Month: April 2015

Drains, tiles addressed in pipeline proposal for Lenawee County, other areas in state

By MELISSA BURNOR
Residents living in southeastern Lenawee County rely on a system of both public and private drains and tiles to keep the flatlands drained of surface water. It’s been more than 150 years since the first drains were cut through the Cottonwood and Black Swamps to make the area inhabitable as well one of the most fertile farm areas n the country. Because of that vast and intricate drainage system county officials are working with the proposed pipeline officials to protect the vital underground network.

Lenawee County officials are working on an agreement that could be put into place with Rover Pipeline that would protect county drains. A potential agreement with the NEXUS Pipeline could become a work in progress before long too.

Lenawee County Drain Commissioner Stephen May said he received formal contact from NEXUS Pipeline. May said the packet included a letter of intent and a request to share information.

Currently the Lenawee County Drain Commission along with the Washtenaw and LIvingston drain commission are working on an agreement that would protect county drains. The agreement would spell out how the pipeline would have to be constructed around the drains it crossed.

Right now there are 34 identified county drain crossings that the Rover Pipeline could make over drains. May said he anticipates that number to be higher for the NEXUS project should it be constructed.

For the complete story on drains, tile and how they relate to the pipeline story, please see the April 15, 2015, edition of The Advance.

Three heroin-related deaths reported in Monroe County in one day

The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency has issued a public safety warning in Monroe County after three people in Monroe County died in three separate locations April 14. All three were heroin-related deaths, according to Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone. One person in Frenchtown Township and two people in Bedford Township, who were not found together, but in the same vicinity, are reported to have died. According to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff, all three subjects had injected themselves with heroin and immediately died after doing so. The bodies of all three were sent to the Wayne County Medical Examiners Office for autopsies.

According to Malone, the DEA’s warning is due to identifying a large increase of Fentanyl-laced heroin in the area.

“At this time it is unknown if Fentanyl is the cause of the recent deaths, but the general public needs to be aware of this deadly combination,” the release said. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine typically prescribed to people with severe chronic pain.

Malone is asking anyone who is currently using drugs to stop immediately and seek assistance. Anyone wishing to report any drug activity is encouraged to contact the Monroe Area Narcotics Team and Investigative Services commonly known as MANTIS at 734-240-2605.

Pipeline rerouting bid gains traction

By Melissa Burnor
 Efforts to reroute the proposed NEXUS natural gas pipeline has gained some momentum in Ohio and activists are seeing some results of their work.
CORN or the Coalition to Reroute Nexus has been suggesting alternatives throughout the Ohio portion of the proposed 250 mile, 42-inch project that may also come through Michigan in Lenawee County, then through Washtenaw County before hooking into existing the DTE Energy natural gas transmission system.
While CORN has garnered support by way of resolutions from several Ohio counties, townships and villages including Lucas County and Amboy Township just across the border from Ogden Township, they have yet to make a presence in Michigan.
DTE and Spectra Energy filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December last year so that they can investigate a route from Kensington, Ohio, to the Detroit area with potential to transport natural gas into Canada.
Opposition to the pipeline stems from concerns over placement near residential areas and natural areas such as Oak Openings, an area in northwest Ohio covering about 130 square miles. According to the Natural Conservancy, its combination of wet prairie and oak savannah created by sand and clay deposits from Lake Warren makes it one of the most rare habitats in the United States.
CORN member Paul Wohlfarth said the group is looking at alternatives to routing the pipeline through the area.
Already CORN has made an impact in eastern Ohio, he said.
In Medina County, a suggestion was made to reroute the pipeline away heavily populated areas.
A letter from Green, Ohio, dated March 29 from Paul Gierosky stated concerns about the impact to heavily populated areas in Medina County, Ohio.
A suggestion from the City of Green, Ohio, has FERC’s attention as well as that of NEXUS. The City of Green has suggested an alternative route for a portion of the mainline around heavily populated areas. Green officials call the NEXUS plan hastily drawn and said it had little concern for the community. The reroute they propose is claimed to have less environmental impact and less social impact. According to Berk Donaldson, general manager, NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC, in a letter to FERC dated April 3 of this year, the company is evaluating this suggested alternatives. FERC has also directed the company to look into the merits of the proposed reroute. The city has proposed moving approximately 103 miles of the pipeline away from the Canton/Akron area. Green is in the center of that area.
There is a meeting tonight, Tuesday, April 7, at the Swanton American Legion Hall where Dale Arnold, Ohio, Farm Bureau director of energy, will give a presentation offering background information on the proposed Nexus, ET Rover and Utopia East pipelines.
The Utopia Pipeline is a proposed project of Kinder Morgan Cochin company. This is a proposed 12-inch line from Harrison County, Ohio, to Fulton County, Ohio, and into Riga Township before moving eastward to Canada. This meeting was to give more balanced information including information on the need and benefit of the pipelines.
According to a September 2014 press release from Kinder Morgan Cochin, the company has an existing pipeline near Riga. The pipeline would transport previously refined or fractionated natural gas liquids including ethane and ethane-propane mixtures. According to the company, officials expect to begin surveying in May.
Ogden Township Supervisor Richard Marks said the township has not received any new information from either Nexus or any other opposition group since the Ogden board had a special meeting March 3.
“We are in a wait-and-see mode,” he said and doesn’t anticipate any discussion at the April meeting.
“Until there is something more concrete to bring forward there is nothing to do,” he said.
Wohlfarth, whose son lives in the Oak Openings area, said he thinks the pipeline coming through is more of a concern for the homeowners than the farmers because of the proximity to their dwellings.
Wohlfarth said CORN plans on keeping up with the issue.
“We are not going to roll over,” he said. “We will see it to the end.”
(Editors note: The Advance would like to hear from anyone who is in favor of the proposed pipeline. You can reach Burnor at news@blissfieldadvance.com or 517-486-2400)

Theodore “Ted” Judson

Theodore D “Ted” Judson, age 68 of Blissfield, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015.
He was born November 12, 1946, in Adrian to Donald and Lucille (Ganun) Judson. Ted graduated from Blissfield High School with the Class of 1965, and attended Stautzenberger College as well as Jackson Community College.
On February 14, 1976, Ted was married to Janet Crammond in Toledo, Ohio, and she survives.
Ted worked for Champion Spark Plug Company for 35 years, retiring in 2009. He was a member of the Wellsville United Methodist Church. An outdoorsman whose passion was bow hunting, Ted hunted not only throughout the United States, but all over the world. He was a member of the Blissfield Sportsmen’s Club in addition to state and national bow hunting clubs.
Besides Janet, his wife of over 39 years, he is survived by a brother, Edward Judson of Palmyra; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services took place at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Pastor Samuel Pooley officiating. Burial was private. Friends v visited the family at the funeral home on Monday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and again Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. until the service.
Contributions in memory of Ted may be made to the Wellsville United Methodist Church or the donor’s charity of choice. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.