Letter: Reality check: little ol’ sand mine’s now giant industry, she says

TO THE EDITOR: In response to Dixie (Schneider) Brown’s May 16 comments. First of all, reality check.

Times have changed since you grew up in Maiden Rock. The little ol’ sand mine is now a giant industry. Saying it has always been here is like saying the Walmart is just like the mom and pop store.

Since you have been gone, newcomers have been making your childhood town a better place to live. Because of their efforts, there are many improved properties and new businesses.

As for night farming, I talked to a farmer late one weekend night and asked if they might consider not shining their bright lights into our house while idling. I commend the farmers for their hard work and realized when I moved here that, h—- yeah, it is a farming community. But I would never idle outside anyone’s house with headlights pointing into their home late at night. It is just common sense and respect.

So the “norm” is not how it was. If we stayed with the norm, we would still be using coal to heat our homes, asbestos in materials, DDT on crops, mercury in our thermometers, you name it. If any of you have ever attended the Ellsworth hazardous waste drop-off day, you would see a long line of cars and trucks bringing loads of toxic waste in to be recycled instead of dumping it the old “MO” way.

All of these issues are about shifting the norm to healthier changes for all of us and these begin by people speaking out. This includes corporate mining practices. No mom and pop operation there.

By the way, I am happy to see you respecting and caring for your property with new landscaping and renovation. You are adding to the new reality.

Tags: opinion, letters, environment