Disaster at Carbide: Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living

Note: The following was posted at Insider Louisville on Wednesday and has generated significant interest. I'm reposting it here today for my readers in case you missed it. Have a safe weekend - Brian

Trade unionists have many phrases to live by, not the least of which is this one: “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.”

After finally breaching what seemed to be an “Iron Curtain” of silence among current and former employees of Carbide Industries on Bells Lane, Insider Louisville has been able to speak with two people who have direct knowledge about Monday’s incident in which two men were killed in an explosion.

A former Carbide Industries employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Insider Louisville on Wednesday, “It is my understanding they had plans to overhaul that furnace within two to three years. They should not have waited.”

The former employee then added with emphasis: “The place was a ticking time bomb. They constantly had smaller explosions there, you just didn’t hear about them on the news. Maybe if profits were put aside for a minute, those poor souls would still be alive today.”

Carbide Industries is North America’s largest producer of calcium carbide products, according to the company’s website

Calcium carbide is the primary source of acetylene gas used in metal fabrication.

The building Carbide operates out of is an old one, having been among the very first to begin operating in the Rubbertown area, an area that was to become the largest producer of synthetic rubber in the world.

Old facilities like the Carbide plant are inherently more hazardous than modern ones.

Carbide Industries’ Louisville location takes raw materials and turns them into calcium carbide by means of super-heating all the ingredients inside of a furnace in which temperatures can reach 3800 degrees Fahrenheit.

One insider told me that Carbide always was and continued to be a “filthy, nasty place to work” up until Monday’s explosion.

Time will tell if the sources are correct in their assessment of the situation. Until then, we should call on all traditional media outlets to stop repeating what they are told in press releases and use their resources to get to the bottom of the story.

Reminder: Second "Southwest Greenways" meeting tonight

Metro Parks is planning a proposed new trail system in southwest Louisville called the Southwest Greenways to connect neighborhoods to the Louisville Loop and other key areas and facilities, and increase active lifestyles. Three public meetings have been scheduled in the southwest area so you can hear more about this project and share your ideas and input. One already took place this past Monday at Farnsley-Moremen. There is another one tonight:

Wednesday, March 23rd - Iroquois Library - 6:30-8:30 pm (601 West Woodlawn Ave.)

Dist. 13 is ready for Brightside Spring Cleanup, are you?

Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch knows when the spring cleanup is over on Saturday, March 26th, there will be some hungry volunteers. That’s why she holds a very special cook out as a way of saying thank you to those who want to help keep District 13 clean.

“A few years ago, I decided we need to say thank you for those who would give up their Saturday to help us out,” says Welch. “I have never been disappointed in the turn out of people in our area who want to make a difference and help their community.”

Welch will hold her Annual Cookout lunch at Lassiter Middle School beginning at 12:00pm when volunteers have finished their work. The school is located at 8200 Candleworth Drive.

Several groups are planning cleanups in District 13. They include:

· The Green Mile

· Holsclaw Hill Road Block Watch Group

· Candlelight Neighborhood Assoc.

· Fairdale Community School

· Fairdale High School / UPS Freight Facility

· Kenwood Heights Christian Church

· Fairdale Florist

“District 13 covers such a large area and many of these groups over the years have done a wonderful job of getting litter and trash out of some of the more scenic and beautiful areas of our district,” says Welch. “We can always count on them to do a great job.”

To learn more about the District 13 Annual Brightside Cleanup or to find a group with which to volunteer, call Councilwoman Welch’s office at 574-1113.

Cane Run Elementary Community Playground to be completed in April

Back in October the groundbreaking was a special event. Today, the new playground for Cane Run Elementary is well on its way to being completed in time for Community use this Spring.

“I am pleased with the progress of this venture,” says Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3). “As we all knew, this will be a wonderful addition to the school but also for the neighborhood.

Woolridge joined the Community Business Partners for the groundbreaking that brought new playground equipment to Cane Run Elementary last October. She was able to secure $25,000 in funding in the current budget. The remaining money was raised by the Community Business Partners.

