‘Every disaster, every crisis is different’
One year has passed since Springfield train derailment.
Clark County officials carry with them lessons learned during the Springfield Twp. train derailment — which happened just over a year ago.
This includes drawing attention to resources for first responders, community partnerships and training, said Clark County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Michelle Clements-pitstick.
“After every event, we take away lessons that we learned,” she said. “But we also take away positives. We talk about how we make things better going down the road.”
On March 4, 2023 at around 4:45 p.m., a total of 28 out of 212 train cars came off the tracks near Clark County Fairgrounds on State Route 41. It was the second known train derailment to happen in Clark County in a year’s span and came nearly a month after the devastating derailment in East Palestine.
The fact that the East Palestine incident across the state was so fresh in the minds of Clark County residents was a major consideration of county leadership and others responding to the scene. Mental health professionals were incorporated into press conferences, and the county released the manifest of what train cars contained.
Although no injuries were reported in the Springfield incident, property damage occurred to properties butting up against the tracks. The derailment also downed a power line, which caused about 47 homes to lose power. First responders initially ordered residents within a 1,000foot radius to shelter in place — this included four homes and a few commercial locations.
Clements-pitstick said intensive planning and training equipped first responders to respond to the derailment. In fact, local first responders had just trained
It caused minor injuries to three people.
Voters will decide locally on candidates for county sheriff and for an open county commissioner seat, and on a countywide levy for the Springfield-clark Career Technology Center. Statehouse candidates for the Senate 10th district and representative will also be decided.
The board of elections always needs more poll workers,
and its goal is 376, to make sure there are enough workers and people who can return with minimal retraining for the next election, Baker said. Currently there are 230-235 poll workers. Those interested in working can call the board of elections at 937-521-2120 or go to voteohio.gov.
Early voting is going on now until March 17. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.7:30 p.m. March 19. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by March 18 and received by the board of elections by March 23.