— ‘Just a plain bad idea and bad fit’

“Windfarm.” I am starting to hate the word! Why? Because the very mention of the word today starts people siding up for the debate.

But I must say the residents of Tipton County have always had the farmers’ backs; this is a rural community. But I am very disappointed in some of the farmers today.

We have always been understanding of the tractors taking up the road, going to their next field; that’s country. We have been understanding when their feed lots got on the wind, and the smell of manure took our breath away a couple of times a month; that’s country. We didn’t complain when they sprayed their fields and it killed parts of our gardens, trees, flowers, grape arbors, yards; that’s country.

We would even refrain from growing sweetcorn in our garden because of seed corn pollination; that’s country, trying to understand our neighbors and the issues they face.

We have all admired the hard work and dedication of the farmer to bring us the best food at a reasonable cost.

Most of us raised in this county have worked long, hard hours in your fields, in the sun, in the rain, so yes, we do understand!

But today the neighbor whom I thought would have my back when I needed it I found turned his head for the almighty buck! This is dividing the community.

This company doesn’t care who gets along here, as long as they get theirs.

I was raised to a saying, “If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.” This is not worth the division it is causing in the county. Anyone who will research these wind farms will find all kinds of information telling us of bad things from health, to property monetary loss, to safety concerns.

This is just a plain bad idea and bad fit! I hope the promises of money at your neighbor’s expense is not strong enough to end the way of life we have been able to enjoy here in Tipton County.

Mike Baden, Tipton

Where will residents pursue happiness?

My husband and I grew up in Tipton County. We made it our home together for 35 years. We love open farmland and nature.

Money from the wind farms can’t be used for teachers’ wages. The open enrollment law, without tuition, hurt the school, and people were tired of the politics. There are no schools without students. The wind farms will not increase enrollment.

A few years ago, there was an article in the Tribune about how Tipton County wanted to remain an agricultural community. No housing developments in this farming community. Was this the turning point for the nightmare of the wind farms?

People went to other counties to make money on home development. Homes bring families (students) for school taxes to the community and home values up for everyone.

Tax relief: $100-a-year savings vs. $30,000 to $50,000 property value loss. Do the math!

Politics is the bed partner to greed, if not kept in check. Why is Tipton County afraid to grow? When it’s about self, a community dies!

I’m disappointed in our political leaders for allowing the raping of our community and its beauty. People don’t want to live under the wind turbines, so property values drop. If that’s not true, why is there so much opposition and secrets? You don’t have to be Einstein to figure that out!

Buying a home is a big decision. No one wants a neighbor starting a junkyard next door. Why? It lowers home values. That’s what wind farms do!

We live 4 miles from E.ON’s Wildcat Wind Farm. Our wireless laptop stopped working, the cellphone doesn’t always ring, etc.

A large flock of cranes flew over the house in a V-formation within 3 miles of the turbines, became very confused, going all directions until one crane changed coarse and led the others away. And all deer have left the area.

We all work hard for a life and home, only to be divided by Tipton County politics. When good people do nothing, these things continue! Wake up, Tipton County, before turbines are sitting on your doorstep.

Homeowners in other counties who sit on or near county lines will be affected. If the Prairie Breeze Wind Farm isn’t defeated, the door is open to all rural areas.

Then where will your pursuit of happiness be?

Pam Shuck, Windfall