASADENA. BRYAN COLLEGE STATION, BRENHAM, OR EVEN HOUSTON TEXAS WERE THE ESTEEMED LAWYERS MAKE THEIR HOME. WE HAVE ALL KNOWN FOR SOME TIME THAT OUR PLANET IS CONTAMINATED IN EVERY CORNER. IS SOMERVILLE WORSE THAN MOST PLACES? IF MY OPINION COUNTS, IT IS NOT. WE HAVE MANY EXAMPLES WITHIN OUR OWN GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED LONG HEALTHY LIVES HERE IN GOOD OLD SOMERVILLE.

    YES, SOME HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, BUT I BELIEVE THEY WERE PREDISPOSED AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN CANCER WHERE EVER THEY LIVED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GENETIC WEAKNESS THAT ALLOWS ONE PERSON TO BE AFFECTED WHILE THE NEXT ONE IS NOT. DO THEY DESERVE A SETTLEMENT, PERHAPS, BUT IN THIS TYPE OF LAWSUIT WITH THIS LAW FIRM, IN MY OPINION THE MAIN WINNERS OR THE LAWYERS? THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR STIMULATING THIS HORRIFIC PRESS.

    THERE IS NO GOOD TIME FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO STRIKE AN AREA LIKE THE PLAGUE. BUT THIS IS A PARTICULARLY BAD TIME FOR OUR HOMETOWN. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW WE WERE MAKING TRUE HEADWAY HERE ON SEVERAL FRONTS AND HAD SEVERAL NEW PROJECTS IN THE WORKS THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT OUR AREA. THIS KIND OF STUFF PUTS ALL OF THAT ON HOLD AND INVESTORS WILL SOON MAKE INVESTMENTS IN A LESS CONTROVERSIAL SETTING. HOWEVER, I SOMETIMES WONDER IF DEVALUATING THE AREA IS NOT ALSO PART OF THE PLAN, BUY CHEAP AND THEN REALIZE WELL IT IS NOT AS BAD AS WE THOUGHT AND WE WILL BUILD A NICE WHATEVER HERE TO HELP THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS WELL AS OUR OWN POCKETBOOK.

    WE HAVE MORE STRANGERS SNIFFING AROUND NOW THAT EVER BEFORE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ALL THIS MEANS, BUT I DO NOT THINK IT IS GOOD AND IT DOES NOT MEAN A CLEANER SETTING.

    MANY OF YOU KNOW MY AREA AND IT LOOKS SO PRISTINE, BUT FOR EONS IN THE PAST WE BOMBARDED IT WITH POISONS, INCLUDING ARSENIC. THEREFORE, WE ARE CONTAMINATED AS WELL. THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE GOING FOR US THAT MANY AREAS DO NOT IS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY TREES WHICH ANYONE WITH ANY SENSE KNOWS HELPS TO CLEAN UP THE AREA.

    THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS AND I AM SPEAKING FOR ONLY MYSELF. SOMERVILLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS IS OPEN TO SCUMBAGS WANTING TO MAKE FAST BUCKS AND NOT CARE WHAT THEY BREAK OR WHO THEY HURT. HOWEVER WE ARE TOUGHER THAN THEY MIGHT IMAGINE AND WE HAVE A HISTORY OF CRAWLING OUT OF THE MUCK. WE WILL SURVIVE!

    PLEASE THINK AND EXPRESS POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR US.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS!
    CAMILLA

    Comment by Camilla Wight Godfrey — December 11, 2007 @ 11:21AM

  10. Bottled water is now a staple in almost every home in America. Why is the water in Somerville being singled out? Most everyone now drinks bottled water. I don't live in Somerville now although I did grow up there. I live in Spring, Texas and I don't drink water from the tap here either. The press reported the water in Somerville was so bad that the residents couldn't even bathe in it. My Mother still lives in Somerville and unlike "the press" reported, she uses the water to take bath, wash clothes, wash dishes and cook. My Mother is 83 years old!

    I'm ataching a copy of an email sent to me over the week-end in regard to an interview with a Somerville resident regarding the water in Somerville:

    Just a quick point of interest.....Somerville's water supply comes from deep wells just outside of Lyons, at least 5 miles North ("upstream") of the tie plant and all its attendant pollution. If she (the interviewee) has problems with her water, she should check her own plumbing.

    Comment by Shirley Neutzler Lissner — December 11, 2007 @ 11:36AM

  11. Mr. Spivak, I'm going to forward you a series of emails regarding your story about "Toxic Town". You really need to hear the story from a vantage point that's very different than sensationalism. You're a reporter and it's your responsibility to do your job, but there is another story to report. Please read the emails I'm forwarding you as they are from people who DO NOT resonate in ignorance! My hope is that you will receive a few more emails that might turn you into a "true" investigative reporter.

    I grew up in Somerville and I now live in Spring, Texas. I moved to Houston in 1974. My Mother still lives in Somerville and she will be 83 next week. She has had cancer twice, but neither can be blamed on Somerville or the tie plant. Some of the people who cited the "tie plant" as the source of their troubles have been heavy, heavy smokers for years and years. They have had bouts of cancer and never put down the cigarettes in spite of their situation. Linda Faust is "smoking" to this day! Your article was not only inaccurate, but embarrassing as it seems that Somerville is a town full of ignorant red necks which it's NOT. Somerville supplied many of us with the basis we needed to go on and get an education that has allowed us to be productive, successful people. Educations that were fueled by the labors of our parents who worked at the "tie plant" or provided services to "those who worked at the tie plant".

