Tittabawassee River Voice

God Bless America!

2010-04-12T19:39:00.003-04:00

Check out GOP.com

2010-02-25T09:06:00.001-05:00

Title: GOP.comLink: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=11263961276756371121

Public Hearing and Deadline for Public Comment on Major License Modification

2010-02-06T10:44:00.002-05:00

Date: Friday, February 5, 2010 1:06 PM From: Howe, Cheryl (DNRE) HOWEC@michigan.govSubject: Public Hearing and Deadline for Public Comment on Major License Modification,The Dow Chemical Company, Michigan Operations, Midland PlantWritten comments are being accepted until April 5, 2010 on a major modification of the hazardous waste management facility operating license (License) that was issued

Yes i'm still around...

2010-01-18T19:21:00.001-05:00

...and praying for our country! Now, please sing along with us...

Tell Obama....

2009-12-18T19:56:00.001-05:00

Following Alert From Mid-Michigan For US!!!

2009-12-11T19:23:00.003-05:00

December 10, 2009 Greetings, Fellow Patriots! ALERT! PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY! ONE MORE TIME . . .We are sure that most of you are following the action on the current health care legislation in the Senate. You have been relentless in your support of our efforts to kill this bill! We are making a difference. But please do not get lax, do not become complacent. The big announcement of "no

a note from 'We the People of Mid-Michigan'

2009-11-03T16:44:00.002-05:00

I sure wish these notices would all come in a more timely fashion. I get these via email... and just got this one.November 3, 2009Greetings, Fellow Patriots!Much apologies for the short notice. But if you were looking for a way to get to DC this week, ourfantastic event coordinators have done it again! If you cannot go, this isvery much understood, but please plan to make phone calls and faxes

MDEQ and EPA - November 5...

2009-10-30T10:20:00.004-04:00

Our notice from Cheryl Howe, Environmental Engineering Specialist, MDEQ:Subject:REMINDER - EPA/DEQ Meetings at Saginaw Valley State University on November 5, 2009From 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2009, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold a public availability session at Saginaw Valley State University, Curtiss Hall, Banquet Room C, 7400 Bay Road, Saginaw, to

Factoid #13 from We The People of Mid-Michigan

2009-10-23T19:50:00.004-04:00

Since these are actually 2 jpg files of a document, it is easier to read if you click on the picture to get a bigger version.This group is working hard to keep our American way of life alive. You can get their newsletter emailed directly to you by going to their website at:http://www.wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org//

It's Sunday Morning and...

2009-09-13T10:45:00.004-04:00

Bob Schieffer of CBS's Face the Nation is discussing the health care issue... aka Obamacare.He just quoted the President in an interview to be aired this evening on 60 Minutes:'The truth of the matter is.... that, uh, there has been, I think a coarsening of our political dialogue. I will also say that in the era of 24 hour news cycles, that the loudest shrillest voices get the most attention.'Mr

Wondering Why I'm all Hot Under the Collar About Politics Now?

2009-08-28T09:40:00.005-04:00

Here's why! It's still all about saving my backyard... except the purpose has grown to include... Saving My Country!!! I'm not sure which scares me most - Nancy Pelosi and her gang of 'do-gooders' or Obama and his hand-picked bunch of socialist and self-avowed Communist advisors!!!I'm scared to death of a President and Congress who are making changes in our country as fast as they can, without

Jim Moran, Howard Dean face town hall skeptics - Erika Lovley - POLITICO.com

2009-08-27T11:53:00.005-04:00

Jim Moran, Howard Dean face town hall skeptics - Erika Lovley - POLITICO.comShared via AddThisWhat you are NOT reading in that article - Fox News showed a clip of this meeting where Jim Moran asked one of the dissident attendees for his identification before letting him ask his question.This Democratic political reign continues to prove what

Comments From a Man Who Fought for our Country...

2009-08-23T11:18:00.003-04:00

Here it is, to the right! A Marine Corps veteran talks at a townhall meeting on Obamacare!!! He explains to Sen. Baird what a Nazi really is!God bless him; God bless all of our men and women who fight and/or have fought for this great country... and God bless America.***Note: For anyone not familiar with You-Tube, just click on the arrow at bottom of the picture.

This is SCAREY!!!

2009-08-16T14:08:00.003-04:00

Seems like the dems keep saying that we, the silent majority finally speaking out, are saying scarey things. Wanna know what's really scarey?...the President of the United States making statements that are not true! Please read this: Statement from the American College of Surgeons.This President just loves being on television. He just loves being in the public eye. I watch him every time I'm

Sombody pointed THIS to me...

2009-08-13T13:48:00.003-04:00

What have i been doing lately? ...enjoying life...my garden...my friends and neighbors...and..... did i mention, enjoying life?I even quit reading the Saginaw News. I can get all the misinformation necessary through the local misguided television stations and friends like the one that told me about the following article on the internet at MLive.__________________________________________White

Academic Elite - What is it?

