City points finger at homeowner

Local News

November 20, 2008

By James Beaty The McAlester News-Capital Thu Nov 20, 2008, 09:54 AM CST

The city of McAlester has checked the site where sewage is flowing into a canal adjacent to Chadick Park, but contends it’s a problem with a private residential line.

City Utilities Director David Medley said the city workers went to the residence of Kathryn Thetford near Fifth Street and Delaware Avenue on Wednesday and put some green florescent dye into the line from inside her house.

“The dye came out in the canal,” Medley said.

“That indicates to us that her sanitary sewer line has failed or is leaking,” he said.

Thetford had contacted the News-Capital on Tuesday, saying the problem with sewage flowing into the canal near her home had been ongoing for a long period of time.

She said she’d already contacted the city of McAlester a number of times and the State Department of Environmental Quality at least twice — most recently this week.

DEQ spokesperson Skyler McElhaney confirmed that the agency had received a complaint from Thetford this week.

“We got a complaint on Monday and we did get out and look at it,” McElhaney said.

Although the DEQ representative smelled a strong odor, she couldn’t locate where it was coming from and she contacted city officials about the problem McElhaney said.

Thetford said on Tuesday the city would occasionally send a crew to the manhole at Fifth Street and Delaware, which would either pump or flush the lines or drain, resulting in some temporary relief — but the sewage and odor would always return in a few days.

Medley said late Wednesday afternoon that the city is calling a locator to pinpoint all the underground utilities in the area.

“They will come and locate the utilities so her plumber can locate our storm drain,” Medley said.

“Our line is flowing good,” he said.

If the problem is caused by a leak in a residential sewer line as opposed to the city’s, why is there a continuous flow out of the storm drain, even during dry weather?

“The storm drain also has groundwater leaking into it,” Medley said. He said the city doesn’t know if there are other residential leaks in the area.

Why would the sewage seepage problem clear up for a few days, according to Thetford, after the city pumped or flushed the city lines from the manhole at Fifth Street and Delaware Avenue if the problem is caused by a residential leak on her property?

“That’s a good question,” Medley said. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Medley said Thetford told him she understood the situation and she will get a plumber to check out her line.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

Text Only

Local News

McAlester New-Capital's junior reporters tell all
Globe-trotting, from McAlester to Japan

On Feb. 6, I had the pleasure of meeting two of the Harlem Globetrotters. Handles, who is 6’ 1,” wasn’t very tall compared to Stretch, who is 7’ 2”. ...

Living the dream

On Monday, the Harlem Globetrotters came to McAlester to play some basketball. Before the game, I had the honor to interview center “Stretch” Middleton and guard “Handles” Franklin. ...

February 10, 2012 6 Photos 1 Story
Shelter Documentary

On Thursdaythe Good Samaritan Outreach Shelter for Men was featured in a documentary by the First United Methodist Church in McAlester. Pictured from left is Thursday. Pictured from left is Chris Symes associate pastor of the First Methodist Church, Stephen LeFlore shelter director and Bill Derichsweiler shelter treasurer.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Man involved with recent meth lab explosion pleads guilty
A McAlester man who was recently involved with a local meth lab explosion pleaded guilty Friday in Pittsburg County District Court.

February 9, 2012 4 Photos
McAlester sets first-ever TEAM meet
Something new is in store for McAlester — a meeting to bring together many of the major organizations in the city.

February 8, 2012
McAlester's Make a Difference Day project is finalist for award
McAlester’s Make a Difference Day project was recently selected as a finalist for this year’s “Encore,” award, which was just renamed the “All-Star Award.”

February 8, 2012
All Saints' Episcopal to hold craft and chocolate sale
The men and women of All Saints’ Episcopal Church are hand-crafting goodies and gifts for the community to purchase for a loved one this Valentine’s Day.

February 7, 2012 3 Photos
Rowe seeks road less-traveled
Dustin Rowe believes he’s taking the road less traveled — at least among the current slate of Republican Second District Congressional candidates.

February 7, 2012
Local hotel guests charged with child abuse
A couple that was staying at a local hotel have been arrested and charged with child abuse.

February 7, 2012 2 Photos
OSP names officer/supervisor of year for 2011
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary recently released the names of their 2011 employees of the year.

February 7, 2012 4 Photos
Eufaula housekeeper accused of theft
A Eufaula housekeeper has been accused of stealing checks from a home in Longtown and forging them to buy groceries, gas and pay an electric bill.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Local News

Search Results

City points finger at homeowner

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Site Map

Contact Us