    There was a story that aired this week that reported that people can't even "take a bath" because the water is so bad. That's just not true. I'm going to forward you an email in that regard. But, draw your own conclusions and then do the math....Somerville town of 1700........200 complaints over the past 40 years (solicited compliants).... 1.176% of the population.

    If you want to do some thought provocative interviews, I can give you a list of people who lived the "tie plant" life who had positive experiences and it's more than 1.176% of the population.

    Thanks for the time you spent reading this email and if you want a little more fuel ... then bring it on because I think there a few people who are up to the fight and it's more than 1.176% of the population~~!

    Shirley Neutzler Lissner

    Comment by Shirley Neutzler Lissner — December 11, 2007 @ 11:48AM

  12. That's a great article.....from a plaintiffs' attorney point of view...I think Todd Spivak must be one of the plaintiff's (article writers)...I worked there for several years (right alongside of Dennis and Slim & doing the same jobs as them) and was in and around the by products of the plant for over 33 years. I seem to be OK, which to some may be a matter of debate.

    Jack Stamps Campbell

    Comment by SHS ex-student — December 11, 2007 @ 11:55AM

  13. I tried not to, but the more I think about this article, the more I feel the need to call 'Bull****' on it. When you review the cancer cases sited in this article, most are likely 'age related' or just chance occurrences. The only two that stand out to me are the two cases of bladder cancer, which is a fairly rare cancer and is known to be linked with chemical exposure. I think a review of the histories of many of the rest will bring up other mitigating circumstances, i.e.. smoking, drinking, drug use/abuse, family history of cancer, etc.

    My dad died of gastric carcinoma, but at age 84+. Most of the people who worked their entire lives at the tie plant died of natural causes at ripe old ages. We have to remember.....No one gets out alive!

    To quote Dennis Miller, "That's just MY opinion; I COULD be wrong.

    Comment by SHS Class '68 — December 11, 2007 @ 12:01PM

  14. While I think there may be something to the thought of the tie plant killing everyone, I think when you look at those who are having problems, I bet you will find a more common element, most, if not all the “victims” were heavy smokers. My mom and dad died after living 60 years in Somerville , but they both smoked at least one pack and maybe two a day. I would more likely guess that the toxic waste they put in their lungs from the Pall Malls and Salems had more to do with their death from cancer than from the smell of creosote. My grandmother who lived in Somerville for 87 years and didn’t smoke, died of . . . old age. Dr. Pazdral who lived in Somerville until he was who knows how old died of . . . ?



    This looks to me to be a search by “victims” looking for someone to blame for their troubles lead by some scumbag lawyers looking to get rich. But I really do have sympathy for those who are suffering whatever the reason so I chose to be a bit less vocal than usual. You will also note that this appeared in the Houston Press, who by what I remember, is even more of a yellow journalism rag than even the increasingly left wing rag the Houston Comical!

    Comment by SHS Class '68 Ex-student — December 11, 2007 @ 12:06PM

  15. It would be wonderful if actual facts and not plaintiff’s attorney pleadings were cited in the paper as well, but objective facts rarely make headlines. There well could be a link to the chemicals used at the tie plant to some incidences of cancer in Somerville but the fact is that not everyone in Somerville , or who grew up in Somerville , is afflicted with cancer. Those of us who are commenting have both sympathy and empathy for those folks who suffer from cancer, it is a horrible disease, but not everything is someone else’s fault. Sometimes stuff just happens and sometimes people live lifestyles that cause things to happen, and sometimes someone or some thing causes things to happen. One thing I have learned over my 58 years, having been involved in a number of events that were reported in the media, is that rarely does the media report match the facts of the events because honest reporting of the facts usually doesn’t play to the masses or sell many papers.

    Comment by SHS Ex-student — December 11, 2007 @ 12:09PM

  16. Well I have a comment because this article is just so stupid! All I can say is that these people are completely NUTSO!!!! I speak from this vantage point: I come from a large family who lived in one of those plant houses and we were always stomping in those water pits and chewing the tar from the barrels which were kept there on a storage dock among a lot of other things in those woods around the plant. Our house was at the most only 100 ft. from the inner workings of the plant. NONE OF US HAS ANY SYMPTOMS OF CANCER NOR HAS ANYONE OF US DIED FROM CANCER!!!!!!!! And, we all are all up in age.

    Comment by SHS Class '59 — December 11, 2007 @ 12:14PM

  17. KRHD-TV, the local ABC affiliate, picked up on the lawsuit. It interviewed Dennis Davis, Willie Woodfork, and the superintendent. The superintendent was the middle-ground interview. He said independent environmental tests at the school should be back very soon. Let’s hope those turn out better.



    Before the story hits mainstream media, perhaps we need to form a PR front with the people who did work there and have no ill effects. The comments about smokers is a very valid one. These “victims” are suing in a class action suit to give the perception that a large percentage of people suffered the same affects. There is an even larger group of people who suffered no affects. That’s who needs to form an alliance now.