2009-07-05T10:01:00.005-04:00

Okay... i always google what i have to say just to see how correct my definition might really be. For what it's worth, the Wikipedia definition is in dispute. That, of course, does NOT mean my definition is wrong!!!Sherle's quicky definition of academic elite: folks with book-learnin' and no common sense.Wikipedia's definition of academic elite:Academic elitism is a charge sometimes levied at

Extremists Rule....

2009-07-03T10:41:00.003-04:00

EPA, Dow Chemical resuming dioxin talksMonday, June 29,2009(06-29) 15:44 PDT Midland, Mich. (AP) --Federal officials areresuming negotiations with Dow Chemical Co. over cleanup of dioxin pollutionnear the company's Midland plant.The Environmental Protection Agencysaid Monday it has notified Dow that an offer from the company earlier this yearis good enough for talks to continue. Talks stopped in

And NOW i have to deal with the Federal Government concerning my health???

2009-07-02T15:53:00.001-04:00

Dealing With Vendors & Manufacturers......is never easy, but let me tell you: I am convinced that one gets LESS attention as a female, even lesser that that as a female over age 65!!!i own a Hewlett Packard laptop computer with 17" screen; paid $999 for it in August 2007. Bought a few other items, including an extended warranty on the laptop. The vendor was Best Buy. You've heard of that company

2009-04-30T13:40:00.002-04:00

Want to share the following notice from Cheryl Howe, Environmental Engineering Specialist, MDEQ. Be aware of meeting location change.The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is hosting the next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, in Lecture Theater G160 at Delta College, 1961 Delta Road, University Center.

...a Bay City Park Picture From the Past.

2009-01-30T13:50:00.008-05:00

This is the boy i married... the summer before we married in 1955. The playground equipment he is posing on is on the beach at Bay City State Park. Children in the back are playing in the water... and they are not being sucked into the earth by muck.Obviously this is before MDEQ and all of the rules about 'the care and preservation of wetlands.' The DNR was doing a very good job of upkeep.To the

If you somehow missed it...

2009-01-17T10:26:00.002-05:00

...here's what Jeff Kart of Bay City Times wrote about that meeting:Ousted EPA official: Stop dragging feet in dioxin cleanup...just politics as usual.

There's a Meeting This evening...

2009-01-15T10:06:00.005-05:00

...at SVSU. Don't stay home just because i'm not going. i saw my buddy Len yesterday, along with his lovely Lady Cheryl and a few friends (coincidentally, at SVSU). He will be there this evening.Why am i not going? ...BECAUSE when i was a 'working girl' at Dow, i was privileged to learn all about how EPA operates. i won't go into details but let's just say, i know our friends at MDEQ and approve

New Title Picture...

2009-01-10T20:05:00.003-05:00

Like it? I do! Thanks to our illustrious computer group leader & his equally talented better half!***Note: That one is done & gone!!! The newest title pic, as of January 17, is a photo on acrylic painting by moi! Weird, eh? ...and that's only 1/2 of it... really. smiles

EPA Meeting - re: Dow, MDEQ and Dioxin

2009-01-08T22:31:00.003-05:00

EPA hands Dow Chemical $1.8 million bill for staff time spent on dioxin issueOh yeah, i have comments about this... but more important, i need to share this info from Cheryl Howe, MDEQ. Received it a few days ago but have been busy.The U.S. EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are hosting a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2009, at Saginaw Valley State University,

A problem in the brain?

2008-12-06T16:14:00.002-05:00

Oh just gotta share this article:Virgin Mary in Fort Pierce woman's brain scan; next stop: eBayFound this in my 'dioxin feed.'Poor lady! Another of her claims to fame has to do with how dioxin screwed up her health! Just goes to show, there can be humor even in the worst of situations. Hey! She's making lemonade outta lemons, isn't she? Now, what is she selling on eBay... the picture or the brain

yeah... it was sent yesterday....

2008-11-06T15:57:00.001-05:00

but i received it today.The next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2008, at the Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw. The press release and agenda for the meeting are available at:http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--202708--,00.html andhttp://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/11-6-08_

DEQ Notice of Dioxin Meeting - August 7 @ 6:30 pm

2008-07-31T20:51:00.002-04:00

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is hosting the next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2008, at the Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw. The press release and agenda for the meeting are available at:http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--197150--,00.html andhttp://

next dioxin meeting...

