Milk, egg producer details day of shuttle disaster

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

February 13, 2003 -- Fallen debris from the Columbia space shuttle appears to be quite widespread, but for residents of Nacogdoches County, the discovery of debris continues to be unending with local farmers being no exception to such findings. 

Thirty-nine-year-old, Nacogdoches County dairy and egg producer, Steve Melasky of Douglass, said the experience affected him in several different ways.

The morning of the shuttle disaster, Melasky said that he, like many others, simply heard a very loud boom, which shook the windows in his house. Unable to determine where the sound came from, Melasky simply set out to tend to his normal morning chores.

The first thing he did, as always, was to drive over to his laying (hen) houses to "check on things." On his way there, the radio had announced that the space shuttle was due to land in Florida, but there was no word at the time of anything being wrong.

But, as Melasky proceeded down the drive of the poultry farm he noticed something unusual in his path.

"I got out and looked at it," he explained. "It was about a two- to three-foot shiny piece and resembled something similar to a shield, and it looked to be recently burnt, quite hot, and heavy, so I left it alone."

Melasky drove around the object and proceeded to check his chickens when he noticed the exterior curtains on each laying house appeared to be "wavy" and somewhat vibrating.

Still not suspecting the disaster, he set off to the family's 250-milking cow dairy where he came across his father, Eddie, who immediately began quizzing him about the big boom. His father explained how the cows in the pasture had become "spooked" and ran to the back of the property, and that the cows yet to be milked were being difficult about coming into the milking parlor.

Melasky would also later come in contact with his brother, Stan, who told of the fairly large piece of black, rubbery "something" that he found in another part of the property.

Eventually the Melaskys would also discover a small, unusual (approximately 12-inch) aluminum piece close to the dairy barn door.

At this point they begin to put "two-and-two" together and called local authorities.

The sheriff and a Department of Public Safety (DPS) official came out and marked the debris on the Melasky farms (located near Highway 21) and advised the men not to touch any of it due to the possibility that it could be toxic. The officials still not openly admit that it could be shuttle debris, at that time.

But then Melasky heard on the radio of the shuttle disaster, confirming what he and his family had assumed.

Melasky said cows yet to be milked that morning also gave a little less milk and the entire herd seemed to do so later that evening.

All debris was finally removed from the Melasky farms on Feb. 5, but Melasky feels sure more debris will eventually be discovered on their farm.

"The experience has really changed my outlook on things," shared Melasky. "With all of this happening right here in East Texas, it has really made it personal for me, and has reminded me of just how fast life-changing events can happen."