    Property values are low enough in our hometown. This story and that nutty UCLA professor who compares Somerville to Love Canal could really wipe out property values and further doom what is already a fading little Texas town

    Comment by SHS Ex-student Class '79 — December 11, 2007 @ 12:21PM

  18. OK, I've thought about it all weekend, and here's my two cents:

    The stories in the Houston Press and Dallas Observer are horrifying, from whichever perspective you may view them:

    There may be a highly toxic chemical presence in Somerville that is causing people to sicken and die, or
    A tiny town with little or no recourse to defend itself is being unfairly characterized as a toxic place to live on the basis of possibly lawyer-driven, greed-based and certainly incomplete investigations.

    But I don’t think it’s a “For” or “Against” Somerville situation. We who are from Somerville and may still have family living there, and who love our little home town, are shocked either way this thing slices.

    Is it “against” Somerville to want the poisons and the cover-up, if there are such, exposed and remediated?

    Is it “for” Somerville to refuse to accept even the possibility that there may be toxins in the environment, and perhaps continue to have our loved ones exposed to them? (I, for one, refuse to drink that gray water, and have ordered my mother to switch to bottled water immediately!)

    The list of “victims” seems to be varied as to complaints, and some seem pretty far-fetched (Tilman’s death obviously wasn’t caused by the tie plant – but then again, he was very sick all his life and maybe that was because of the plant). Maybe they’re all just looking for someone to blame for their problems and want to take a ride on the tie plant gravy train. But. . .What if they’re right. . . ?

    Just because there hasn’t been 100% morbidity doesn’t mean there is no danger.

    We need a report independent of the attorneys involved in the lawsuits, to provide a truly objective analysis of whatever chemicals the tie plant may have discharged over the years, their environmental levels and the relative toxicity still present, if any.

    Houston Press and Dallas Observer aside, inquiring minds want to know.

    Comment by SHS Ex-student again the Class '68 — December 11, 2007 @ 12:24PM

  19. You quickly disposed of two cancer cluster study done in Somerville by the INDEPENDENT Texas Department of Health with comments from Dr. Dahlgren who is not INDEPENDENT. Dahlgren works for plaintiff’s attorney Jared Woodfill. Did you ever Google Dalgren’s name, ask him how much he has billed on this case or did you even call UCLA Medical School and see if he is on their staff? Obviously, the answers to these three questions are NO or you would have not put so much blind faith in Dahlgren.

    Comment by Chris Leichtle — December 11, 2007 @ 12:30PM

  20. Somerville is my hometown and while I would naturally be concerned by these allegations, I also realize this is fueled by lawyers. What we need is an independent assessment of the situation instead of alarmist rhetoric. While I feel for these "victims," it will be difficult to directly connect their ailments to the tie plant. Other contributing factors such as smoking and genetics must be taken into account. It's good that the school superintendent is a voice of reason because it doesn't appear that the city's administration is going to take the lead on dealing with this issue.

    Comment by Voice of Reason — December 11, 2007 @ 12:33PM

  21. I know most of the people affected by the various forms of cancer mentioned in the news articles being circulated. I went to school with some of them and others I have known many years. It is sickening to me that dollar signs have gone to the heads of so many of them. My dad worked at the Tie Plant most of his adult life; smoked most of his life; and is 83 years old and still in fair health. He fought off a bout with prostate cancer about 5 years ago; but for all I know it was caused by being exposed to Japanese artillery smoke at Iwo Jima in 1945 defending our country. Everybody in every city in our country knows a relative or friend that has contracted cancer. Somerville is no different. Maybe all of the people in Somerville should team together to fight cancer; not sue for personal gain. A town that a lot of us have lived in for most of our lives will not be here much longer if a handful of people get their way.

    Comment by Leslie — December 11, 2007 @ 02:07PM

  22. The whole idea of Somerville being contaminated is a very terrifying thought. I grew up in Snook the vast majority of my life. We would always go to the Somerville Lake, Go Grocery shopping at Brookshire Brothers, have drinks at D's. 'IF' the city is dangerous, I do hope the people who are suffering/ or suffered get what they deserve.
    I think it's very important that the TRUTH is reported. If they could find any documents to prove any harm to the community has been done, I think it would help everyone understand every side to the story.

    Comment by MJA — December 12, 2007 @ 08:48AM

  23. Finally I speak. I am presently the Mayor of Somerville. The issue of these law suites have created many problems for the City. Economic development which has been in the forefront of our sought after plan for the future of our city is not only at a standstill but in regression. Our sales tax has decreased and our overall vision has been on hold.
    I am not an expert on toxins or things of that nature , so my input on this matter has no meaning.
    Our intire annual budget could not come close to investigating the issues at hand. The city has resolved to go with the reports that we recieve on a regular basis from the EPA and the TCEQ. Unless otherwise proven this is all we have.
    Is our City contaminated ? The only contamination that I can be certian of are those of the friendships and family relationships that are so important to our community.
    Some people have put the blame of this turmoil on myself and the City administration .
    They have also slandered my personal business saying that it was a den of people who inhance and contribute to the uneasiness of this on going situation. this is definately not the case.It has caused problems in my family and my restuarant.
    We the City need prayers,understanding and calm until these lawsuites are finally decided by a court of law.
    Just for those who want to Know, I have never sued anyone and never will.
    Thanks for reading and I hope that it wasn't to garbled. I have a lot on my mind latley.
    TOMMY THOMPSON

    Comment by Tommy Thompson — December 12, 2007 @ 09:52AM

  24. It’s High Noon in Somerville. Lines are being drawn and sides are being taken. Our hometown loyalty is being challenged. Ugly personal insults are being spewed. Knees are jerking.

