The SMART Transportation Division’s Nebraska State Legislative Board is once again organizing participation in Omaha’s annual Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 1, and SMART members from Omaha and surrounding areas are invited to take part. The festivities begin Sunday at 5 p.m., when the board will hold a “membership feed” at the Sheet Metal Workers’ Hall at 3333 S. 24th St. Parade participants will assemble at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1 at 16th and Webster Sts. for the 10 a.m. march through Omaha. As in past years, there will be mini trains and the SMART TD caboose for children to ride upon. “Come on out and walk the parade route with your fellow members of the SMART family,” Nebraska State Legislative Director Bob Borgeson said. “I am sure SMART General President Joe Nigro will join us as he did last year.” Those events are just the beginning of the fun. The city will be celebrating its Septemberfest over the weekend and there should be a variety of events available to entertain members and their families. For more information, contact Borgeson at (402) 679-0872 or SMARTDIRECTOR@cox.net. Feel free to post this flyer on local union bulletin boards.
Leading the SMART contingent in the Omaha, Neb., 2013 Labor Day parade were, from left, Nebraska State Legislative Director Bob Borgeson, SMART General President Joe Nigro, SMART Chief of Staff Rich McClees and Douglas County Board Chairperson Mary Ann Borgeson, Bob’s wife.
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and Sportsman Channel are combining efforts to honor the contributions of the American worker and celebrate today’s youth, who represent the future of our nation’s workforce and outdoor heritage. Sportsman Channel’s Brotherhood Outdoors Labor Day Marathon,a salute to American workers and celebration of youth in the outdoors, is presented by Carhartt and airs exclusively on Monday, September 1 from 5–8 p.m. ET. For a sneak peak of what’s in store click here. Today’s youth are consistently inundated with modern technologies and devices, which can serve as a distraction to fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, camping and other healthy outdoor activities. Throughout the Marathon, Brotherhood Outdoors co-hosts Daniel Lee Martin and Julie McQueen will provide viewers with interesting stories about the dedicated men and women who keep America moving forward and do their part to introduce America’s youth to our nation’s cherished outdoor lifestyle. Sportsman Channel’s Brotherhood Outdoors Labor Day Marathon features six captivating episodes that include everything from a father and his sons guiding a fellow firefighter on a heart-pounding mule deer hunt in Arizona to a father and his daughters taking another young girl on her first coon hunt in Kentucky. The Marathon chronicles hard-working men and women who share a passion for outdoor adventures and are focused on passing along their great experiences to America’s youth. “Many Americans celebrate Labor Day by spending time outdoors with their families,” said USA Executive Director and CEO Fred Myers. “Just as we educate and prepare today’s youth for future careers, we must teach them about conservation and to value the outdoor heritage that’s intrinsic to our great nation. That’s why educating youth about the outdoors is a key part of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s mission and why we’re excited to once again partner with Sportsman Channel for this special Brotherhood OutdoorsLabor Day Marathon.”
The following is a schedule for September 1 programming (all times listed ET): 5 p.m. Firefighter (IAFF Local 1312) Michael McShane experiences a hunting trip of a lifetime when he travels from Maine to the Arizona desert to hunt mule deer and javelina. The results are spectacular, and the stories are inspiring. 5:30 p.m. Hunting turkeys and wild hogs is the best of both worlds for Ohio bricklayer (BAC Local 39) and turkey fanatic Jay Blankenship. A trip to Tennessee to hunt massive gobblers and Russian boars will be a lifelong adventure for the union worker. 6:00 p.m. Electrical worker, Eric Patrick (IBEW Local 196) is surprised with a fishing trip he could only dream of to Venice, Louisiana, where he fishes for cobia, red snapper, redfish, trout and tuna. The ups and downs will have viewers on the edge of their seats. 6:30 p.m. Daniel Lee Martin and Julie McQueen travel to Kalama, Washington for a black bear hunt with UA Local 290 member Mark Spreadborough. Viewers will be amazed to discover the firearm Spreadborough chooses on this dream hunt. 7:00 p.m. Adam McCormick is a hard-working union laborer (LIUNA Local 561) and a youth archery instructor. He travels to Wisconsin in hopes of claiming a trophy buck and then invites the show hosts to his home in Kentucky, where he and his daughters lead them and their young neighbor on a coon hunt by flashlight. 7:30 p.m. Michigan union roofer (Roofers Local 23), Derek Carrington joins the Brotherhood Outdoors team in Kansas for a captivating buck hunt with Tallgrass Outfitters. Carrington will hunt in one of the best trophy-producing units in Kansas, much to the excitement of his young sons who are already following in his footsteps.
