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Saturday, May 10, 2008

Picher, Oklahoma

the first time I saw Picher, OK was more than 23 years ago. I was shocked at the piles of mining debris -- called chat, I later learned. My husband -- then my boyfriend, who had grown up near Picher, just shrugged it off. I demanded to know why the mine hadn't been forced to clean it up. I still wonder why we, the taxpayers of this country, have to continue to clean up for an industry that lined its pockets with money on the blood, sweat and health of every day working men and families.

I ran across this article today -- great story -- but it brought to the surface that rage and shock I felt in December 1984 when we drove through Picher.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chat.

Shortly after you posted this, Picher was destroyed by a tornado. We grieve for those who have lost loved ones and homes.

Carmel said...

Very sad. There's hardly words to explain the devastation of a tornado. When you go out after a tornado as I had to do when I was a reporter, the images haunt you forever. Our prayers to the families and town.