KEYSTONE PIPELINE OPERATIONAL
TransCanada Corporation has re-started its Keystone Pipeline system. The line has been closed since May 7 following an above-ground incident at a pump station in Sargent County, North Dakota. 393 barrels of oil have been recovered of an estimated 500 barrels leaked. Three hundred cubic yards of contaminated soil will be removed to an approved location and replaced with clean soil and gravel. The oil release was caused by a faulty three-quarter inch fitting. TransCanada re-inspected all similar fittings at its pump stations in the United States and Canada and installed sturdier fittings as a precaution.
The 2,147 mile-long pipeline will transport crude oil from the Athabasca Oil Sands in Hardisty, Alberta to United States refineries in Wood River and Patoka, Illinois.
The Keystone Pipelines cross the Sandhills in Nebraska, a large wetland ecosystem, and the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the largest reserves of fresh water in the world. The Ogallala Aquifer spans eight states, provides drinking water for two million people, and supports $20 billion in agriculture. Critics worry that a major leak could ruin drinking water and devastate the mid-western U.S. economy. The capacity of the Keystone Pipeline is 590,000 barrels per day and the second Keystone Pipeline, the "XL," will add 510,000 barrels for a total of 1.1 million barrels per day.
COMETS ADVANCE IN BASEBALL REGIONALS
The Greenville Comets boy’s baseball team advanced to the Regional finals with a win over Litchfield 4 to 3 in the Hillsboro Regionals on Wednesday. The Regional Championship game between Greenville and Hillsboro is scheduled for tomorrow in Hillsboro at 4pm..(This is a schedule change due to weather)
GHS ATHLETES GO TO STATE TOURNAMENT
The Greenville High School Girls Track and Field team has a tradition of sending athletes to the state tournament and this year is no exception. WGEL spoke with Coach Alison Hall who said the team placed 3rd of 17 teams in the sectional tournament last week and, as a result, the following athletes qualify for state. Ashley Holden, the lone senior on the team, placed 1st in the 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles and 3rd in the individual long jump, setting a school record of 18 feet- 1 inch. Hall said Holden will also be part of the relay team going to state in the 4 x 400. Joining Holden are Kelsey White, Madi Calvin and Cierra Chesnut. Hall said an additional relay team is going to state for the 2 x 400 event. Mattie Carter, Ebony Cohen, Abby Degler, and Cierra Chestnut are competing in that event.
Shanie Weiss is also going to state in the shot put. She has worked diligently all year and pulled out a state qualifying distance of 35’- 6”, a personal best for her, Hall said.
The team is thrilled to have placed 3rd at sectionals and have this many young athletes go to state. Hall said the team has continued the tradition at Greenville High School in Track and Field and looks forward to many more years of success.
The state tournament is May 19-21 at O’Brian Stadium at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
