"Freedom Industries" and the clowns behind the WV chemical spill

[Tanuki]

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201401100119?page=2&build=cache

..."Details are still scant about Farrell and the company's two founders, but some details about the men, Southern and Carl L. Kennedy II, are known.
Freedom Industries was founded in 1992 by Southern and Kennedy, according to filings with the West Virginia secretary of state.
.....
In 2005, federal prosecutors charged Kennedy with failing to pay more than $200,000 in income taxes, according to reports at the time. In 1987, he pleaded guilty to selling between 10 and 12 ounces of cocaine, according to reports.
....Kennedy and Farrell became friends and eventually went into business together. In 2002, they opened a sports bar in Montgomery called The Bank Bar and Grill.
.......
The secretary of state lists Farrell as the "organizer" of Etowah River Terminal, a chemical storage facility, which was founded in 2001.failed to file an annual report in 2005 and had its business license revoked, but re-formed in 2011."...

[Champion Jack]

1. Kicked for later

[sakabatou]

2. And now we have thousands who can't use/drink water for who nows how long

[2naSalit]

3. Interesting too

is that not one elected official from that state is willing to identify that it was related to coal industry and some tried to claim that even though the chemical is dangerous it isn't toxic. Seems like they all have their nuts in a vice.

[El_Johns]

4. West Virginia businessman who sells drugs too. Interesting.

On the last day of 2013, Freedom Industries, which distributes chemicals used in coal mining, merged with three other companies: Etowah River Terminal, Poca Blending and Crete Technologies, a Delaware company.

Poca Blending, in Nitro, and Etowah River Terminal, in Charleston, now comprise the two branches of Freedom Industries.

The company's website says the Charleston branch, which spilled the chemical, "can process large volumes of chemical rapidly, and cost effectively."

and I just love the "girlfriend" of the exec...

Stover-Kennedy stressed that the spill was an accident and said that Farrell has received threatening and frightening messages from people around the world.

"I'm not asking for anyone's sympathy but a little empathy wouldn't hurt. And just so you know, the boys at the plant made and drank coffee this morning! I showered and brushed my teeth this morning and I am just fine!" Stover-Kennedy wrote on her personal Facebook page.

[Tanuki]

5. Now Southern is playing the victim

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x1197852770/Chemical-spill-brings-W-Va-capital-to-standstill
..."Southern said he didn't think the chemical posed a public danger. He also said the company didn't know how much leaked.
He also said more than once that it had been a "long day" for him and others at the company. After six minutes, Southern attempted to leave the news conference but was asked more questions.
"Look guys. It has been an extremely long day," Southern said. "I have trouble talking at the moment. I would appreciate if we could wrap this thing up."
The news conference ended a few minutes after that. "...
--------------------------------------

He's had a long day? Yeah, tell it to the dialysis patients who had their procedures cancelled due to lack of water.

[KeepItReal]

6. K&R

Started a post on this before I saw yours!

Good find.

[hobbit709]

7. I'm suspicious of any company that calls itself "Freedom" anything

[sendero]

8. Any company with a name including...

...... "Heritage or America or Freedom, yeah you can believe it when that dude said "patriotism is last refuge of scoundrels".

[okaawhatever]

9. That was my first thought, too. nt

[KoKo]

10. Yep...that's a big "Tell."

To the company.."Freedom" means "Freedom to do what we want"...while hiding what they are about with a buzzword calculated to appeal to the RW Conservatives.