The playground equipment has been installed. Workers hope to have foam tile installed by April. The playground could also so have additional landscaping put in place. The project is part of Cane Run’s “Teamwork Makes a Dream Work” plan designed to incorporate the new playground into other innovative programs at the school focusing on the environment.

“This new playground shows that when we all work together to improve the quality of life for our children, we ultimately improve our neighborhoods as well,” said Woolridge.

Woolridge is joined by other partners in the playground venture; DREAM Foundation, Kosair Charities, Zoeller Company, Louisville Chemistry Partnership, Hexion, Carbide Industries, Lubrizol, Dow Chemical, Zeon Chemical, Dupont, American Synthetic Rubber, City of Shively – Mayor Sherry Conner, Southwest Rotary Club, R & S Welding, JFT Precision Fabrication, Inc., Hartlage Machine Co., Inc., Independent Piping, Inc, KCI Supply Company LLC, Pavco Trucking Co., Inc, Abel Construction Company, Inc, Cement Board Fabricators, Inc., Niemco Fabricators, Inc., Marine Electric, Pendleton Trailer, Cane Run Improvement Club, Loudon Sheet Metal Co., Inc, Welders Supply and NALCO Company/James Gerrish.

Good times, bad times: Midweek Update

- Many people have become angry about the newest dildo store on Dixie Highway in Shively, saying Shively officials "gave in" to a high-priced attorney's "scare tactics" in granting the store a general business license. Here's the thing: If no one shops there, it will close. That's how you get rid of things like that, so stop going in there. [CJ]

- Ford CEO Alan Mulally was in town last night for GLI's annual meeting. A WHAS11 report says he is "optimistic" about the future of the Louisville Assembly Plant and gives the United Auto Workers union high praise for cooperating with the company. [WHAS11]

Insiders attending the meeting say Mulally then went on to shamelessly promote the awful idea of passing the Korea/US Free Trade Agreement, saying Ford was still unable to compete without the deal. More on the proposed agreement and its effect on U.S. jobs - [Insider Louisville]

- The Local Weekly has a nice story about Mary Lou Rippy of Dixie Florist. Mary Lou was a finalist for the 2010 Epic Award given by the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Louisville Chapter.[The Local Weekly]

- REMINDER: Saturday, March 19,  Councilwoman Vicki Welch hosts her next "Coffee with Your Councilwoman" at First String Family Sports Grill at 5921 New Cut Road. This month's coffee features District 5 school board representative Linda Duncan and gets underway at 9am.

- Valley High School Alumni Association has their regular monthly meeting this Thursday, March 17th, at 6:30 PM in the old TV Science Room. All alumni are welcome to join. Membership dues are $10 per year. Come on out.

Southwest Greenways planning meetings set for March

Southwest Greenways Plan….be a part of it

Metro Parks is planning a proposed new recreational trail system in southwest Louisville called the Southwest Greenways. The Southwest Greenways Plan will connect neighborhoods in the southwest to the Louisville Loop, recreational trails, historic and cultural sites, parks, natural areas, schools, community facilities and business districts, increasing the potential for a healthier, more active lifestyle.

The planning process will consist of Metro Parks’ working together with the public and community leaders to develop a master plan to identify existing conditions and uses and collect information about what types of recreational and commuting opportunities people in the community want and combine them in a vision for the greenway system.

Your help is needed as we begin the process. We want your ideas and input. Please join us at an upcoming public meeting to hear about the project and most importantly, share your ideas, opinions, and concerns regarding area trails, open space, historic and cultural sites.

Metro Parks will host three public meetings within southwest Louisville. You are encouraged to attend a meeting near you but, feel free to attend any or all of them. Times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Monday , March 21st, Farnsley-Moremen Visitors’ Center, 7410 Moorman Rd., @ 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23rd, Iroquois Branch Library, 601 W. Woodlawn Ave., @ 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Monday March 28th, Fairdale Playtorium, 10616 W. Manslick Rd. @ 6:00-7:30 p.m.

If further information is needed, please call Carolyn Cromer, project manager, 456-8139