In the wake of the July 6 explosion of a train carrying crude oil from North Dakota through Maine to Lac-Megantic, Quebec, opponents of so-called tar sands crude oil gathered Saturday at Sebago Lake State Park to protest transportation of the bituminous oil across Maine and call attention to the threat to the lake from […]
Lac-Megantic
Posted inMaine, Nation / World, sj-web
Insufficient brake force blamed in derailment
NEW YORK (AP) — A fiery and fatal train derailment earlier this month in Quebec, near the Maine border, highlighted the danger of moving oil by rail, a practice that has grown exponentially as a result of the oil boom and will continue to expand, experts say. This year, more trains carrying crude will chug […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Railway involved in Quebec explosion lays off 79 of 179 workers
HERMON — The railway that owns the runaway train that devastated a small Quebec town almost two weeks ago, killing 50 people, has laid off 79 of its 179 workers because of the disaster, a company official said Wednesday. Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway workers learned at the close of business on Monday that they […]
Posted inFranklin
Lac-Megantic needs money to recover from train crash, visitors say
FARMINGTON — Local folks learned Wednesday that what the citizens of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, need most is money. The town, trying to recover from a deadly oil-train derailment on July 6 that killed nearly 50 people and destroyed at least 30 buildings, needs financial assistance, said state Sen.Tom Saviello, R-Wilton. “We’ve gotten calls about giving food, […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Franklin County group to visit Lac-Megantic
FARMINGTON — So many people here want to give but what will help the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec the most? That’s the question a local group intends to ask the mayor of Lac-Megantic, Colette Roy-Laroche, when they travel there for a brief meeting Wednesday, according to Ryan Morgan, chairman of the Farmington Board of Selectmen. […]
Posted inMaine
King calls volunteers from western Maine, ‘the best of America’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a brief speech late Monday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, praised the volunteer firefighters from western Maine that travelled to Lac-Megantic, Quebec, to help contain tragic fire there last week. King, speaking from the floor of the U.S. Senate, hailed the 30 firefighters from Eustis, Rangeley, Farmington, Phillips, Strong, New […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Quebec explosion prompts Michaud, Pingree to call for review of rail infrastructure
WASHINGTON — A week after an oil-tanker train exploded in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, leaving as many as 60 people presumed dead or missing, Maine U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud on Thursday called for a federal investigation into the safety of the infrastructure used to transport crude oil and gas by […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
‘Train from hell’ brings grief to Quebec
LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec (AP) — It was surely the most festive spot in town as a Friday night turned into a Saturday morning at the Musi-Cafe – a full house, live music, plenty of beer and nachos to animate long-time friends. Among the dozens enjoying themselves in the pub was a sizable contingent of the Lafontaine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
First victim of train disaster identified
LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec — The first victim of a runaway oil train’s explosive derailment in a Quebec town was identified Thursday, more than five days since the disaster, which left behind a scorched scene so dangerous that it slowed the search for 50 people presumed dead. Quebec’s premier toured the traumatized town and sharply criticized the […]
Posted inOur View
A helping hand for our ‘sister’
If you put any stock in the Chronicle of Philanthropy that rates Maine 49th in the nation in charitable giving, you might be forced to believe that Mainers are not all that charitable. You would be wrong. We are. On Tuesday, Farmington selectmen established a relief fund for the town’s sister city of Lac-Megantic, Quebec. […]