Session 2000
Effective: March 31, 2000
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1836
A Resolution congratulating and commending Amtrak accident rescue workers.
� � � WHEREAS,� At about 2 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2000, an Amtrak
train derailed near Carbondale. Six passenger cars plus 10 other cars left the
tracks injuring 35 people and leaving about 120 other passengers cold and
frightened; and

� � � WHEREAS,� Within minutes a helicopter was lighting the scene, and am-
bulance personnel, law enforcement officers and firefighters from Osage and
Shawnee Counties were pouring in to render assistance. Seven ambulance
crews took 33 injured persons to Topeka hospitals; and

� � � WHEREAS,� The remaining 120 or so passengers found comfort through
the quick actions of Gary Barr, Pat Barr and Jim Mercer who work at the
Carbondale Elementary School. By 2:30 a.m. the Barrs had opened the school
and soon had coffee, juice and doughnuts ready. Jim Mercer drove the school
bus to transport the dazed passengers to the school; and

� � � WHEREAS,� The passengers from across our nation who lived through this
frightening experience left having received some down-home Kansas comfort
and hospitality. It was not planned--it was a community responding to provide
kindness to those in need: Now, therefore,

� � � Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:�That we congratulate
and commend the residents of Carbondale involved in the rescue efforts, ex-
press our appreciation to those who responded in the middle of the night to
provide much needed care and comfort, and declare our pride that one Kansas
community cared about strangers in their midst; and

� � � Be it further resolved:�That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send
an enrolled copy of this resolution to Jim Buchholz, Mayor, City of Carbondale,
Carbondale, Kansas 66414; Kurt Kesslinger, Publisher, the Osage County
Chronicle, 107 E. Santa Fe, Burlingame, Kansas 66413; Gary and Pat Barr, 327
Main, Carbondale, Kansas 66414 and to James D. Mercer, Route 1, Carbon-
dale, Kansas 66414.

Senate Resolution No. 1836 was sponsored by Senator Anthony Hensley.