Plum renames road to honor former manager killed in August explosion
The former Saxonburg borough manager, who was killed in an August home explosion, was recently honored by Plum Borough Council with a road named in his honor.
The resolution, adopted during a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 11, changes Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way. The action passed unanimously, according to footage from the meeting.
Thomas was killed Aug. 12 in a home explosion in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood that killed six people and injured five others, according to reports.
Thomas was serving as Plum borough manager at the time of his death. He had previously served as Saxonburg borough manager.
Thomas was in the home that exploded, which belonged to Plum employee Heather Oravitz. Thomas’ wife, Jacqueline “Jackie,” Thomas, was among the injured. She is a teacher at Butler Intermediate High School.
The Thomas home was next door and was also damaged in the explosion. Jackie and the couple’s daughter, Hannah, along with their dog, were in that home at the time of the blast.
Oravitz, Plum’s director of community development, also was killed in the blast. Her husband, Paul, succumbed to his injuries Aug. 16.
Casey Clontz, his son Keegan, and Kevin Sebunia also died in the blast.
Old Mine Road is the address for Plum’s municipal building, according to the borough website.