2008-07-31T13:23:00.003-04:00

just read this in BayCityTimes online...Dioxin Meeting: August 7Still keeping busy & living well along the Tittabawassee River floodplain.Still think if you're in fear of the dioxin in my neck of the woods, you're living with fear for no good reason.Still healthy... thanks to God & good genes!Shirley

More information for Dow/MDEQ meeting tomorrow, May 7

2008-05-06T16:22:00.002-04:00

Received an email today with more information for the meeting tomorrow. You can find reports supporting materials here: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3312_4118_4240-53424--,00.html#Recent_Dow_Offsite_CA_Documents

Dow/MDEQ Meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2008

2008-05-06T09:32:00.005-04:00

Be there; you know the environmental extemists will.Excerpt from the official MDEQ notice as published online at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--191316--,00.html'May 7 Community Meeting on Dow Corrective Action Work Contact: Robert McCann (517) 241-7397Agency: Environmental QualityMay 5, 2008The next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting will be held

Sold

2008-04-24T23:07:00.001-04:00

Boat for Sale...

2008-04-22T16:30:00.004-04:00

Walleye Festival special... wouldn't you really like a boat you can share with the whole family all at once? This 24 foot pontoon boat fits the right profile for family and summer entertaining. 24 foot 1997 Riviera CruiserHas privacy curtain for port-a-potty/changing clothes.40 hp Force outboard motorElete trailer $8,500 for boat and trailerRespond to: webgoddess@gmail.com and use Subject: 24

Did you know...

2008-03-18T23:26:00.002-04:00

...there's a blog on MLive called Saginaw Bay Watershed Watch? I didn't either until recently but now I get their Newsletter. Today was an interesting post by Jeff Kart titled 'Another committee won't help clean up the Saginaw Bay, Bay area citizens say.'Golly, ya think?

...But the Environutz are More Interested in 'Get Dow!!' than they are in Clean Water!!!

2008-03-17T13:25:00.003-04:00

Sunday's Bay City Times contains an editorial about cleaning up our watershed. It's from somebody who cares about the environment!An FYI to the local environutz who are out to create even less jobs in the tri-city area and kick chemical industry butt, I have cared about the Great Lakes and especially the Saginaw Bay when many of you were still wearing diapers! My family have been boaters since

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

2008-03-11T16:06:00.002-04:00

YES!!! The environutz are causing reason for concern increasingly by more and more people in our area.Here is the latest letter to Saginaw News Editor on the subject... well said, sir!Dow Chemical doing all it canMonday, March 10, 2008Editor, The News:I have followed the dioxin case like most in the area for a couple of years now. An expert I am not, but one thing strikes me as being wrong and

Saginaw News Editorial... March 4

2008-03-08T23:19:00.002-05:00

Here's the editorial I told you about...C'mon, just clean it upTuesday, March 04, 2008Any of you out there trying to keep up with the Dow Chemical Co. dioxin cleanup have permission to roll your eyes from here to Love Canal.Dow, the state Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have hammered away at each other so hard and for so long they finally have

Saginaw News Editorial Headline...

2008-03-05T14:20:00.003-05:00

...C'mon, just clean it up... appeared in March 4 paper! It's a good piece. Too bad I couldn't find it in the online version. No time now but will scan it & share with you later.In a nutshell, the editor... no byline but presume maybe the Editorial Page Editor, Robert H. Handeyside..... sums up the ongoing saga with a few simple words. He sees what we're all seeing - that state and national

Another Hero... Ken Horn.....

2008-03-01T15:56:00.003-05:00

...was guest columnist in The Saginaw News yesterday.Clearing river will take combined effortsFriday, February 29, 2008KENNETH B. HORN, GUEST COLUMNISTIf we learned nothing else in 2007, it's that we should work side by side in a nonpolitical way to get things done for our community. However, in recent weeks I've repeatedly been bemused by frequent letters to the editor from defenders of the

Ann Doyle Letter to the Editor, Saginaw News

2008-02-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

I just today read the following letter to the editor in Saturday's Saginaw News. I must say Thank You, Ann Doyle for saying what the majority of us living along the Tittabawassee River feel about the dioxin saga!!! It is great to hear our elected representatives speak up for us... once again proving we made a wise choice!From The Saginaw NewsSaturday, February 25, 2008Adjust dioxin studies,

from Midland Daily News///

2008-02-26T22:41:00.001-05:00

Dow appeals plan for dioxin cleanupBy Tony Lascari02/26/2008The Dow Chemical Co. is appealing a plan for dioxin cleanup that it says extends past the Saginaw Bay into Lake Huron. The company is required by the state to investigate contamination in the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay, but not Lake Huron, Dow spokesman John Musser said. The company appealed modifications to its latest scope

Len's Excellent Commentary on EPA/MDEQ Meeting at SVSU

2008-02-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

The bureaucrats were out in force at EPA's Great Lakes National Program Presentation at Saginaw Valley State University. While I applaud their efforts concerning cleanup of the Great Lakes due to pollution, invasive species and bringing together involved parties, there is a major hiccup in one area. This area is dioxin and how it is being approached. After listening to a very sanctimonious

Where I Stand...