    This story is horrifying from either perspective:
    1. There may be a highly toxic chemical presence in Somerville that is causing people to sicken and die, which has been deliberately (or at least carelessly) perpetrated and criminally covered up, or

    2. A tiny town with little or no recourse to defend itself is being unfairly characterized as a toxic place to live on the basis of possibly lawyer-driven, greed-based and certainly incomplete investigations.

    We who are from Somerville and may still have family living there, and who love our little home town, are shocked whichever way this thing slices.

    But I don’t think it’s a “For Somerville” or “Against Somerville” issue.

    Is it “against” Somerville to want the poisons and the cover-up, if there are such, exposed and remediated?

    Is it “for” Somerville to refuse to accept even the possibility that there may be toxins in the environment, and perhaps continue to have our loved ones exposed to them? (I, for one, refuse to drink that gray water, and have ordered my mother to switch to bottled water immediately!)

    The list of “victims” seems to be varied as to complaints, and some seem pretty far-fetched. Tilman Hein’s death, for instance, wasn’t caused by the tie plant (he died of acute necrotizing fasciitis) – but then again, he was very sick all his life and maybe that was because of the plant. And it doesn’t seem likely that chemicals could cause diabetes, or that a pregnant woman could get enough toxins eating vegetables to cause severe birth defects without seriously compromising her own health. On the other hand, exposure to creosote is known to cause skin and scrotum cancer, and high levels of fumes can cause respiratory problems and birth defects in animals. (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts85.html#bookmark05)

    It is true that most people in or from Somerville are about as healthy as anybody else. But just because there hasn’t been 100% morbidity doesn’t mean there is no danger. Maybe all these sick folks are just looking for someone to blame for their problems or want to take a ride on the class action gravy train. But. . .What if they’re right. . . ?

    We need to reserve judgment – and take precautions -- until the results are in. Only a report independent of the attorneys involved in the lawsuits can provide a truly objective analysis of whatever chemicals the tie plant may have discharged over the years, their environmental levels and the relative toxicity still present, if any.

    We’ll call Erin Brockovich if we need her.

    Karen Sager Torres
    SHS Class of 1968
    1704 Falcon Dr
    Corinth, TX 76210
    214 769-4814
    12/10/07

    Comment by Karen Sager Torres — December 12, 2007 @ 03:50PM

  25. We are continuely amazed by these stories of cancer and birth defects in Somerville and what might have caused them. But, most are a "stretch" at best. Jessica Baade's Dad was a friend of mine. I knew him well and his Mom was the most caring, devoted woman anyone could ever know. Mrs. Baade spent almost our entire school years making us homemade buttermilk cupcakes, chicken salad sandwiches, and anything else she could possibly "home" make and bring to school. I really don't remember an occasion where Mrs. Baade wasn't contributing something and it was always food.

    I'm sad and sorry for what happened to Jessica, but eating vegetables from Mrs. Baade's garden is a big huge stretch and I'm really sad that she is being put in the position of a victim because her "grandmother" wouldn't have wanted her harmed in any way.

    Quite frankly, if there was anything in the food Mrs. Baade served that was harmful we'd all have died a very long time ago. This story about visiting Somerville while I was pregnant story is just crazy. There are just way too many of us who lived in Somerville while pregnant or visited often ... we ate the food and we drank the water, but every now and then genetics has a different plan.

    I'm glad to see that Jessica is a beautiful girl today and I wish her husband a safe return.

    Shirley Neutzler Lissner
    SHS Class '66

    Comment by Shirley Neutzler Lissner — December 11, 2007 @ 09:50PM

    Comment by Shirley Neutzler Lissner — December 12, 2007 @ 03:55PM

  26. I am very concerned about living in Somerville. Besides concern about health effects, I am concerned about what happens to my property, my house, and the community that I have been part of since 1992. I am concerned about the work that I have personally done including reroofing part of the house and taking some of the older sections of roofing out for improvement.

    I am not part of any law suit although peripherally my wife and I could become part of the class action suit, we have not comtemplated it. We leave in a very old house pieced through rebuilding over many years the original house reportedly built in the 1940s and moved to this current location in the mid 1980s.

    I need to do some maintenance on the house but do not want to go through major expenses because I don't know what will happen. Will we be forced out of our house and about 8 acres of law? Will be be compensated fairly? Should I go ahead with remodeling? All of this questions bother me. I had not idea that any of these problems existed in late 1991 when we settled in Somerville.

    Comment by Eduardo Baca — December 12, 2007 @ 07:02PM

  27. Is the mayor concerned about the town or his restaurant? It's hard to tell. Perhaps if he would consider hanging a "no smoking" sign on the front door of his restaurant his business would be filled with customers who wish to eat without breathing the effects of 2nd hand smoke and the participants in this lawsuit who are keeping things stirred up in this little Texas town and need a place to hang out would go home.

