MINDEN, La., (KNOE 8 News) - Officials at Camp Minden had scheduled a news conference for this afternoon to do another update on the work to relocate the last 4 million pounds of explosives, but have now canceled it.
Instead, a written release was issued a while ago which said, "The evacuation order for the area surrounding Camp Minden is expected to be lifted on Friday, December 7, 2012, at noon." In talking with KNOE 8 News reporter Jillian Corder, officials also said that school will resume on Monday and that they now feel enough of the explosive material has been relocated that they believe the situation will be generally safe by tomorrow.
Officials in Minden are also now telling us that roughly 95% of the residents have already returned to the town.
KNOE 8 News reporter Jillian Corder is in Minden with officials and will have a full report on today's developments this evening on KNOE 8 News.
Thursday early update:
Yesterday, after the fifth day of operations, Explo Systems' personnel say they've made satisfactory progress as they work to relocate up to six million pounds of improperly stored propellants.
Under the direct supervision of Louisiana State Police Emergency Services personnel, Explo Systems' employees report they removed another 375,000 pounds of the improperly stored M6 propellant, which was then correctly stored in approved storage magazines. This brings the five-day operations total to approximately 2 million pounds.
At some point during the day today (Dec. 6th), the status of the evacuation order is expected to be re-evaluated. With an estimated 4 million pounds of explosives still to be removed and re-stored, there is still the possibility that the evacuation order will again be extended.
Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish Sheriff's Office and Doyline Police Department are reminding area residents that the area has not been deemed safe as of yet and would continue to urge residents to remain outside the evacuated area. For those who must return, it is recommended they do so after dark, when the explosive product is not being handled. This recommendation comes as the safety of all residents is the primary concern as this extraordinary task continues.
Additionally as a precaution, the Webster Parish Clerk of Courts would like to remind residents that Saturday's polling location for the December 8th runoff election has been relocated from within the current evacuation area to Westlake Baptist Church.
A Virginia man who was once one of the nation's most prominent swimming coaches has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing one of the girls he instructed.
A once-prominent swimming coach who trained thousands of children was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday for sexually abusing one of the girls he instructed.
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DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Authorities say a 40-year-old corrections officer assigned to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola has been arrested in a Livingston Parish home invasion case.
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GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.Of the local Scout leaders voting at their
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After last week's severe weather in Northwest Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency for the area. The National Weather Service says a May 16 thunderstorm
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BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces enhanced monitoring along La. 70, near the Assumption Parish sinkhole.
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.The
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.