2008-02-02T21:00:00.001-05:00

I stand in the middle of my backyard where we experience at least one flood per year, compliments of the dams further upstream that empty into the Tittabawassee River whenever the waters get too high... usually after the spring thaw. My property exists on one of the lowest areas along the Tittabawassee River floodplain.I mow the lawn here - a whole acre. I still have asparagus we planted when we

Answer to Environutz... Where I Was in 2003

2008-02-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

Some environutz have asked where I was in 2003 when the first dioxin/MDEQ meetings began.It all started with a paper spitball blown across the room in a high school. That spitball resulted in an accusation by a Pakistani that one of my grandsons committed ethnic intimidation. The entire story is surreal, including police brutality and a misinformed district attorney.My husband & I spent most of

Hey! Econutz...

2007-09-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

...in case you haven't been up Midland Road lately - you may think you're getting the 'disease' out but unfortunately, you're KILLING the patient!Love, your friendly neighborhood realist.

Government does NOT belong in our backyards...

2007-09-02T11:42:00.000-04:00

Let them in your backyard & the next thing you know they will be invading your kitchens and bedrooms!These days people are cooking up methamphetamines in their kitchens. It's a proven fact: Drugs Kill! Does that mean government should be allowed access to all of our kitchens?What's going on in bedrooms around the country? Well, duh! How do you think AIDS is passed on? It's a proven fact: Aids

the latest dow/deq meeting

2007-08-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a well-written review of the Dow/MDEQ meeting Thursday at Horizons. Í did not attend this meeting but i actually have something to discuss about this topic & will do it soon.... but..... right now i'm busy!ShirleyDow expects work on dioxin hotspots to be done this yearBy Tony Lascari08/10/2007The Dow Chemical Co. expects interim remedial action cleanup at three dioxin-contaminated sites

Get the Latest Info on Dioxin/Body Burden...

2007-05-25T17:27:00.000-04:00

...from one of our most prestigious professors Dr. David Garabrant, with one of the most prestigious medical training facilities in the world, the University of Michigan. Dr. Garabrant will bring us up to date on the study by the team he headed up. Here are meeting details:Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, in Saginaw MichiganTuesday, June 5, 20076:00 pm -8:00 pmLet's get over there

I went to a meeting Thursday...

2007-05-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

My friends & I call them 'dioxin meetings'. The chemical company and the state government regulatory people are working together to clean up a chemical they couldn't even find in such tiny amounts a century ago when it all started. I don't attend those meetings to make sure they're doing it right. They know what they are doing. I attend because I find it therapeutic! I attend because there's a

Don't Forget - MDEQ/Dow Meeting...

2007-05-01T10:09:00.000-04:00

... 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw. This meeting is open to the public. The press release and agenda for the meeting are available at:http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--167351--,00.html andhttp://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-whm-hwp-dow-CommMeeting-agenda-05-03-07_194656_7.pdfSupporting materials will be available at

Addendum to my 4:30 pm blog...

2007-04-23T18:07:00.000-04:00

... was so involved in the dissertation I forgot to tell why Barber's article in the Saginaw News motivated me. I haven't done much blogging lately because it really bothered me that I could dislike a whole group because I distrust their leadership.I don't dislike the whole group. I do feel sorrow that they were caught in the trap set by such professional activists. It occurred to me that Miller

It's not about DEQ... It's not about Dow...

2007-04-23T16:13:00.000-04:00

...It's about me. You may have noticed less updates here at TRVoice lately. I thought it was just because I'm too busy, but truth is I didn't feel motivated; wasn't sure what I wanted to write - or why.Thanks to Barrie Barber, reporter for The Saginaw News & his big frontpage spread in Sunday's paper yesterday - Group won't back down from Dow - I come back rejuvenated. Barrie's series of articles

I heard on the news yesterday...

2007-03-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

...that the Tittabawassee River is currently contaminated because of an over flow of sewage in Saginaw County. This is a whole lot scarier to most residents than the historic dioxin that has been in the soil here & there for approximately 100 years!I have lots of gems - just no time to share them... but like Ahrnold, 'I'll be back!'

Len tells it like it is

2007-02-05T16:45:00.000-05:00

once again in the Saginaw News.Kudos to Len Heinzman... even I couldn't have said it as well as he did in his latest letter to the editor in the Saginaw News!!!'Those people' involved with the Lonetree Council just keep proving their lack of credibility with constant chants to spend government money for their frivolous complaints and lawsuits. True to form, they do not listen to reason...

A few facts and some truth also included...

2007-01-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

"The truth is more important than the facts."-- Frank Lloyd WrightHmmm! Makes sense to me! Here are links to some of the latest facts about dioxin in the Tittabawassee River floodplain:Tittabawassee River Sampling Identifies Areas for Interim Clean-up Action, MDEQ Contact: Robert McCann (517) 241-7397 - January 11, 2007. This information also advises us of the next public information session

Finally!

