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State probing barrel’s contents

By Shawn Linenberger - | Jun 8, 2005

The Tonganoxie Fire Department still is awaiting word on what was in a 50-gallon barrel that was left last week near Krouse Liquor Store on East U.S. Highway 24-40.

Capt. John Callaghan said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment hasn’t informed him of what was in the half-filled barrel.

A liquor store employee contacted the fire department Thursday about the barrel, which employees found positioned between the store and its Dumpster. The barrel, which employees thought had been dropped off Wednesday evening, had a “hazardous material” label.

On Thursday, firefighters weren’t able to determine what was in the drum.

Because of the uncertainty of the situation, firefighters requested the liquor store close down. Officials also asked employees at the adjoining gasoline station to turn off gasoline pumps.

Firefighters stayed at the scene until about 4:30 p.m. when Leavenworth County Household Waste Department officials picked up the barrel for the KDHE to investigate.

“We helped them load it up and they took it on its merry way,” Callaghan said.