    Comment by Just wondering — December 13, 2007 @ 09:58AM

  28. Mr. Mayor thanks for posting your comments. Several things concern me. One the property values in Somerville, Texas at this minute are worth nothing. We couldn't sell our property right now even if we wanted to. That's due to a sensational story fueled by the words of someone in your own family. Second, if you want the "den of people" who enhance and contribute to the uneasiness of the situation gone from your restaurant post a "no smoking" sign on the door. They will all go home and people who want to eat without the side effects of 2nd hand smoke will come in. Third what should we pray for that Somerville be erraticated of ignorance?

    And, lastly addressing the town's issues and your family issues in the same message was inappropriate. If you are speaking to the issues of the town, speak as the Mayor because it's the issues of the town we are concerned with at this time. What is happening in your restaurant is hardly tolerable on any given day.

    Comment by Concerned Citizen — December 13, 2007 @ 10:50AM

  29. I never realized that it would seem that I was only worried about my own business when I wrote my last comment, for this I am sorry, I am truly worried about all the businesses in and around Somerville.
    I have been a smoker for 35 years and I'm having a pretty hard time quitting.So I'm guilty of that also.
    That being said, I am also guilty of Loving this community and only want the best for all who live here.
    This will be my last comment, no matter what I say or do , I see that I will never be enough to fulfill everybodies opinion.

    Thank You and God Bless Tommy Thompson

    Comment by Tommy Thompson — December 13, 2007 @ 08:38PM

  30. Thanks Dennis Davis, Now you have stirred a hornets nest and no wonder you're afraid to go out! You should be. I know you well and I am very dissappointed in all of your frivilous lawsuits over the years. That's not how your dear NEll raised you. Did you stay in the black mold house very much? Even if you win or loose this suit, you really should take your groupies of litigants, all of you just leave this "contaminated town" and see if you or anyone else who is frightened can do any better. It's people like all of you who ruin a perfectly good little town. How many of you out there worked and the tie plant and made your monies there and are drawing a pension from the railroad? Bet you didn't tell that, did you? Thanks so much for your trying to ruin our little home town. BTW, you DID used to drink in earlier years..... too many of us witnessed that one. You look at yourselves in the mirror and ask if this is the Lord's way. I will die when the Good Lord says it's my time, but I refuse to do some frivilous lawsuit to set my family up so we don't have to work. I've finally said my piece.

    Comment by jlh — December 18, 2007 @ 07:34AM

  31. You guys are all pathetic; all you are worried about is money. We need the truth; if the town is toxic it needs to be closed down. Santa Fe can pay for all of you backwoods rednecks to relocate (boo hoo my land/house is worthless) one year’s pay of Santa Fe’s/Kopper’s CEO’s should just about cover the whole town’s net worth/suffering.

    If you’re ever in Somerville please stop buy for some water, we have plenty of it, one person seems to be interested, Jack Kevorkian. Perhaps the mayor can pull his head out and think outside the box. Toxic water seems to be in demand for at least someone.

    You guys need to find out what actually happened first before shooting your mouths off.

    Comment by Somerville Idiots — December 19, 2007 @ 11:33PM

  32. I sucked Tommy Thompson's dick, thats why he can't spell wright.

    Comment by Bo Jangles — December 19, 2007 @ 11:54PM

  33. The following full-page ad appeared in the Dec 20, 2007 edition of the Burleson County Tribune:

    KOPPERS
    An Open Letter to the Community:
    Koppers is Proud to Call Somerville Our Home

    As a major employer in town, Koppers is proud to call the City of Somerville the home of our wood treatment plant.

    Our commitment to Somerville starts with providing good jobs an benefits to the hard working men and women who are employed at our wood treatment palnt in Somerville. But our commitment doesn’t end there. Since purchasing the plant in 1995, Koppers has maintained strict safety and environmental standards because we care about our employees and the people who make Somerville such a great community.

    Here are some facts about Somerville and the Koppers plant, where safety is a core value:

    • Koppers regularly evaluates the safety of our workplace for the protection of our employees and the public.
    • Occupational health air sampling is regularly performed at the plant. This testing shows that workplace air quality is within OSHA safety levels.
    • Working at a wood treatment plant does not increase a person’s risk of dying from cancer or any other cause, according to the largest published, peer-reviewed study of wood treating workers ever conducted.
    • Cancer rates in the Somerville area for men and women are within normal ranges, according to the Texas Cancer Registry Branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services, which examined the occurrence of cancer in the Somerville area.
    • Soil testing conducted at Somerville homes in May of this year found levels of chemicals that were all below the Protective Concentration Levels established by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality.
    • The EPA has concluded that all current human exposures at the Somerville plant are “under control.”
    • Solid waste from the plant is properly and safely disposed of at EPA-approved sites outside the state of Texas.
    • The City of Somerville gets its water from a deep well aquifer located in Lyons, approximately four miles to the north of Somerville. The drinking water is tested by the City on a regular basis.

    Koppers believes that you deserve to hear the facts. With that in mind, we look forward to continuing our dialogue with you. Most of all, we look forward to working together in the years to come to build an even brighter future for Somerville.