2007-01-06T23:07:00.000-05:00

Dioxin bill signed by Granholm

Midland Daily News has an update

2006-11-14T23:56:00.000-05:00

on the saga of the pitiful few who insisted on calling their own homes worthless in hopes of getting money from the big chemical company... Dow appeal of class action status one year old. Here's the latest quote from Ms. Henry..."We are now almost four years into this lawsuit, yet the argument is still over whether we should be a class action lawsuit or not," Kathy Henry said. "Saddam Hussein has

I went to a meeting Wednesday...

2006-11-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

and planned to tell you all about it on Thursday... but then I brought in the day's mail. You must read this thing. What sort of person writes an anonymous letter anyway?This person is not only semi-literate but doesn't even know anything about me! He or she was apparently all bent out of shape about a letter I wrote to the editor of The Saginaw News in which I explained my reasons for needing a

Midland residential properties will NOT be labeled

2006-10-27T00:08:00.000-04:00

no matter what the results of dioxin testing. Read why in this article from Midland Daily News October 24... Dioxin testing in Midland begins; city participating. Testing will be done in such a fashion that individual homes can not be identified.Well la-de-dah!!!! It certainly didn't bother the powers that be at MDEQ when they decided to label our backyards along the Tittabawassee River

Mark Your Calendars for the Next DEQ/Dow Meeting...

2006-10-25T14:55:00.000-04:00

The following was sent to attendees of the last MDEQ/Dow Dioxin Community meeting...Subject: Date Correction NoticeNovember 8 DEQ/Dow Tri-Cities Dioxin Community MeetingFrom: Cheryl HoweDate 10/10/2006 6:20 PMPlease be advised that an error was made in the press release, agenda, and transcript for the August 9, 2006, Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting regarding the

I prefer asparagus...

2006-09-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

...grown in my own backyard - you know - one of those backyards in the Tittabawassee River floodplain... you know the yards our own Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and a few misguided people denigrated with their accusations. I'm sure you've heard about the E. coli epidemic in foods grown in California. This article from Detroit Free Press actually doesn't cover the more recent

Today's Giggle...

2006-09-20T16:00:00.001-04:00

can be seen in the Midland Daily News - Disposal site eyed by Dow? I was just about to say something nice about some of the people in this article but changed my mind when I read it! I guess it just goes to prove 'old hippies never die - they just continue to make themselves look silly.'

A September 9, 2006 Midland Daily News article reminded me...

2006-09-12T11:30:00.000-04:00

..so I searched my computer for this photo which I took in springtime 1962. It shows my husband Frank and our four oldest daughters, ages 6, 5, and twins aged 4. It was pretty cold that day so the 2 year old and 2 month-old baby were in the house. This was our second springtime along River Road and our second flood. Not sure how this pic survived since most of our family photos were destroyed in

It's been a busy past two weeks for the dioxin issue...

2006-08-16T14:20:00.000-04:00

...and quite informative! Yesterday, local papers reported results of the University of Michigan study of a comparison of dioxins in the human blood with dioxins in their physical environment. Since all had the same info, I'm sharing here the one from Midland Daily News titled Dioxin in Midlanders' blood - even though it relates to the whole study. Here also is today's article in The Saginaw News

Ooooops!

2006-08-07T19:52:00.000-04:00

Midland Daily News - Dioxin meeting Wednesday ... and guess who made promises to be someplace else that day? Ah well, maybe I can stop in before it's over. I'm hoping we will be well represented without me there anyway.I can predict this: The whole Lone Tree gang will be there enmasse and vocal! They seem to get all the attention they want by both Dow & MDEQ whenever any of them wants to speak -

Update... sort of.

2006-08-01T10:12:00.000-04:00

Been doing loads of reading... just not taking time for the commentary, but what I heard on the news this morning... just gotta share! I haven't read it anywhere yet but the local NBC TV news people reported that Ms. Granholm, our current governor, attended a public function featuring... tah dah!!!... Michael Moore! Good heavens! Even more fodder for getting her out of office!Here's my collection

Midland Daily News - Dioxin, EPA and science: When will they meet?

2006-07-25T22:53:00.000-04:00

Dioxin, EPA and science: When will they meet?:Michael Gough, Midland Daily News07/23/2006"Michael Gough is a fellow at the George Marshall Institute. A former director of science and risk studies at the Cato Institute, he is an expert on environmental policy and risk assessment. He was a senior associate at the congressional Office of Technology Assessment and previously taught microbiology at

I won't say 'I told you so' but...

