BLADEN COUNTY, N.C.- Smithfields pork processing plant in Bladen County is closed indefinitely after company officials say a water heater tank fell over and severed an ammonia line at the massive hog slaughtering plant Tuesday.

The incident forced around 2,400 employees to evacuate and sent several people to area hospitals to be evaluated.

The facility is located on Highway 87 North in Tar Heel. During the evacuation, workers were transported to Tar Heel Middle School where they were given food and water. The employees have since boarded buses to return to the plant and collect personal items.

"At first I did not know what it was, I thought it was hot water. [Then I smelled] that ammonia. And I have asthma so it was really kind of scary," said worker Timothy Hayes.

Plant workers said the incident was chaotic when it first began.

"With people running out of the plant, we did not know what was going on at first. Until later on we got to the plant and we smelled ammonia. They had everybody outside and were talking about going down to the clinic," said Devin Autry, plant worker.

Emergency crews from in and outside the surrounding area brought in resources to help.

"We made contact with local Hazmat officials and worked with folks from Duplin County, Fayetteville from Tar Heel all came to assist to make sure there was no particular problem for the entire community, said Dennis Pittman, with Smithfield corporate communications.

This is not the first time there's been an ammonia leak at this plant. But officials say people should not be concerned about safety.

Watch an interview with Dennis Pittman, of Smithfield corporate communications

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Workers Return to Smithfield Packing Plant Following Evacuation

TAR HEEL, N.C. Plant officials say it was simply a freak accident.

On Tuesday, at around 11 a.m., a 300,000 gallon water heater collapsed outside releasing a tidal wave that shoved a generator into an ammonia tank, severing the line.

"The bigger issue was that the water damaged the electrical system at the plant, which caused the power outage at the plant", said Smithfield spokesman, Dennis Pittman.

What happened after the accident is key. Within minutes, the plant evacuated the more than 2,400 people inside, sending them to designated safe areas.

"We're really pleased with how well coordinated everything went. We truly had a textbook situation here on how to handle an emergency", said Pittman.

Nearly a dozen people were sent to local hospitals for treatment including ammonia exposure. Dr. Michael Zappa, the associate chief medical examiner at Cape Fear Valley, said the response was quick.

"EMS on the scene did a great job at doing an assessment and controlling the situation, and informing the facilities on what to expect, that way we could be prepared," said Dr. Zappa.

With production at the plant halted, Pittman said theyre transferring the work to other facilities.

"We're trying to shift work to other locations to make sure we cover as much as we can. You're never 100-percent sure when you are supplying this much product around the world. We literally supply product all over the world from this plant," said Pittman.

He expects the plant to be up and running by second shift on Thursday.

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Production at Bladen Co. Pork Plant Still Halted Following Tuesday Accident

The Toronto Star has launched School Work , a project that allows readers parents, teachers, students and others to look at how money is being spent in Torontos aging public schools. Find your school at School Work . Tell us if you think too much is being spent on some jobs. Tell us what jobs need doing to make your school a better, safer learning environment.

Remember the $143 pencil sharpener installation? Thats where the idea came from.

Two years ago, the Star told you that Canadas biggest school board was wasting precious dollars on construction and maintenance. The sharpener was one of thousands of examples. In that case, taxpayers were charged $143 for a Toronto District School Board carpenter to drive to the school to attach the sharpener to a classroom wall with four tiny screws.

We also told stories of the school board paying $190 to replace a toilet seat. Paying $2,442 to mount a $127 whiteboard on a wall. Then there was the electrical outlet $3,000 to put a new plug in a library. That new plug took four hours to install, but taxpayers were billed for 76 hours of labour (almost $3,000), which sources say was done to account for the time of idle workers who had no assignments that week.

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The Star has now obtained and analyzed three years of school board work orders, providing them to the public with simple search functions online at thestar.com . It is a rare chance to examine and comment on how your dollars are spent. In a school board that includes seven schools built in the 1800s, and many more that are 50, 60, or 70 years old, there is lots of work to do. Painting, landscaping, carpentry, wall repairs, electrical repairs, graffiti removal, leaky roofs, water fountain fixes and many more jobs. The ice storm was not kind to schools, and many leaky roofs and crumbling ceilings still need work.

