http://www.msnbc.com/local/KVBC/104652.asp

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The Timet plant in Henderson is beneath the path of incoming flights. It's also close to homes.

Chemical cloud from Timet LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26 Titanium tetrachloride was sent billowing into the sky after a pressure guage ruptured in a tank at the Timet plant Thursday morning.

THE PLANT IS LOCATEd on the corner of Lake Mead Drive and Water Street near U.S. 95 in Henderson. A lot of people were enjoying a Thanksgiving meal when they noticed a cloud above the plant. The cloud could be seen as far away as North Las Vegas. The cause of the ruptured pressure guage is under investigation. As Henderson residents know all too well, this isnt the first disturbance at the Timet plant. On August 4, 1998, a fire in the plant sparked a series of explosions. Molten magnesium shot into the air and caught fire when it got into a dust collection system. About 40 employees were working in the area the time. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Timet says its worlds largest supplier of titanium metal. On the World Wide Web at www.timet.com, you can learn all about the company and what titanium is made of. A diagram on the Web site lists the ingredients and the entire process to make the metal. The Web site also lists the many uses of titanium. Its used in jet engines, to make knee implants and frames for eyeglasses. Computer makers tap into titanium to make hard drives and car makers are using it for parts. Henderson, Nevada is the first place featured on the Timet Web site. A map shows the other places Timet does business in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), November 29, 1999

Answers

Homer, you DO get around, man!!!

-- Jay Urban (Jayho99@aol.com), November 29, 1999.

A titanium plant near Albany, Oregon has blown up twice this fall...does anyone have additional information on a possible connection?

-- eubie (eubie@thisisnuts.com), November 29, 1999.

" corner of Lake Mead Drive and Water Street "

Could it be time to run that water thru the ole purifier?

"Honey, the water tastes sort of burnt metalic." ??

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 29, 1999.

Hey, Homer! Come on, fess up, man. You're really Matt Drudge, aren't you? That's how you're getting all this stuff.

-- hunter (way@up.north), November 29, 1999.