2006-07-11T17:47:00.000-04:00

..have you seen our local newspapers today? We haven't read it enough to speak volumes about it yet but it appears that complaints by environmental extremists have been exaggerated more than just a little bit. Academy review 'like the Supreme Court' (Saginaw News)River remains toxic, but not quite asbad (Saginaw News)National Academy of Science review of dioxin duetoday (Midland Daily News)

'Sound Science' Bill...

2006-06-21T20:58:00.000-04:00

Read it here first: Midland Daily News says:Moolenaar's dioxin bill passed by committee. Even the DEQ likes this one so what will the enviro-extremists not like about it?...and in case you haven't heard about the U.S. Supreme Court (in)decision on the Rapanos wetlands federal case, here it is: High court muddies wetlands rulesI'm sure you're all aware of the giant weeds along the Saginaw Bay

Precautionary Principle dictates...

2006-06-05T16:12:00.000-04:00

..if gigantic amounts of anything causes cancer in rats or mice, it will cause cancer in humans!You Dirty Rats! (from TCSDaily.com Europe) May 30, 2006 By Dr. Elizabeth Whelan.Aspartame -- those little blue packets with the trade name NutraSweet -- cause cancer! It was official! Not so fast. Earlier this month, the European equivalent of the FDA said, "Never mind"...Read what Dr. Whelan had to

All you really need to know about dioxin in Midland and the Tittabawassee River floodplain...

2006-06-02T19:28:00.000-04:00

..is right here in the Midland Daily News online!!! The Dioxin archive contains articles from December 9, 2004 - Dioxin research meeting tonight to February 24, 2006 - DEQ agrees with EPA dioxin plan concerns. No, it's not all the MDN articles but if you're a late-comer and want to know what all the fuss is about, this is a great opportunity to catch up on the facts.From time to time the lonetree

Letter to Editor in yesterday's Saginaw News...

2006-06-01T14:28:00.000-04:00

...wasn't included in the online MLive edition so I scanned it for you. Titled 'Minimal Risk' - I couldn't have said it better myself!!! Thank you Mr. Fitch... sounds like you've met some of the Lonetree gang and their merry band of MDEQ 'experts'.BTW - perhaps this is just another of Ms. Granholm's attempts to 'create jobs' - as I observed a couple of DPW workers slaving in the hot sun to clean

Property Owners and MDEQ...

2006-05-28T19:03:00.000-04:00

..and wetlands, 'the law' and money!DEQ director gets earful on wetlandsYou've seen MDEQ in the sand dunes, on the beaches, our rivers... and in all of these cases, our personal, private property! Our taxes put paychecks in their pockets but Michigan Department of Environmental Quality continues to persecute the homeowners... this time in the Sault Ste. Marie area way way up north! You can bet

potpourri - lots of potpourri....

2006-05-18T15:10:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 10 – Meeting at Horizons – MDEQ/Dow to inform public of current status.Kathie Marchlewski reported it in Midland Daily News. I don’t really have time to tell you my personal impressions overall but can tell you this: The enviro-extremist groups are becoming increasingly agitated with ‘progress’ because they don’t really want progress. They want Dow to ‘fix’ something that ‘ain’t

I've got lots to say...

2006-05-15T22:30:00.000-04:00

...saved a flock of articles and will share what I saw (and did) at the last MDEQ/Dow townhall meeting. I just need a block of time... and that might happen Tuesday. Stop by tomorrow afternoon for a great big ol' update. ;-)

About that MDEQ/Dow meeting...

2006-05-08T22:57:00.000-04:00

..I guess I didn't read the email very well. It didn't include the time. Here it is straight from DEQ's website. 'The Department of Environmental Quality and The Dow Chemical Company will be holding the next quarterly Midland/Saginaw/Bay City (Tri-Cities) Dioxin Community Meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at the Horizon’s Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw. The meeting is open to the

Aspartame Safety Confirmed—Again

2006-05-07T14:00:00.000-04:00

By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D. - Darn!!! and just when I've stocked up on that new no-calorie sugar product!...why should this fact be related to parts per trillion of dioxin? Well duh! Where's the big epidemic of dioxin-related illness along the Tittabawassee River floodplain... or the Saginaw River... or even in the city of Midland?Speaking of dioxin in our backyards... in case you're interested,

What Do Beaches Have in Common with our Dioxin/Facility Problem?

2006-05-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

This photo shows the 'beach' at Bay City State Park... February 2005. I'm guessing the big red pole was put there to show snowmobilers where they could find a trail out to the Saginaw Bay. All of that standing vegetation covers what I would guess should be the beach.Summertime 2004 - I was just really becoming immersed in the dioxin controversy along the Tittabawassee River floodplain. Having

Like Fishing? We have GREAT Weather for it in Freeland this Weekend!

