AM 1240 WJON » Sartell paper plant explosion

Report Says Overheated Compressor Caused Verso Explosion

Abby Faulkner — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:21:51 +0000

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal has wrapped up their investigation into exactly what caused the Verso Paper Mill explosion on Memorial Day.

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History of the Sartell Paper Mill

Jim Maurice — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:30:18 +0000

We've posted this story before, but with the news of the mill closing, thought you might be interested in reading about the history of the mill once again. In 1908, the Watab Dam for the Sartell Paper Mill was finished. The Watab Pulp and Paper Company was formed by a group of investors from Wisconsin and the company began constructing the paper mill in Sartell in 1905.

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BREAKING NEWS: Verso Will Not Reopen Sartell Paper Plant, 259 Laid-Off Permanently

Jim Maurice — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:13:36 +0000

Company officials say they won't re-open the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell after a devastating fire Memorial Day.

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Verso Paper to Hold News Conference

Jim Maurice — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:28:34 +0000

Verso Paper is planning to make an announcement about their Sartell Paper Mill this (Thursday) afternoon. The news conference is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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Benefit for Killed Verso Employee to Be Held Sunday [AUDIO]

Abby Faulkner — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 05:01:27 +0000

When John Maus was killed in the Verso Paper Mill explosion this past Memorial Day, he left behind a wife and four children. Now, Verso and the United Steel Workers Local Union #274 have come together to organize a benefit for the Maus family.

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Most Workers Laid Off at Fire-Damaged Sartell Paper Mill

The Associated Press — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:46:26 +0000

Verso Paper has sent layoff notices to a large portion of its Sartell workforce after a devastating Memorial Day explosion and fire. A spokesman for Verso says a "clear majority" of the mill's 259 hourly and salaried workers has been laid off.

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Future of Verso Paper Mill Still Up In The Air [AUDIO]

Jim Maurice — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:54:29 +0000

Clean-up continues at the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell, after the Memorial Day explosion and fire. William Cohen is the Manager of Communications and Public Affairs. He says the investigation into what happened continues, and they don't know how long it will take to assess the damage.

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Sartell's Mayor Provides Update on Sartell's Paper Mill

Bob Hughes — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:24:01 +0000

Mayor Joe Perske addresses what is next for the City of Sartell.

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Verso Paper Fire Could Cost City Half-Million Dollars

Jim Maurice — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:00:24 +0000

The Sartell City Council is expected to make a Declaration of Emergency during tonight's (Monday) meeting. City Administrator Patti Gartland says the declaration is necessary as the city begins the process to request financial assistance for the cost of fighting the fire at Verso Paper.

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DEED Commissioner Pledges Help to Verso Paper Mill

Lee Voss — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:47:36 +0000

As the cleanup and investigation into the Verso Paper Mill explosion and fire continues, officials with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development are standing by, waiting to help.

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Crews Continue Work to Clear Damaged Paper Mill

The Associated Press — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:00:43 +0000

Crews continue to remove large rolls of damaged paper at the Verso Paper mill in Sartell where an explosion and fire last month killed one person and injured four others. Three-thousand to 4,000 rolls of paper were stored in a warehouse that burned.

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Verso Paper Still Under Active Investigation

Abby Faulkner — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:48:03 +0000

It's been a week since the blast at Sartell's Verso Paper Mill, and fire crews continue to monitor the site.

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Governor Dayton Makes 2nd Trip to Verso Paper Mill

Jim Maurice — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 14:23:03 +0000

Governor Mark Dayton is making his second trip to Sartell, since the Memorial Day explosion and fire at the Verso Paper Mill. Dayton is meeting today (Saturday) company CEO David Paterson.

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Fire Crews Remain at Verso Paper this Weekend

Jim Maurice — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 11:17:05 +0000

Fire crews are now in their sixth day of battling the Verso Paper Mill fire. The scene continues to evolve to that of a demolition site, with limited fire flares found yesterday (Friday).

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Sartell Paper Plant Manager: 'Too Early to Tell' When Verso Might Re-Open [AUDIO, VIDEO]

WJON Staff — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:01:38 +0000

The plant manager of the crippled Verso paper mill in Sartell says it will be a week or more before they know when the plant might re-open.

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Central Minnesota Rallies Around Sartell Mill Fire

Abby Faulkner — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:57:17 +0000

Nearly 40 area community fire departments and numerous agencies are being praised for their efforts in the wake of the Verso mill explosion.

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Fire at Sartell's Verso Paper Mill Continues to Burn, Effort Underway to Douse Hot Spots

WJON Staff — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:32:41 +0000

A new fire fighting effort's underway at the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell to finally put out a fire that's been burning for over three days.

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Verso Paper Mill News Conference Scheduled

Jim Maurice — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:20:47 +0000

Sartell city officials have scheduled a news conference for 1:00 p.m. this (Thursday) from city hall. We'll carry the news conference live on AM 1240 WJON.

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Fund Established for Verso Employees, Maus Family

Jim Maurice — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:26:54 +0000

A fund has been set-up for Verso Paper employees and the family of Jon Maus. Bank Vista has established the Jon M. Maus Memorial Fund and the Sartell Verso Employee Relief Fund.

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Sartell Paper Mill Fire 99% Contained

Lee Voss — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:02:13 +0000

Sartell Fire Chief Ken Heim says the Verso Paper Mill fire is 99% contained. As a result, the fire response is considered complete over most of the plant and the parts not affected by the explosion and fire have been turned back over to Verso.

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