| AN AMERICAN
CITIZEN SPEAKS OUT
It is interesting to note that neither of the candidates running for
the office of the President of the United States has offered any
solution to the "Rape of the American public" by the major oil
companies with their exorbitant prices for gasoline. Also, the major
oil companies continue to further dupe the public with their "fairy
tale" explanations of why prices are at the present rate while they
continue to pocket never before heard of profits in the billions of
dollars. The populace deserves relief on gas prices at the pumps
NOW.
Also, a question to the owners of the
Shell Station and the BP Station n Fennville. Why do you
consistently charge from 5 cent per gallon more than gas prices in
the Holland area? Many Fennville residents work and shop in Holland,
either daily or weekly. Why should they pay you these prices when
they can fill up in Holland for less money? Think of how may more
gallons of gas you could pump if you were competitive with the
Holland Stations.
OBSERVATIONS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN
Thomas K. Tucker
P.O. Box 451, Fennville, MI 49408
269.561.2397
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To the Editor:
As a Pullman resident, tax payer and business
owner, I have several concerns over the proposed 9,000 hog
"Factory Farm" to be located at the former Monies Mushroom
factory on 62nd St, near 113th Ave. Fennville. It is my
understanding that at this time permits have been applied for.
My home is located approximately 9 miles from
this location. While there is no way to determine whether the
smell of such a factory farm will makes it ways to my home, I do
know that the winds blow predominately West off the lake here
and that I live South/West of this proposed farm location.
I have a number of specific issues to raise;
1) As a homeowner who had invested my life
savings in my home, business and property and have worked hard
to renovate and maintain it, I have many concerns about this
farms effect on my property value. Who will want to buy my home
or business in the future if the smell is constant and negative
and my ground water is contaminated?
2) As an organic gardener who eats the food I
grow on my 5-acre property, or food grown locally by family
farmers, I am extremely concerned about keeping my soil, water
and air as clean as possible in this modern society. Research
has shown us that e-coli is dangerous and non-organic food is
risky for future cancers.
3) As a business owner whose livelihood depends
on tourists coming to our beautiful area, I have concerns that
potential hog farm stench will quickly negatively effect our
business and those in the hospitality industry (bed & breakfast
and cottage rental businesses around us.)
4) As a visual artist who supports the many other
artist studios in our area that bring in seasonal tourists and
art enthusiasts who also rent rooms, eat meals, buys farmstand
fruit, gas and icecream in our area - I ask, do any of us want
to lose this seasonal business?
5) As a "good citizen" of this community and
county I fear for the many blueberry farmers and other fruit
growers in our area who irrigate their fruit from the Black
River watershed which is located very near this farms location.
While I do not yet have the details as to how
this particular factory will conduct business, most factory farm
hold the waste of their hogs in open lagoon. Winds blow the
smell and sometimes storms can cause the lagoon to overflow and
contaminate nearby groundwater.
Numerous other members of this community have
also expressed serious concerns; among them issues about the
potential changes in air quality and ground water. The potential
risks to our families, children, and food source is just not
worth it.
I urge you to do your own research, to have your
own ground water tested for a base reading, to attend the
upcoming public hearing (date to be announced), and to write
Senator Patty Birkholtz, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909-7536
to tell her that this community does not want this factory farm
located here.
Please watch for future announcements of meeting
dates and tell your neighbors.
Thank you,
Donna Allgaier-Lamberti
5191109th Ave.
Pullman, Mi 49450
Donna Allgaier-Lamberti, Visual Artist
White Oak Studio
907 52nd St.
Pullman, MI 49450
Voice: 269-236-0325
E-Mail: wordspictures@yahoo.com
Web site:whiteoakstudioandgallery.myexpose.com
Blog:http:whiteoakstudio.blog.com
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