Marilyn Leistner, the last mayor of a Missouri town demolished after it suffered a toxic contamination more than four decades ago, will tell the story of Times Beach this week during two presentations, one in Ohio and another in Homestead. Leistner guided her town through one of the worst environmental disasters in the nation’s history. She’ll be joined by toxicologist George Thompson, who will discuss the toxic chemicals released during a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He’s called the hazards caused by the derailment “the worst I’ve ever seen.”
Leistner and Thompson have both been involved in efforts to assist Ohio and Pennsylvania residents affected by the East Palestine disaster.
On Tuesday at 6 p.m., Leistner and Thompson speak at the Columbiana Arts Theater; a session on Wednesday at 7 p.m. is scheduled at the Homestead United Presbyterian Church in Homestead. Both events are presented by the Battle of Homestead Foundation, Breathe Project, Food & Water Watch and Izaak Walton League.
Register for the Ohio event here; for the Homestead event, here.
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Steve is a photojournalist and writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he is currently on strike and working as a Union Progress co-editor. Reach him at smellon@unionprogress.com.