Sept. 1, 2010
Grocery Reopens Following White Powder Scare
Six Employees Treated and Released from Hospital
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Mayor Kim Wolfe told HNN early Tuesday night, August 31, that he has not yet received an update from Fire Chief C. Craig Moore on the white substance found on pennies at the Foodland on Camden Road.
Deputy Chief Toby Hazlette earlier told reporters that the employees were decontaminated and taken to the hospital in haz-mat suits. The Huntington Fire Department and Haz-Mat Unit cleaned and evaluated the store, which was allowed to reopen, Tuesday morning, Aug. 31.
Haz-Mat responders stated that the substance was not airborne. All surfaces with which it came in contact were cleaned and sanitized. The employees identified the man paying for his purchases with pennies as a “regular.” He told them the coins had been in a “fire.”
Although the employees appear to trust the man as a “regular customer,” other in the neighborhood However, a neighborhood according to our source expressed concerned that the store was allowed to reopen without the identity of the substance being first verified.
The powder was sent to an F.B.I. lab in Charleston for analysis. Results may take up to a week. The substance is not believed life threatening.
A TV station reported an employee describing some of the coins as “chipped” and not feeling “heavy.”
Another quoted a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Supervisor that “This doesn’t look like there are any federal violations that are counter-terroristic.”
Originally, reports indicated that the man had paid for his purchases with $80 worth of pennies; however, the reports now state EIGHT dollars in pennies.
Six employees as a precaution required hospital treatment with antibiotics and benadryl. They complained of nausea, burning eyes, head hurting, and itching. Wearing the bulky haz-mat suits to the hospital after decontamination at the store became “scary” for the employees as “everybody looked as they walked around.”
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Grocery Reopens Following White Powder Scare
Six Employees Treated and Released from Hospital
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Mayor Kim Wolfe told HNN early Tuesday night, August 31, that he has not yet received an update from Fire Chief C. Craig Moore on the white substance found on pennies at the Foodland on Camden Road.
Deputy Chief Toby Hazlette earlier told reporters that the employees were decontaminated and taken to the hospital in haz-mat suits. The Huntington Fire Department and Haz-Mat Unit cleaned and evaluated the store, which was allowed to reopen, Tuesday morning, Aug. 31.
Haz-Mat responders stated that the substance was not airborne. All surfaces with which it came in contact were cleaned and sanitized. The employees identified the man paying for his purchases with pennies as a “regular.” He told them the coins had been in a “fire.”
Although the employees appear to trust the man as a “regular customer,” other in the neighborhood However, a neighborhood according to our source expressed concerned that the store was allowed to reopen without the identity of the substance being first verified.
The powder was sent to an F.B.I. lab in Charleston for analysis. Results may take up to a week. The substance is not believed life threatening.
A TV station reported an employee describing some of the coins as “chipped” and not feeling “heavy.”
Another quoted a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Supervisor that “This doesn’t look like there are any federal violations that are counter-terroristic.”
Originally, reports indicated that the man had paid for his purchases with $80 worth of pennies; however, the reports now state EIGHT dollars in pennies.
Six employees as a precaution required hospital treatment with antibiotics and benadryl. They complained of nausea, burning eyes, head hurting, and itching. Wearing the bulky haz-mat suits to the hospital after decontamination at the store became “scary” for the employees as “everybody looked as they walked around.”
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
