I was dismayed to learn this morning that Cheviot Hills, the neighborhood golf course, has been sold to car salesmen. The new owners are MLC Automotive of Raleigh and Crossroads Holdings, the companies which control land holdings of the Leith and Crossroads dealerships, respectively. One can assume that the links will soon be paved over and loaded up with shiny new cars.

Isn’t it wonderful? Capital Boulevard has sorely needed a car dealership or two and then this old golf course comes up for sale. Now we have everything!

I think I’d rather let crazy ol’ Parker Edwards take out a few dozen more deer than to have yet another lot full of cars blot the landscape. Besides, isn’t there some kind of law about used car salesmen being too close to neighborhoods? Like they have to register with the state or something?

I hope the new owners have done their homework, as this isn’t the best place to put a dealership. You see, when it rains the way it did a two weeks ago most of this property is underwater. Imagine a fleet of shiny new cars here.

Oops.

(this post’s title shamelessly stolen from the N&O’s Jack Hagel.)

I was in the middle of some house projects Saturday when my brother Jeff called me up.

“Hey, have you been out today?” he asked. “There’s something going on at the water plant.”

He told me of a large number of fire trucks at the scene, including a HAZMAT team. I needed to cool off from working in the attic, so I grabbed my camera and headed that way.

I came upon four fire trucks, one police car, the fire chief’s car, a Wake Emergency Management car, an ambulance and a HAZMAT truck. The gate to the treatment plant was open and first responders were milling around in the shade.

I was snapping a few pictures of the scene when an RPD officer wandered up. He explained that mechanical equipment had started a fire in a room there. According to the officer, the chemicals weren’t explosive but they didn’t want them to catch fire.

He was kind of vague about what the chemicals would do. Two HAZMAT members in protective suits were walking away from the building. Neither was wearing breathing gear, so I assumed it couldn’t be that bad. Still, I wondered why four fire trucks showed up for what looked like a routine fire.

The building was labeled “potassium permanganate room.” Acccording to the Wikipedia article, potassium parmanganate is used to remove the sulfur smell from water. It isn’t flammable or reactive, but could cause irritation. It does ignite when mixed with certain chemicals, such as powdered sugar and water, and will create deadly chlorine gas when mixed with hydrochloric acid.

While this fire was quickly brought under control, it makes me wonder what other, more dangerous chemicals are over there and how careful the City of Raleigh is in handling those chemicals. That would make a good news story.

I’ve put up pictures from yesterday’s Americas’ Sail opening ceremonies in Beaufort. I spent a little time with Captain Horatio Sinbad and his crew, who are all great people, I might add.

The ships didn’t go anywhere yesterday as it was just the kickoff. The real excitement starts today through July 3rd, as Sinbad’s crew take the Meka II out to defend their trophy.

Check out the pictures in the gallery.