He started reporting on the Wear-Ever site even before the April 15th announcement of the closing of the Pixelle paper mill, which started concerns about the mill’s effect on its plume of chemicals. Since then, I have seen many other news media following his lead…but almost always without credit to Salley.

He chose to meet at Mary Lou Patton Park because it is next to the Wear-Ever groundwater plume, which he says includes chemicals that were intentionally burned to quickly dispose of them at the East Palestine, Ohio train crash in February of 2023.

Salley said children have been playing at the park for generations, yet the park has never been tested for pollutants. He pointed out a perennial damp spot beyond the eastern edge of the parking lot…right on the edge of the underground plume of chemicals.

He also pointed out that the park is surrounded by other toxic sites: an old city dump and lime pit near the Wastewater Treatment Plant at the end of Renick Avenue; the site of demolished Allied Chemical on Washington Avenue that had unlined dump pits for liquids; the CSX railyard up the tracks where spills are documented; as well as the Wear-Ever / Howmet Aerospace factory and property that also had unlined dump pits…with parts of the building that he says are 17 million times higher than the EPA safe limit for toxins.

Salley insists that the city needs to do an epidemiological study on health conditions to see any pattern around these sites. He also shared with me recently that “I have a bio-chemist willing to consult with the city pro bono on the toxic sites around the region, including Wear Ever.”

He said much more in his 35 minutes with me at the park. Hear him in his own words in the below interview, split up into three segments.

He also spoke in the latest Chillicothe Council session, again on the Wear-Ever pollution, and he has a clip of that address in his Facebook feed.

Salley is a prolific writer / composer, with too many outlets to list. But he says, find his work on Facebook (especially his “Wear-Ever Exposed” page), the “Ohio Atomic Press” online, and his many videos. He says he has created several websites, but is very transparent about his investigative work. The “Introduction” in his Facebook page lists many of his websites and online accounts.

He says Chillicothe is like other “Rust Belt” towns: communities used, abused, and abandoned by corporations…that left their pollution behind. Salley says you must do your own research, and fight for your community.

Find the article on the Scioto Post.

Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.

Chris Davis