    Sincerely,

    Thomas D. Loadman
    Vice President & General Manager
    Railroad Products and Services Group

    Comment by Karen Sager Torres — December 21, 2007 @ 11:54AM

  34. The following full-page ad appeared in the Dec 20, 2007 edition of the Burleson County Tribune:

    KOPPERS
    An Open Letter to the Community:
    Koppers is Proud to Call Somerville Our Home

    As a major employer in town, Koppers is proud to call the City of Somerville the home of our wood treatment plant.

    Our commitment to Somerville starts with providing good jobs an benefits to the hard working men and women who are employed at our wood treatment palnt in Somerville. But our commitment doesn’t end there. Since purchasing the plant in 1995, Koppers has maintained strict safety and environmental standards because we care about our employees and the people who make Somerville such a great community.

    Here are some facts about Somerville and the Koppers plant, where safety is a core value:

    • Koppers regularly evaluates the safety of our workplace for the protection of our employees and the public.
    • Occupational health air sampling is regularly performed at the plant. This testing shows that workplace air quality is within OSHA safety levels.
    • Working at a wood treatment plant does not increase a person’s risk of dying from cancer or any other cause, according to the largest published, peer-reviewed study of wood treating workers ever conducted.
    • Cancer rates in the Somerville area for men and women are within normal ranges, according to the Texas Cancer Registry Branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services, which examined the occurrence of cancer in the Somerville area.
    • Soil testing conducted at Somerville homes in May of this year found levels of chemicals that were all below the Protective Concentration Levels established by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality.
    • The EPA has concluded that all current human exposures at the Somerville plant are “under control.”
    • Solid waste from the plant is properly and safely disposed of at EPA-approved sites outside the state of Texas.
    • The City of Somerville gets its water from a deep well aquifer located in Lyons, approximately four miles to the north of Somerville. The drinking water is tested by the City on a regular basis.

    Koppers believes that you deserve to hear the facts. With that in mind, we look forward to continuing our dialogue with you. Most of all, we look forward to working together in the years to come to build an even brighter future for Somerville.

    Sincerely,

    Thomas D. Loadman
    Vice President & General Manager
    Railroad Products and Services Group

    Comment by Karen Sager Torres — December 21, 2007 @ 12:02PM

  35. Since I am from Somerville and my mother who is 83 years old and lived in Somerville for 54 years… let me say… remember there are two sides to every story…

    This story is based on the media’s slant to sell news, and because of a family that is suing once again for $.

    There has been many comments on the positive side of people that worked at the plant and lived without cancer until an old age.

    As medical science proves there are other dangerous factors in our life styles and those with cancer(who live in Somerville and are suing) may need to consider those factors.

    Then there was my dear teacher friend Jean Smith who did not smoke, drink… she was active and ate healthy and lived in the country in fresh air.?????

    But, both her parents had cancer……


    There are no facts to prove this town to be toxic and if you are looking for a place to live without risks to your life, keep looking, and if someone is looking for something to sue about that seems to be easy. Sometimes we need to realize we live in a world that is not perfect. My daughter-in-law was badly hurt by a drunk driver on the wrong side of the road without lights or insurance. There’s global warming, terrorist, black mold, pesticides, medications with side effects, fatty foods, coffee that is too hot at Mc Donalds, artificial sweetners (Diet Coke) and the list goes on… and if you stay home locked in your home you may have a gas leak , a fire, a tornado, or fall. Yes, there are times someone is at fault or makes a human error… I guess that’s why we have so many kinds of insurance.

    I think we all need to realize we need to appreciate everyday, try to live healthy life styles, know we will die some day and if you live very long you’ve got to have something wrong with you, just live and enjoy it with God’s purpose and know our days are in His hands and He only knows. Quit playing a blame game.

    There are now articles by the tie plant with facts to prove they are following safety standards. This plant provided life for many families for a very long time.

    I am trying to think of a job that is perfectly safe….and we all have freedom of choice to live and work where we choose.

    I guess I am saying don’t focus on this to be as bad as it seems…let’s support more Cancer research because there is yet to be one answer.

    One thing I know I was very safe growing up in Somerville and never had fear of crime etc….it was a community that took care of everyone. I don’t think this has been a fair representation of the town.



    Sharon Neutzler Novosad… SHS Class of 70

    Comment by Sharon Neutzler Novosad — December 22, 2007 @ 08:08AM

  36. yes....Somerville is still my home....even though I moved to Navasota, to be closer to work...yes, my mom and dad were smokers....and the levels of toxins in their tissues cannot be accumulated by smoking....dad is recovering from bladder cancer....mom died with two primary cancers....lung and breast....dad's domino buddies have all been thru various treatments for lymphoma, adrenal cancer and skin cancers....and to the person who brought up old Doc Pazdral....he died of prostate cancer....my aunt Sue died of leukemia, my grandfather of lung cancer...how far back would you like the list to go? instaed of using the ones who haven't gotten cancer yet as proof of the plant's innocence...hell, those people are simply fortunate.....something I've always wondered about....remember the old city dump? one night,as a naughty fifteen yrold....I was running the roads with friends...full moon, with the headlights off....came up on a truck, also with its lights off....had radioactive and toxic symbols on it....headed to our dump in the middle of the night....we knew, as kids out where we shouldn't be, we had to keep quiet. no more. anyone else out there see any of the same