2006-04-28T16:11:00.000-04:00

This weekend is an angler's delight: and you can read all about it in The Midland Daily News! The sun's shining... the sales are on all over town... and there's all kinds of food and fun for the family!I heard that you can find some pretty good hotdogs and cookies at Leaman's Green Applebarn! Stop by and try them. We had the peanut butter cookies and they're great! While you're out, do a bit of

Dioxin legislation opposed...

2006-04-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

According to this Midland Daily News article, the key litigants in the dioxin lawsuit are opposed to the new legislation proposed by state Senators Mike Goschka and Tony Stamas, and state Representative John Moolenaar. Of course they are! They want to spend the rest of their lives waiting for money to fall off the Dow Chemical money tree.These are the same people, along with the ragtag lonetree

Redneck gets another petition going...

2006-04-12T16:26:00.000-04:00

You'd think even the MDEQ bureaucrats would get tired of her ranting after a while, wouldn't you?I just read an article in the Saginaw News - Groups seek dioxin tests downstream - and another in the Bay City Times - Concerned citizens fishing for help from Feds. It seems the Lone Tree Council has gathered up a few fishermen, residents and enviro-wackos from the Bay City area to petition the ATSDR

Still hope for all of us who own a 'facility' along the Tittabawassee River floodplain?

2006-04-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

Maybe... Today the Midland Daily News published an article: Lawmakers propose trio of bills to deal with dioxin issue. If you missed it, read all about it now. Sounds like there are three separate bills currently going through Michigan Congress, in various states of completion.I sure hope Ms. Granholm signs this time. It just seems unAmerican for the State of Michigan to say my property is a '

Local boy stirs dioxin brew...

2006-04-09T13:24:00.000-04:00

Midland Daily News - News - 04/09/2006 published a biased opinion titled - Governor should hold fast in her decision to clean up dioxin. It was written by a local Freeland boy known by many of us (probably most) as the guy who is against 'it' if mainstream U.S.A. is for 'it'! Should we be surprised it took him three months to construct a biased response to the letter we wrote to Ms. Granholm and

No WONDER MDEQ rules Michigan under the 'because we told you so' rule!!!

2006-03-26T15:56:00.000-05:00

Their counterpart on the national level, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, operates in the same fashion! I just read this article by ACSH > Facts & Fears:"We Should Expect More from the EPA"ACSH and another group jointly filed a petition calling on the EPA to eliminate "junk science" from the process by which it determines whether a substance is likely to cause cancer in humans. They

Why the 'Fish Advisory'...

2006-03-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

... because the bureaucrats are increasingly aware that living with dioxin in the environment does NOT make a significant difference in the bodies of human inhabitants! The fact is the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) has been conducting studies on individuals in Louisana for the past 6-7 years to discover if there is any significant difference in dioxins in the human body

Chemistry in Michigan...

2006-03-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

Note to Ms. Jennifer Granholm and all of your enviro-extremist friends: Here is a bit of trivia I learned today at a website called americanchemistry.com: Michigan: "27,738 jobs are directly created by the chemical industry in Michigan.Chemical industry average wages in Michigan are $71,857 - 28.2% higher than other manufacturing wages in Michigan." P.S. The river is still rising. Regulate dams

Apparently the MDEQ thinks we 'river rats' along the Tittabawassee River floodplain are a bunch of Neanderthals!

2006-03-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

Today I stray from my usual method of commenting about the DEQ/dioxin news. Below is a copy of the Saginaw News article published yesterday. My comments - in color and bold - are interspersed with the article - for reasons that are obvious as you read it. Eating fish from river not healthy, DEQ saysFriday, March 10, 2006JEREMIAH STETTLERTHE SAGINAW NEWSState health officials say living and dining

Addendum - Safe to eat MORE fish from Saginaw River...

2006-03-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

State fishing advisory cloudy: Following excerpt from this article in today's Saginaw News - "Some of the latest data say it's OK to eat fish more often from some areas, such as small walleye in the Saginaw River. Other data add advisories, such as one for brown trout in Lake Michigan, said Kory J. Groetsch, a toxicologist with Community Health in Lansing who works on the guide when time allows.

The Tittabawassee River will rise... the dioxin controversy will continue to flow...

2006-03-09T15:49:00.000-05:00

...and I've been catching up on my reading. There really isn't much new going on along the river except:Snow is melting; it's melting fast. Ditches are filling up and runoff is headed toward the river. Weather people are predicting rain - lots of rain. Coupled with the runoff this would be enough to make the river rise even before the dams let loose - or perhaps the 'powers over our northern dams

Did you miss the MDEQ/Dow Town Hall meeting on February 9?

2006-03-03T19:38:00.000-05:00

So did I. Now's our chance to get caught up. We can watch the whole thing on MCTV-3. Here's the schedule:Tuesday, March 7 - 11:30pmWednesday, March 8 - 12:00 Midnight (Thursday am)Friday, March 10 - 10:00pmSaturday, March 11 - 1:00pmSaturday, March 11 - 12:00 Midnight (Sunday am)Sunday, March 12 - 8:00amSunday, March 12 - 8:00pm

Another Day... Another Roadblock to progress in the alleged dioxin problem along our Tittabawassee River floodplain.

