Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago – October 3, 1986

It looks like there will be a three-way race for mayor in Central City at the November 4 municipal election. Monday, J.D. Corelli took out a petition to run for mayor. To get on the ballot he will have to get 25 signatures on the petition and turn it in by next Monday. Corelli is currently a city councilman, as is Bruce Schmalz, another mayoral candidate. They are challenging incumbent William C. Russell, Jr. Both Russell and Schmalz have turned in their petitions. Eight candidates have announced they’re running for four city council positions. Dick Allen, Diana Calhoun, Angelo DiBenedetto, Ted Ellis, Frank Macri, and Claude Pail all have their petitions in at City Hall. Florence Farringer and Don Treese had not turned theirs in by Wednesday afternoon. Voters registered in the city are reminded they are only allowed to sign one petition for mayor and up to four for aldermen. If they sign more than allowed, their signatures will not be counted on any of the petitions. The last day to register to vote in the city election is today, October 3. City voters must register at both City Hall and the County Courthouse.

All of the contaminated and hazardous waste materials have been removed from the site in Black Hawk that necessitated an emergency response by the Environmental Protection Agency in September. The property, leased by Joe Herrold, is located north of Black Hawk, within the city limits. On September 9, the EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the area and found concentrated acids as well as caustic solutions that were capable of killing people and animals. The dangerous materials were placed in sealed drums and the property was secured until the substances were removed. Mike Gaydosh, regional counselor for the EPA, said this week that the situation continues to be under an ongoing investigation by the EPA. It will be several months before civil or criminal charges may or may not be filed against Herrold, or any other responsible parties. As of this week, the EPA had spent about $35,000 to clean up and secure the premises. The total cost of the project may exceed that amount, Gaydosh said.