“Brotherhood Outdoors not only does a great job of showcasing hard-working American union workers, but the program also illustrates how the workers share a passion for the outdoors,” said Graig Hale, vice president of business development for Sportsman Channel. “Spending time with family in the outdoors and learning the traditions of hunting and fishing are woven into American history. Brotherhoood Outdoors will shine the spotlight on America’s youth and show audiences the importance of getting younger generations involved at an early age.” To find Sportsman Channel in your area click here.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority needs to buy more than 550 pieces of property to build its first 29-mile stretch of rail line between Avenue 17 in Madera to American Avenue south of Fresno.
And along the next 100 miles between Fresno and Bakersfield, as many as 1,150 more parcels of “affected” property have been identified that the agency may need to acquire in full or in part.
Hayes A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas, for SMART Transportation Division member Roderick A. Hayes, 31, who was killed in a Union Pacific train collision Aug. 17. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening, Aug. 22, at the chapel. Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel is located at 2525 Central Expressway North in Allen. Hayes was a member of SMART Transportation Division 656 at North Little Rock, Ark. He grew up in Chicago and attended East-West University and Chicago State University. He was an avid runner and enjoyed cars. He is survived by his wife, Sheneé; children Quentin, Rashaun Jones, Roderick Jr. and Yahara; parents Sybil and George; brother Stephon Hayes (Monica), and sister, Linda. He was preceded in death by his sister, Vonda Farmer.
The following conversations took place on July 5 and 6, 2013, on the night of the devastating derailment in Lac-Mégantic. They were between railway engineer Tom Harding and company offices in Farnham, Que., and Maine.
The transcripts, which are based on audio recordings of MM&A’s rail-traffic control communications, provide new insight into Mr. Harding’s actions before the derailment, as well as the uncertainty and panic that took hold in the chaotic hours after the crash.
The Kern County’s coroner’s office released the official cause of death for Robert Limon, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway worker who was found dead on Aug. 17.
According to the coroner’s office, Limon died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the matter as a homicide.
The Missouri Department of Transportation Aug. 19 posted job openings for two railroad safety inspectors for its railroad operations staff.
The railroad safety inspectors will conduct routine grade crossing, track, hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practice and signal inspections.
Monthly salary is listed between $3,119 and $3,471. The locations of the jobs are negotiable, but travel is required for both positions. The application deadline is Sept. 19, 2014.
Click here to read the position requirements. Click here to create a profile and apply.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Weeks after calling for a study of the potential for increased service along Amtrak’s Chicago to Carbondale route, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is holding a hearing in Champaign Wednesday on freight train interference along the corridor.
The meeting between Surface Transportation Board Chairman Dan Elliott, Amtrak board member Tom Carper and local officials is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. The Illinois Terminal is the local Amtrak station.
After CSX Corp. (CSX) raised rates for shipping specialty gas by 41 percent over three years, Diversified CPC International Inc. had to shutter a production line near Chicago.
The buyer of a custom-ordered Diversified gas didn’t want the expense from those freight bills, so it decided to bring the manufacturing in-house.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority needs to buy more than 550 pieces of property to build its first 29-mile stretch of rail line between Avenue 17 in Madera to American Avenue south of Fresno.
The Missouri Department of Transportation Aug. 19 posted job openings for two railroad safety inspectors for its railroad operations staff.
After CSX Corp. (CSX) raised rates for shipping specialty gas by 41 percent over three years, Diversified CPC International Inc. had to shutter a production line near Chicago.