2006-03-02T11:34:00.000-05:00

I just left a response to another Our View on the editorial page of Midland Daily News. This article, published yesterday is titled Compromise will be in order. It's in reference to EPA's input about the inadequacy of Dow's workplan. Click it and read it... if you haven't already. Well, click it anyway so you can read my no-nonsense response!You know, there's an old saying, 'If it ain't broke,

DEQ agrees with EPA...

2006-02-25T14:00:00.000-05:00

Well, yeah!!! Why not? Bureaucratic birds of a feather and all that...Saginaw News version and here is the Midland Daily News version.I STILL think the whole dioxin situation is overblown. It is a non-problem that was brought about when Dow Chemical scientists discovered a procedure by which they could measure dioxin in extremely tinier than microscopic amounts. (Correct me if this is wrong. I no

Been out and about AND reading...

2006-02-23T19:42:00.000-05:00

...and really don't know where the time goes! Here's what I've been reading lately but just haven't had a chance to just sit and talk about it yet. Yes I have a few comments for each and all of these articles. I've heard this will be another snowy blowy weekend so perhaps I'll get time to come back and bring a bit of 'Shirley's Perspective' to these latest media releases.Midland Daily News - News

How did I ever miss this one?

2006-02-19T20:06:00.000-05:00

I guess Mr. Chester is a bit perturbed by Dr. Reitz' article last week. He had to scurry to get his lawyerly viewpoint across about his 'scientific' empire!Ya know, he just keeps referring to how well the Michigan Department of Community Health & MDEQ do their jobs. Really? If all that dioxin out in my backyard is so bad, why hasn't the MDCH identified it as a 'pocket of disease' caused by dioxin

Okay 'Priority 2's' - It's Your Turn...

2006-02-19T15:49:00.000-05:00

Dow expected to enter round 2 of cleanup - Midland Daily News - 02/19/2006....but hey, to paraphrase the primary litigant in the 'wanna get rich by suing the chemical giant' bunch, The mighty Tipadawas done come up again already folks! Y'all come back now, hear?Perhaps this is Ms. Jenny Granholm's idea of 'creating jobs.' As we try to put the big company out of business we will increase the lower

Dr. Reitz addresses need for use of scienctific process at MDEQ...

2006-02-13T09:43:00.000-05:00

Scientific, legislative oversight needed, please - Midland Daily News - 02/12/2006. Dr. Reitz has worked with other world-reknowned scientists. He knows the scientific process. Part of that process is oversight by another scientific group. If you haven't already, read what Dr. Reitz has to say. He KNOWS what he is talking about!Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is a political entity -

Beware: If you're lucky the following blog entry might be worth 2 cents...

2006-01-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

This morning I switched my tv channel over from Martha Stewart to a news channel where yet another citizen was railing away at our president! It amazes me that there is so much HATE in our United States of America today... and so much of it based on misinformation and bias. That is not, however, my topic for the day. This is:I tuned out that woman's tirade because of her rage, her hatred, and her

We're in the news again....

2006-01-22T17:43:00.000-05:00

...but first, would you buy a used car from this guy? I sure wouldn't! This is Steve Chester, director of MDEQ. They tell me he's a lawyer by profession and he is the one standing by his mantra that our homes are facilities because the law says so!!! His mantra has nothing to do with science. Not only that, the law says so because the MDEQ got the legislators to put that law there in the first

What a Week it WAS!

2006-01-09T00:14:00.000-05:00

Our friend and cohort, Bill Egerer, founder of Midland Matters, had a chance to speak out for all of us Friday as featured speaker on Off the Record - Weekly Edition #2006-28. Just click on the little icon at beginning of the article to view this PBS presentation. If you don't have time to watch the whole clip, Bill's portion is probably a little past half way into the program. Just scoot the

FYI - Reactions to Granholm's Veto Against Homeowners

2005-12-30T23:13:00.000-05:00

A public note to our Congressmen and women - especially Congressman Moolenaar, who introduced the Homeowners' Rights Bill. Thank you so much for all you are trying to do for Michigan homeowners. Let us pray the tyrannical behavior of Ms. Granholm will soon be over. Even people who voted for her are unhappy. We can DO it people!!! It's not over."Mackinac Center Environmental Analyst Russ Harding

Glad I Don't Live in a Bubble...

2005-12-29T13:18:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed how you can tell an extremist environmentalist by that ever-present look of anger? A friend forwarded the following to me this morning. Now, more than ever, I'm convinced it's because of that darned BUBBLE they insist on living in. The tough part is - they want US to join them in that bubble!!!TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!First, we