Current Events and the Psychology of Politics
Loading

Featured Posts        



categories        



Links        



archives        



meta        






Jon M. MausThe St. Cloud Times reports that Jon Maus of Albany, MN, has been identified by Sartell Verso paper mill plant manager Matt Archambeau as the fatality in the explosion and fire.

WCCO reports that the victim was a 50-year-old father of four who recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary. He had worked at the paper mill for 8 or 9 years prior to being laid off and had been rehired just last month in a temporary position. According to the victim’s father, Maus was killed in a wall collapse after the explosion.

More information in St. Cloud Times story below.

Sartell paper mill explosion, Memorial Day 2012 (WCCO)
View of fire from Riverside Avenue, Sartell. (Photo: WCCO)

Albany Neighbors Recall Mill Explosion Victim as Family Man

By Danielle Cintron
St. Cloud Times
May 30, 2012

Excerpts

ALBANY — When the Verso Paper mill caught fire Monday, one family experienced the ultimate loss.

Jon Michael Maus, 50, of Albany was identified as the only fatality from the Sartell mill fire. …

Maus is survived by his wife, Lucy, who owns The Hairtage Shoppe Family HairCare Center in downtown Albany, and their four children, Anthony, Philip, Olivia and Veronica. …

Jon enjoyed NASCAR, farming, attending his sons’ motocross events and spending time with his family at the lake, according to information provided for his obituary. He was also a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany, Catholic Order of Foresters and of United Steel Workers 247.

“He and his wife were both very active at the Holy Family School,” said Bonnie Massmann, principal at Holy Family School in Albany. “They were a very faith-based family and were well known in the community.”

All of Maus’ children attended Holy Family and the youngest daughter, Veronica, is a first-grader there. …

The Mauses’ son, Philip, a senior, and daughter, Olivia, a seventh-grader, are students at the Albany high school.

“I had the privilege of coaching (Jon’s) sons Philip and Anthony,” said Dan Anderson, physical education and health instructor at the high school. “Jon was a great guy and very supportive of his kids and their activities. I believe he instilled great values in his kids. It’s unfortunate that something like this happened.” …

Read the full story at the St. Cloud Times

———————————————————

Related links

1 dead, 5 injured in Sartell mill blast, fire
(St. Cloud Times) — Explosion blows out warehouse wall; fire thought to be largest in Sartell area history; Memorial Day tragedy impacts entire community; Verso paper plant shutdown indefinite.

Follow Tweets about the Sartell mill fire at #SartellMill
(Twitter)

Sartell paper plant explosion
(AM 1240 WJON)

——————————

8/4/2012 Update

Verso closes Sartell paper mill (St. Cloud Times, Aug. 3, 2012) — Sixty-seven days after a Memorial Day explosion and fire shuttered Sartell’s Verso paper mill, the worst fears of 259 employees and a surrounding community came true: The 105-year-old mill, an icon in Sartell and the city’s top taxpayer, will be closed permanently. … Full story

———————————

9/20/2012 Update

Graves targets Bachmann in new ad, claims she was absent after Verso blast closes (St. Cloud Times, Sept. 20, 2012) — U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s DFL challenger, Jim Graves, took aim yesterday at her response to the explosion that shuttered Sartell’s Verso Paper Corp. mill, releasing an ad contending she was absent after the disaster. … Full story


Gov. Mark Dayton toured the Verso site May 29, the day following the disaster, afterwards holding a joint news conference with the state legislators who represent Sartell, Rep. Tim O’Driscoll and Sen. Michelle Fischbach. Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with Verso and union officials 11 days later, June 9. Rep. Michele Bachmann visited Sartell City Hall two months later, Aug. 9, to meet with local officials.

———————————

5/31/2013 Update

Fallen man, fading mill: Sartell remembers, 1 year later (St. Cloud Times, May 28, 2013) — A year ago, a clear blue sky became black and clouded as fire crews throughout the state tried to put out the largest fire ever in Central Minnesota. … On Monday [May 27, 2013], more than 200 people gathered in remembrance at Veterans Park with the silenced mill in the background. The All Sartell Mill Memorial Event and Picnic was created also to allow former mill employees to stay in touch. “We continue to grieve the loss of life and the loss of jobs,” Sartell Mayor Joe Perske said. … Full story

———————————————————————

2012 MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE

400 Gather for VA Memorial Day Event

By Kari Petrie
St. Cloud Times
May 28, 2012

Excerpts

… Minnesota National Guard Maj. John Donovan spoke to more than 400 people gathered at the VA Health Care System. Memorial Day is about remembering those who fought for our country, he said.

“Today is the day we honor their sacrifice and mourn their loss,” Donovan said. …

The event allowed residents to play their part in honoring its veterans.

“Our greatest duty is to never forget,” said Susan Markstrom, the chief of staff at the VA.

St. Cloud Metropolitan Veterans Council arranged the ceremony.

Full story

—————————————————————————————

Personal photo gallery

Click on photos for larger image





One Response to “St. Cloud 2012 Memorial Day Observance Marred by Sartell Paper Mill Explosion and Fire”
  1. The Immelman Turn » Blog Archive » Memorial Day Mayhem in Iraq Says:

    […] 2012 Memorial Day Observance Marred by Sartell Paper Mill Explosion (May 29, 2012) […]

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.