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Though Tuesday’s explosion at El Dorado Chemical is still technically under investigation, information leaked to the News-Times on Wednesday indicates officials believe the blast may have been the direct result of the combustible anger still swarming around the controversial issues surrounding the Union County Animal Protection Society.

According to an anonymous source, the frustration on both sides following the termination of UCAPS’ former manager, Tanja Jackson, and two employees, and leading up to Tuesday evening’s open meeting may have been the fuel that led a reactor at the plant to explode. The resulting explosion then sparked a number of sulfur fires local fire departments spent hours attempting to locate and then extinguish.

“The timing is remarkable and quite suspect,” the EDC employee said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Only hours before UCAPS’ membership let loose with their mounting anger did El Dorado Chemical blow.”

Preparing for another explosion is nearly impossible because there’s no telling what next will fuel local animosity, he said.

“What we need to look at now is how do we give these people a chance to blow off some steam before their combined disgust at the entire situation leads to another emergency incident?” he asked.

In other news, officials still investigating the August 2011 explosion at Clean Harbors Inc., in which several hissing drums blew under extreme pressure, may be related to the increasing pressure experienced by students going back to school after too much fun during their summer vacations.

With the inclusion of former Razorback coach Bobby Petrino’s wrecked motorcycle for bid on copart.com, online sites nationwide have jumped at the chance to outsell the auction retailer by parceling out other items of interest from the April 1 accident that ultimately led to Petrino’s downfall.

Also up for grabs are the Kohl’s pleather (polyester/leather) jacket 25-year-old football department employee Jessica Dorrell was wearing while allegedly riding the back of Petrino’s bike shortly before the crash, the Tough-1 Western fringed boot cut chaps Petrino was wearing on the night in question, and what appears to be the motorcycle’s pedal which “may or may not have flown off during the accident,” according to fakegoods.com.

Collectively, the items are expected to reel in more than $30,000 though the bids for each are $.45, $1.52 and $36.63, respectively.

Neither Petrino nor Dorrell could be reached for comment, however, Fake Goods Owner Pat Catchem advised that the items would be out for bid until May 30, the same day the auction for Petrino’s motorcycle will close.

Fervor surrounding the “Hawg Wild,” Petrino’s bike, will ultimately be key in generating more excitement for “Seattle Sooiee,” “Pig in a Blanket” and “Hot Hawg,” the three items under Fake Goods’ purview, Catchem said.

In other news, the rag applied to Petrino’s injured face following the early April accident is now for sale on Amazon and will be sold “blood and all.”

Fed up with what they described as “human politics,” the animals of the Union County Animal Protection Society rose up Wednesday with a statement that they would no longer allow their affairs to be handled by “those damn two-leggeds.”

In a conference headed up by Kitty LeFleur, an orange tabby with a bum leg who has been waiting for five months for her forever home, the animals displayed their disgust with recent goings on at the UCAPS facility that have resulted in a terminated manager and a quarantined Cat House all in one fell swoop.

“Historically we have always entrusted our safety, security and welfare to the humans whose resources have long provided for our every need,” she said. “Little did we know how much human politicking would interfere with what we’ve come to know as our home.”

Police tape secured the facility Wednesday to a backdrop of visibly frustrated dogs and cats who arranged themselves in a stalwart wall around the building, blocking human entrance in a protest to the bickering that has recently surrounded what’s best for the animals.

Plans for self-funding through petting fairs where the animals “only give you the good half,” are currently underway, LeFleur said.

In other news, UCAPS board members spent the morning cleaning what areas of the facility they could reach outside the wall of animals for droppings also left behind in protest.