Kilgore Employees Return To Work With Stipulations
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TOONE, Tenn. — Residents are hoping the city gets back to normal, and they say Kilgore resuming production plays a big role in that. “It’s a very large company and employees over 500 people,” Chief Jerry Siler said, of the Toone Police Department. The plant temporarily closed last month after a morning explosion fatally wounded Michael Chism, one of their employees. Residents said the small town, where everyone knows each other, has been deeply affected emotionally and financially. “A lot of people are ready to get back to work and try to put it behind them, but Michael was a close friend to many in this community,” Chief Siler said. After at least two safety meetings, administrative employees went back to work last Tuesday. All others were told to come back this week, but sources said production employees were sent home on Wednesday and told to come back Monday as they wait for more safety equipment to come in. Some residents said it’s too early for Kilgore to reopen. “It’s never going to go back to normal to me,” resident Marcus Macon said. Others said closing down for too long affects people’s livelihood and hurts the town. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News reached out to Kilgore’s Corporate office for more comment regarding the safety equipment. At this time no one has called back for comment.
