Remembering West
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Contents:
City of West celebrates rebuilding one year later |
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City of West celebrates rebuilding one year laterA handful of concrete slabs occupy the spaces where various homes once stood in the town of West. The newly erected beams of these houses rise like wooden skeletons, waiting for flesh in the form of floors, walls and ceilings. Reconstruction continues one year after the devastating April 17, 2013, fertilizer plant explosion that left many surrounding homes and an apartment uninhabitable. Some property owners were forced to demolish existing structures and rebuild. John Crowder, pastor of First Baptist Church of West, said the costs of reconstruction were often too high for owners to bear, sparking a generous outpouring of support for those affected via local recovery organizations. His church, just one of many organizations involved with reconstructing homes, has helped build seven homes from the ground up.… |
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Community remembers fallen with memorials
Those words, inscribed on a memorial plaque, is one of the ways a small Texas town is commemorating those who lost their lives. One year ago today, the West Fertilizer Co. plant exploded, killing 15 and injuring over 160. As the town continues to heal, rebuild and evolve, West has created memorials to ensure that though the wounds may eventually heal and leveled buildings may be revived, those lost in the explosion will not be forgotten.… |
One year later: Mayor says West is resilient, hopeful
One year later, Muska sat down with the Lariat at his office in West where he manages an insurance business. He discussed the role divine providence had in rebuilding the town, the memories he still replays from that day one year ago and what the West of tomorrow will look like. |
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Humane Society helps animals return home
In the midst of the tragedy, family pets were missing and injured, but with the help of the Humane Society of Central Texas, those owners were reunited with their furry family members. Don Bland, executive director of the Humane Society, said almost all 115 pets were claimed by their owners and half of those pets were claimed within two weeks. Other families adopted the handful of unclaimed pets in the months following the accident. However, Bland said even those who had claimed their pets often had no home for them. “They had to stay in a hotel, and so their pets had to stay here until they had arrangements to go somewhere with their animal,” Bland said. “We housed some here for awhile and some of the owners came to visit their pets every day or every other day because that was their companion.” The shelter housed a variety of animals from dogs and cats to iguanas, birds and chickens. Livestock and horses were kept at a nearby facility for large animals.… |
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Book to honor those who run into the fire, not awayOn April 17, 2013, the fertilizer plant explosion in West killed 15 people — 12 of whom were first-response firefighters. Amber Adamson, part-time lecturer in the department of journalism, public relations and new media, wrote a book entitled “The Last Alarm,” which compiled accounts from just under 50 responders from the plant explosion. The book will be released the first week in May. “There was a firefighter in full honor guard uniform standing on the railroad tracks out above the blast site before the bodies were recovered,” Adamson said. “It was so powerful knowing that there was that immediate sense of respect and honor, and that followed them until they were laid to rest. That image struck me and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be so powerful to talk to someone in their shoes and understand what they’re thinking what they’re feeling and doing?”… |
Looking back: Dog helps West rescue effortsA member of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contributed to the investigations involved with the West fertilizer plant explosion – using nothing but her nose. Now, one year later, Farlee the Labrador retriever is retired from detecting explosive chemicals, but still enjoys practicing her skills with her owner and past trainer, Claire Rayburn. A year ago, as reported in the Lariat, West’s mayor pro tem Steve Vanek kept the public updated on the inspections of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also known as the ATF. The ATF and state fire marshals worked to investigate the area of the explosion and determine which residents were safe to return home, Vanek said. Rayburn, at the time a special agent canine handler for ATF, worked with Farlee at the time of the investigation. Farlee didn’t play a large part in the investigation, Rayburn said, but was required to perform tasks on the scene.… |
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First responders remembered1. Jerry Chapman was born April 7, 1987 in Pampa, TX, and was a firefighter for Abbott Volunteer Fire Department. 2. William ‘Buck’ Uptmor Jr. was born on April 11, 1968 and was the first of three children born to Billy and Beverly Uptmor. Buck was a 1986 graduate of West High School and went on to attend Hill Junior College for two years and also attended TSTI. He grew up loving the outdoors, with his love for camping, hunting, fishing, riding horses, and working cattle. Buck also loved country music and was a drummer for Billy Uptmor and the Makers Band for many years. Buck was a hard worker and owned and operated a successful fencing company, Uptmor Construction, for over 25 years. In his West Memorial eulogy, Buck was remembered as a kind and humble man with a great sense of humor and who always had a smile on face. He was remembered as a man who knew his God and lived life to the fullest. To those who knew him, he left behind a legacy of love and generosity. He surivived by his beloved wife of 13 years, Arcy Uptmor of Abbott; parents Billy and Beverly Uptmor of Tours; sons Hunter and Trevor Uptmor both of Abbott; daughter, Dusty Uptmore of Abbott; grandmother, Agnes Middleton of Tours; brother, Brian Uptmor and wife Kris, of Tours; sister, Bethany Rains and husband, Matt, of Tours; mother-in-law, Julia Silva of Pharr; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.… |
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