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Cecil Atchley, the assistant principal at Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School, welcomes pupils back.
Ron Cockerille/Staff
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Final 2 schools resume classes
Web posted Wednesday, January 19, 2005
By Karen Ethridge
| South Carolina Bureau
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Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt takes his son, Michael, to Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School. It was the school's first day open since the wreck.
Ron Cockerille/Staff
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GRANITEVILLE - Bundled up to face the biting January morning air, 12-year-old Jurgen Hartley trudged into Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School Tuesday and said he was ready after more than a week away from school.
Jurgen, one of nearly 1,000 pupils at Leavelle-McCampbell Middle and Byrd Elementary schools, hasn't been to school since the Jan. 6 train crash and chlorine leak that forced the evacuation in Graniteville.
"I missed everything," Jurgen said as he walked in with his parents. "With all of the things that have been going on with the chemical spill, we had to leave home, and I was worried about my dog."
Dino, the Hartley family's dog, was found alive and well at their Gregg Street residence when the family was allowed to return Monday night. Most families have been able to return home as the evacuation zone has been scaled down gradually.
But about 75 families have not been allowed to return, said Lt. Michael Frank of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
The resumption of classes was yet another sign that life is starting to return to normal in the mill town community.
Both schools, the last in Aiken County to reopen because of their proximity to the wreck, held open houses Monday to reassure parents and pupils that they were safe.
Rosie Berry, the principal of Byrd Elementary, told parents Monday that pupils would be allowed to share what happened to them during the week away from school through poetry and writing assignments.
"It's important that we do get it out. That's part of the healing process," Mrs. Berry said. "These children are much more flexible than we give them credit for a lot of times."
The biggest challenge is getting pupils caught up after a week away, said Michelle Padgett, a pre-algebra teacher at Leavelle- McCampbell Middle.
"Not only does it put you behind a little, but you actually have to back up a little to review where you were," said Mrs. Padgett, who will be going over equations and ratios in her math classes this week. "I'm ready to get started."
Meanwhile, Avondale Mills continued the partial resumption of operations at its Gregg and Hickman plants, said company spokesman Steven Felker Jr. Employees who have not returned to work are asked to contact their supervisors at home, Mr. Felker said.
Norfolk Southern workers continued to drain chlorine from one tank car, company spokesman Robin Chapman said.
Reach Karen Ethridge at (803) 648-1395, ext. 109 or karen.ethridge@augustachronicle.com.
Community Information
SCHOOLS: All Aiken County public schools in Graniteville are now open. The Freedman Parenting Center in Graniteville is scheduled to reopen today. Bus routes will run as close to normal as possible.
LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER: The Norfolk Southern assistance center is open today from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is scheduled to relocate to the former community services building at 124 Ascauga Lake Road in Graniteville. People are asked to make appointments by calling (803) 663-4785.
Evacuation: Residents remain displaced from an estimated 75 homes in the immediate area of the derailment. The area is bordered by Canal, Gregg, Seastrunk and Cottage streets. Residents living within this area should call Aiken County Planning and Development to schedule a free inspection of their home's plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems: (803) 642-1525. The following schedule has been established for the inspections:
• Today: Canal to Gregg streets, Seastrunk to Gentry streets
• Thursday: Canal to Gregg streets, Gentry Street to Aiken Road
• Friday: Canal to Gregg streets, Aiken Road to Cottage Street
In the event repairs are needed, the Aiken County Planning and Development will issue a correction notice. Homeowners are asked to schedule repairs by calling the Norfolk Southern Claims Office, (800) 230-7049.
The Environmental Protection Agency will not permit residents of about 50 homes to return until the chlorine transfer is completed and the derailment site is deemed safe. This affects residents in an area bordered by Canal, Gregg, Gentry and Cottage streets.
Special Section: Graniteville Train Wreck
On January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern Corp. freight train carrying chemicals hit a parked train near an Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville, South Carolina. The impact caused poisonous chlorine gas to leak from three of the moving train's cars. Nine people were killed and more than 5,000 people were evacuated from the site.
For complete coverage of the Graniteville train wreck, visit our special section.
--From the Wednesday, January 19, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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