Since the Star first broke the story two years ago, the school board, with the help of strong consultant reports, made some changes, though problems still exist. We spoke recently to Angelos Bacopoulos, chief facilities manager for the TDSB. The veteran public servant is well aware that the province has estimated it will cost $3.1 billion to bring Torontos 600-plus schools into proper, workable, safe condition.

He has an annual budget of about $80 million to tackle it and has joked that he feels like the story of the Little Dutch Boy, so awash is the school board in repair issues.

Bacopoulos said his team has achieved the following:

In August, the school board will attempt to renegotiate its contact with the council of unions the Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council, led by Jimmy Hazel which has a hammerlock on all work done for public schools in Toronto. Even if an outside contractor is brought in to do work the council members cannot do, the contractor has to pay special union dues to the council. That contract expired more than a year ago but the Liberal government extended it to August 2014.

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You be the detective and check out the TDSB

May 16, 2014 marked the grand opening of the Dunnellon Trail Bridge. Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated (LCCI) was a part of this significant recreational project. "Our part was the design completion and manufacture of precast concrete elements and associated connections for the precast columns and ornamental structures of the pedestrian/bicycle bridge", said Shawn Thomas, V.P. at LCCI. "This trail is a new addition to the Florida Greenway Trails System. The finish is ground and polished concrete bases and caps and stained faux stone. We are thrilled to have a part in this project and to add this to our portfolio of custom products."

The 280 ft. long bridge spans the Withlacoochee River, part of a 2.4 mile paved spur which is now part of the larger 46 mile Withlacoochee State Trail, currently crossing Pasco, Citrus and Hernando counties. The new addition is a key component of the Heart of Florida Loop portion of the Cross Florida Greenway Trail. This path provides observation of the pristine oak, pine and cypress woods which run along the Withlacoochee and Rainbow Rivers. The new trail and bridge brings the state to within two miles of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated Family owned and operated since 1983, Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated was first a leading manufacturer of precast concrete steps decks, walkways, landings, and ADA compliant modular precast concrete wheelchair ramps, with steel guard rails, and handrails. They currently manufacture Easi-Set Buildings, Easi-Span ultra-large buildings and Easi-Set restrooms, which feature a patented post-tensioning system in the roof and floor, architectural precast cladding panels and precast concrete stairs. LCCI also offers a wide array of custom precast product options. "We've never had a job that we couldn't handle," stated Kirk Rouse, Vice President of LCCI. This American, family-owned company demonstrates a philosophy of quality and innovation.

Leesburg Concrete Company, Incorporated is an NPCA Certified Plant, focused on meeting the needs of commercial building construction and renovation projects. Their experienced staff provides turnkey service. It takes one call to find the solution to your building needs. For more information visit their website at http://www.leesburgconcrete.com, call (800) 882-4177, or email KRouse@leesburgconcrete.com.

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New Withlacoochee Trail Section and Expanding Custom Portfolio

BEIRUT: Ambling along the narrow streets of Beiruts Mar Mikhael and Geitawi neighborhoods on a balmy morning, masters students from Balamand Universitys Academie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts lead groups of design enthusiasts on a heritage-esque tour of the areas famous stairs.

One guide tells stories of the family who built the well-known Vendome Stairs named after a long-gone theater at their base and another recounts tales told by residents about a large stone in the middle of a flight north of Roum Hospital. The story goes that a drunken man comes every night to try to move it to the top but to no avail.

From secret steps tucked into the entrances of old buildings to short, wide flights shaded by webs of cables and serving as the only outlets for some apartments, the stairs are a defining feature of the capitals hilly eastern areas.

The guided stroll, led by students Honeine Laeticia, Kallab Cyril, Salamoun Elias and Rouhana Joyce, and their instructor Diala Lteif, was intended to raise awareness of the imminent threat to the steps created by a slew of new developments.

