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Second Evacuation Ordered for Train Derailment Cleanup

Officials are evacuating more than two dozen homes near a train derailment that occurred two weeks ago in southwestern Jefferson County. Louisville-Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Jody Duncan says 31 homes within a half-mile of the derailment are being evacuated to allow workers to remove hazardous chemicals from some of the tanker cars. Part of Dixie Highway closed at 6 am Eastern time, and nearby Ohio River traffic is stopped while the chemicals are removed. A previous evacuation emptied the town of West Point, requiring hundreds of people to leave their homes when a chemical fire erupted at the site, injuring three workers. Paducah & Louisville Railway spokeswoman Bonnie Hackbarth says the evacuation could last three to four days.

Shelly Baskin works in MSU's Office of Regional Outreach and is a graduate student in Occupational Safety and Health. A roustabout from Memphis, Tennessee, Shelly first found his way into WKMS through the newsroom back in 2011 through luck, charm and force of will. Though he left news for another position, he still enjoys working on independent radio projects and volunteering for the station. He’s an avid disc golfer and occasional real golfer and is terrible at both. A lover of all things musical, Shelly is always ready to hear something new and unique.
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