    Comment by charlette williams — December 26, 2007 @ 07:02AM

  37. yes....Somerville is still my home....even though I moved to Navasota, to be closer to work...yes, my mom and dad were smokers....and the levels of toxins in their tissues cannot be accumulated by smoking....dad is recovering from bladder cancer....mom died with two primary cancers....lung and breast....dad's domino buddies have all been thru various treatments for lymphoma, adrenal cancer and skin cancers....and to the person who brought up old Doc Pazdral....he died of prostate cancer....my aunt Sue died of leukemia, my grandfather of lung cancer...how far back would you like the list to go? instaed of using the ones who haven't gotten cancer yet as proof of the plant's innocence...hell, those people are simply fortunate.....something I've always wondered about....remember the old city dump? one night,as a naughty fifteen yrold....I was running the roads with friends...full moon, with the headlights off....came up on a truck, also with its lights off....had radioactive and toxic symbols on it....headed to our dump in the middle of the night....we knew, as kids out where we shouldn't be, we had to keep quiet. no more. anyone else out there see any of the same

    Comment by charlette williams — December 26, 2007 @ 07:03AM

  38. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by One who has ALWAYS been there — December 26, 2007 @ 07:57AM

  39. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by One who has ALWAYS been there — December 26, 2007 @ 07:58AM

  40. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by One who has ALWAYS been there — December 26, 2007 @ 08:01AM

  41. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by Permanent Citizen — December 26, 2007 @ 08:02AM

  42. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by Permanent Citizen — December 26, 2007 @ 08:27AM

  43. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this. Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and to autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by Permanent Citizen — December 26, 2007 @ 08:31AM

  44. OK, so many of our citizens succumed to some type of cancer. But are we absolutely positive of all of the causes? My mom DID have cancer but we had the good sense to test her for carcinogens! Maybe the others should have done the same? I do have the utmost empathy for those sick and dying, I truly do, but I also have seen their lifestyles and that doesn't help their cases at all, in my opinion. Todd refuses to interview a chemical specialist who worked for Santa Fe and BNSF for over 33 years and a medical doctor who was raised in Somerville and his dad also worked there. Wonder why that is unless he thinks the truth will come out and it would back him in a corner he can't get out of? I read the report from TCEQ just last week thay gave a clean report on the water AND sewer systems in Somerville. Delve into WHY the water is grey/brownish and THEN slam the city. But there would be NO basis whatsoever. False allegations just as some of these litigants are spreading. The wife is dying and the husband still works at the tie plant. Looks like a different job would be better in that case. Oh well, the plant DOES pay well. The post about the "old" dump may or may not be fact.........we didn't hang out in that part of the area as it didn't seem very safe at the time. It's been cleaned up enough now that I would go there, but that landfill has been closed for years and years. It too, has been tested by TCEQ. And a clean report given. What is at Koppers has been there for over 100 years. Of course there will be ground problems, but they are remediating it as fast as they can. Way back in the day, before all of the R & D advancements, no one thought anything about it other than it made a living for most everyone around, and now that science has come this far, we can find contaminants in just about anything we test. Is there one pat answer to all of this? Of course not. We'd have to exhume half of the cemetery and do autopsies to get to the real truth and probably not even then would may not be totally conclusive at to the cause of death. This will be a long, drawn out investigation, but the professionals will get it done, I pray. In fact, God will be the one to talk to about all of this and if it's the right or wrong thing to do by constantly suing someone for one's problems that could have been better taken care of with better lifestyles and regular physical checkups. God Bless us all in Somerville.

    Comment by Permanent Citizen — December 26, 2007 @ 08:34AM

  45. I am from somerville. Most of my family, including my uncle Dennis Davis, grandparents A.J. and Dorothy Trout, my cousin Britney (Makayla's mom) Antu, and my grandma Gloria Sager, still live there. I remember the noon whistle from the tie plant marking the time. So you see, I'm somewhat close to this albeit from 650+ miles away in Alabama. As far back as I can remember, there have been concerns about the water. Many people have been omitted from the story. Didn't Ed Meyer, a long time tie plant employee, have cancer. Doesn't his son have a special child? The question I have is: Why are the lawyers leading the investigations? Where is the EPA? Where are all the other environmental groups? It's not for me to confirm nor deny any allegations, but I'm sure the truth will eventually come out. As for the people afflicted, I remember Slim Hightower, Clyde Sowders, and of course Mr. Meyer. He and his wife Mackie helped raise me in a way. She was our den mother in cub scouts, and I spent as much time at their house with Drew as I did at my own house. Now is the time for you still there to band together for the greater good, not mud sling and name call. If you feel it necessary to do so, be "man" enough to speak face to face, not anonymously via the internet. My name is proudly posted below. Thank you for reading my thoughts, and for everyone in Somerville, "Go Yeguas!"