The main problem is a lack of preservation. None of the buildings along the tour or in that neighborhood are classified as heritage sites by the government, said Lteif, who taught a semester-long course focusing on the stairs as part of ALBAs new global design program.

Letif added that the students had conducted onsite research by interviewing residents in preparation for the tours, which were part of last weeks Beirut Design Week and were accompanied by an open workshop to brainstorm ways to protect the neighborhoods traditional character.

In the program at ALBA, we look at design as a process to solve a problem ... and the users [of the design] are the main focus, she explained. Since we are contextually embedded in the city around us, it made sense for us to look at the design problems we face in the city.

Lteifs students hit the streets to talk with residents of Mar Mikhael and Geitawi, many of whom were older and had lived in the area for decades, about the stairs and the lack of heritage protection.

She said what the students discovered as they began to explore the neighborhoods outraged them. Seemingly on every corner, towers were being built, causing real estate developers to seek new outlets for the additional vehicular traffic such apartments bring.

The draft rent law recently passed by Parliament, under which old rents would be raised incrementally and tenants could be evicted with no compensation after nine years, threatens more upheaval, as does the controversial Fouad Boutros Highway project. The proposed road would pass from Ashrafieh to the port, with at least one flight of historic stairs, several traditional buildings and a large public garden being demolished in the process.

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Stepping up efforts to save Beiruts walkways

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -

Most accidental falls happen in the home and many times the victims turn out to be senior citizens.

That's why Home Instead Senior Care is offering free home safety checks for local seniors during the month of June, or National Senior Safety Month.

"More and more people these days are choosing to stay at home," said Rob Costello, president of Home Instead Senior Care. "With more seniors staying at home, safety becomes a bigger issue."

Care experts will walk you through changes you can make to prevent a slip or trip in your home. Changes might include lowering sprinkler heads outside on the lawn, minimizing clutter and clearing walkways throughout the house. In the bathroom, you should include a comfort-level toilet, add grab bars and avoid tubs and throw rugs, which can be a major tripping hazard.

Costello said to keep everything clear and easy to access, including telephones in case of emergency.

"I'm not as agile as I once was," said 93-year-old Kermit Greene, of Cathedral City. "I'd rather live at home, than be in a home."

Greene suffered a broken hip in a car crash 30 years ago. Living on his own, he doesn't want to risk breaking another one. He had care experts help make changes in his home.

The following safety tips from the Home Safety Council and Home Instead Senior Care can help.

For more information, contact Home Instead Senior Care at (760) 674-1905 or visit homeinstead.com

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Home Instead Senior Care offers free senior home safety checks

Unveiled in 1972, the Peugeot 104 was a compact car with a simple and honest design by Paolo Martin. The most powerful ZS model was more of a warm hatch than a hot one, but it did feature a 1124cc engine with 66bhp. Thanks to the car's weight of only 760kg, the car could reach speeds of up to 100mph - terrifying in a 104.

At the time, Peugeot enjoyed a great relationship with Pininfarina, the latter believing there was an opportunity there to create a back-to-basics little sports car offering cheap thrills to an optimistic young audience.

Using the 104 ZS as a base, Pininfarina designed the Peugette with production in mind and optimized every component accordingly, starting with the panels which were designed to be interchangeable.

The clamshell hood and the trunk lid were identical, and so were the doors and the sills, which could be swapped from left to right. Only the nose and the tail moulding differed, yet they included carryover lamps from the 104 and also acted as integrated bumpers. Finally Pininfarina added on a rollbar and a crossbeam behind the seats for extra safety and to make up for the loss of transverse rigidity.

Different versions were made. The original was first shown at the 1976 Turin Motor show as a two-seater roadster with a low windscreen and a soft top. The interior looked very distant from the 104 but it still used the same tachometer and gauges, only laid out differently along the top of the dashboard.

Other elements like windscreen wipers, heater controls and vents were also carried over. The slim bucket seats were new and offered appropriate lateral support at shoulder level but no headrests. It was painted red with gray trim and finished with playful stripes bearing the Italian colors.

