Aug 22, 2026
ROSELAND mdash; One year after an explosion at Smitty's Supply shook this small town, residents said they are still dealing with the fallout.Dozens packed a town hall on the anniversary to talk about cancer-causing toxins that are reportedly still flowing through nearby waterways.During the meeting , independent tester Scott Smith told residents he collected more than 300 samples from about 75 different locations over the past year, from Kentwood all the way down to Lake Pontchartrain. His most recent testing, from June, shows toxic, cancer-causing chemicals still present in the Tangipahoa River."The contamination continues to discharge into the drainage network through the pond structure right to the Tangipahoa River," Smith said.Some residents say the health effects started the day of the explosion and haven't stopped. "I've had some minor and some major health issues since the explosion," said Arlene Bankston.Bankston is part of the Blue Shirt Justice League, a group that helps share information in communities impacted by chemical disasters. She says that support matters when residents feel like they aren't getting answers from environmental or government agencies."We spend a lot of time wondering if we're living in a safe environment or how toxic it is, but we don't really have a choice," Bankston said.On the question of getting help from agencies, Bankston was direct. "I no longer expect anything from them. I used to, but I no longer expect anything from them," she said.The town hall was one of many held at Powerhouse Praise and Worship Center Church, which has become a gathering place for people pushing for answers and accountability.Permalink| Comments ...read more read less
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