    Gregg Trout
    7915 Genery Trail
    McCalla, Al. 35111
    c/o 91 (not from SHS)

    Comment by gregg — December 29, 2007 @ 05:15PM

  46. Just a word of advice for the Mayor......"SPELLCHECK"

    Comment by Gregg — December 29, 2007 @ 06:09PM

  47. This is mostly addressed to Gregg Trout. I have ALWAYS posted my name and certainly not ashamed to do it either. I was born and raised here, other than 10 years in the panhandle, but I came home to a good life and have no intentions what-so-ever, NONE, to leave! Some left for better job opportunities, I came home to help my parents!!!! As I have said before, if you don't like it here, just go. WE all did just fine before the dam was built and brought some of you here, then the oil boom. Who's to say oil hasn't leached into the soil? There HAVE been governmental tests performed. I've seen the results! And all good. What about the black mold in your grandparents' home? Could that have affected some of your family? I'm not bashing, just asking. My husband gutted the old Campbell home I was raised in and attic and all tested and no harmful chemical residue found. But my mom and dad made certain THEY raised us and kept this old house built in 1936 in good shape. Obviously they did a good job. And we weren't ever in prison either. Sorry, that really wasn't cool. I think the three of us, my brothers and I, did well for ourselves as there was no question that we would go to and graduate from college! We make our own living and no governmental help. Now, you said no more mud slinging, so practice what you preach. BTW, How's Alabama? Your Aunt Sheila is a wonderful person, as are cousins Karen and Brenda. Where's Gene? Yes, I know Jeff was freed and has now fixed up the old Trout home and God Bless him for that. The outside leaves a lot to be desired........ OK, now I've vented and I will ALWAYS love Somerville. My roots are deep.. like 115 or so years, and I plan to carry on the tradition of the good old days before the riff raff. My Nannie would switch my hiney if I didn't if she were alive today, but she and Granddaddy died of natural causes, Dad from a closed head injury from the war and it finally got him, but tho' 100% disabled from it, he worked all his life until he was forced to quit because of the shoulder injury he received when he got rear ended in a wreck. Mom worked 33 years at A & M and died an honest death of breast cancer, heart problems and diabetes, none of which was carcinogen caused. I guess I'm just venting here because my grandparents and parents taught us to take the life God gave us and make the best of it and not to blame others for our problems. We NEVER sued anyone and don't plan to ever sue anyone. I believe God has a purpose for us all. And for the attackers of Tommy Thompson, come meet this big hearted man then form that opinion. Believe the facts, not the BS. Hope all have a Blessed 2008!

    Comment by Christine — December 29, 2007 @ 06:51PM

  48. okay, if Gloria Sager is the grandmother of Gregg, then Karen is the Mother and Sheila is the sister and Gene Trout is the father.

    Ed Meyer died from lung cancer as a result of "smoking", not the tie plant. Pay attention, his sister wrote a comment earlier. Smoking....key word here, the one that keeps coming up and has been a problem with all the complaintants. Revalation: Smoking causes cancer, please get over the blame game.

    The water in Somerville is fine. There is hardly a city in the U.S. right now where the citizens drink tap water, so why is Somerville being singled out. Please don't sit there in Alabama or whereever you are and criticize Somerville, if you want to help come back here and clean up the "mess" your grandparents made and left on 6th street! Talk about a health hazard.

    Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut! Gimma a break, who are you kidding? You really shouldn't have signed your name.

    Comment by Dazed and Confused — December 29, 2007 @ 11:08PM

  49. I don'ts need no spell check. I gots a good education in Sommerville. Everyones hear is a heartless bitch.

    Comment by Tommy Thompson — December 30, 2007 @ 08:46PM

  50. I REALLY HATE I READ THESE COMMENTS. NEARLY EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS WORKED EITHER AT THE TIE PLANT OR THE RAILROAD. GOOD JOBS & GOOD LIVINGS. MANY PEOPLE I KNOW CONTINUE TO WORK AT KOPPERS AND BNSF AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THESE JOBS. UNFORTUNATELY (AS BAD AS IT MAKES MY HOMETOWN LOOK AND AS SOAP OPERA/BACKWOODS AS IT SOUNDS) MOST OF THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING COME FROM A FAMILY TREE WITH VERY FEW BRANCHES, HAVE LIVED THEIR LIVES AS HEAVY SMOKERS AND DRINKERS, SOME HAVE BEEN JAILED OR BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET AWAY WITH ABUSING ILLEGAL DRUGS FOR YEARS. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED AWAY FROM BURLESON COUNTY LONGER THAN THEY LIVED IN SOMERVILLE. I BELIEVE ALOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE A PRETTY TOUGH TIME ON CROSS IF THIS GOES BEFORE A JURY. (GLASS HOUSES/ROCKS)

    PERSONALLY, IF I SHOULD CONTRACT STOMACH CANCER, PANCREATIC CANCER OR LIVER CANCER ETC I'M NOT GOING TO BLAME ANYONE BUT MYSELF EVEN IF I COULD MAKE MY 50 PIECES OF SILVER.

    Comment by Gayle — December 31, 2007 @ 11:55AM

  51. I'm back with a few observations. Dazed and Confused, thanks for straightening out my son Gregg's family tree. And Christine, thanks for your good words about me and my daughter, Sheila.

    An interesting thing happened to me today that I thought I would share. A man calling himself "Chris" called me for the number of the attorney handling this case. He started a long tale about how his family is connected to Somerville, but I interrupted to tell him that he should contact the Houston Press for that information. Here's the gist of the conversation.

    Chris: You wrote the article and you don't know the name of the attorney?
    Me: I didn't write the article, I commented on it.
    Chris: I got your name and phone number from the article.
    Me: You got it from my comment, not from the byline.
    Chris: You are the one