The second version was shown the following year at the Geneva Show: a monoposto variant intended for one selfish driver. This version included a large panel which covered the passenger seat. As a proper barchetta, it also ditched the large windscreen for a frameless piece of perspex wrapping around the driver's seat. The square pods were also moved behind the steering wheel for better visibility. A coup and even a pick-up variant were also planned but never built.

Thanks to its deep dish wheels and large tires, the Peugette not only looked cool, it also had the potential to handle like a kart. It was 60kg lighter than the 104 ZS and, by the time it was unveiled, Peugeot had launched a range of optional upgrades for the engine that could have pushed its power up to 80bhp.

It had all the ingredients to become a unique and exciting addition to the Peugeot range. The French firm was very interested and kept car for over two months to study it and play with it. Eventually someone decided the car would not sell and it was sent back to Pininfarina and completely forgotten; a real shame. No guts, no glory.

First seen 1976 Turin Motor Show Length 3,340mm Width 1,540mm Height 1,150mm Wheelbase 2,230mm Weight 700kg Engine 1124cc four-cylinder, 66bhp

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by Flavien Dachet

Tree Removal 2 - Slacks

By: Michele Eade

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Tree Removal 2 - Slacks - Video

Updated: 06/18/2014 7:27 PM Created: 06/18/2014 7:19 PM WHEC.com

Not only did Tuesdays storms take down power lines, but many people lost trees right in their own yards.

Pockets of Monroe, Genesee and Orleans counties experienced Mother Natures wrath as a large line of severe thunderstorms swept across the area. In some cases, wind gusts were over 50 mph.

The winds in Fairport were so strong that some homeowners trees came crashing down right into their homes. That was the case for Mark Sambuchi as thunderstorms ripped through his Gateway Road neighborhood. Hell be cleaning up the damage for days, but he and his family were not hurt.

A lot to do, but it could have been worse. We didnt lose power, and nobody was hurt, so thats the real key. We did get shaken up. They were pretty traumatized. To just be sitting there, and then have a tree just show up. They were a little scared, said Sambuchi.

The thunderstorm damage also means a lot of work for people like Tony Bartucca who owns Tonys Tree and Landscaping.

Weve got crews scattered all over the country. Weve had crews working throughout the night getting trees off of houses. We had trees split houses in half and take houses off foundations. It was enormous, said Bartucca.

Bartucca says he deals with homeowners and their emergencies all the time, but theres more to the cleanup than meets the eye. Getting rid of downed trees and debris immediately after the storm is one thing, but addressing additional problems that can result well after the storm is another. Those issues can be just as significant as a downed tree, but not always as obvious.

Its very imperative not just to look out and say hey, theres no damage in my backyard, but to also look up and see if there are any hanging limbs up there, said Bartucca.

A little prevention can really be worthwhile when it comes to taking care of the trees in your yard before, during and after a storm.

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Tree removal continues for many residents affected by Tuesday's storms

The straight-line winds that crashed through Wilton, Iowa Tuesday morning have stumped residents.

Dozens of homeowners awoke Tuesday morning to the sight of trees draping their yards. The powerful storm snapped limbs like twigs.

I havent seen winds like this in years, John Hillman said who has lived in his Wilton home since 1958.

Hillmans home is surrounded by sycamore trees that tower more than 40 feet high. After Tuesdays storm hurled tree limbs that damaged his home, he decided it was time to cut them down.

Thats good news for tree-removal businesses like JLB and Son Services.

We have been busy from seven in the morning until eight at night, said Tammy Bennet of JLB and Son Services.

Many residents had the same idea as Hillman.

Its a big job. We are still on it and this is our third day, Bennet exclaimed.

Bennets crew has a full schedule. As they continue to cut down trees from disgruntled residents whose homes were damaged after the storm, they are also clearing debris that was left behind.

Crews say the cleanup is likely to continue for several days.

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Tree-removal companies stay swamped after storms