Real life experience with gas well doesn't jibe with story

Real life experience with gas well doesn't jibe with story
EDITOR:
As I read "Boardman officials unhappy about location of gas wells" on the front page of the Oct. 4 Vindicator, I was quite surprised to read the comments from Dave Matak, president of Ohio Valley Energy. He commented on a gas well being drilled by his company at 5735 Tippecanoe Road, Canfield. Mr. Matak referenced the new state regulation, House Bill 278, which was enacted by the Ohio General Assembly and approved by Gov. Taft. He stated that the new regulations are streamlined and centralized with the state. In addition, Mr. Matak made reference to the fact that "the regulations are also good in that people living in a given neighborhood decide whether they want the gas wells drilled & quot;. He further goes on to say that "applicants are required to notify those living within 500 feet of the well, and majority rules on whether the well is drilled or not & quot;.
This well that Mr. Matak references is being drilled approximately 100 feet behind our neighbor's house at 5981 Sharon Drive in Boardman Township. It is approximately 150 feet from my house, 5980 Sharon Drive. The letter of notification sent by Everflow Eastern, Inc. was dated Sept. 22, 2004, we did not receive it in the mail until Sept. 24, 2004. The preliminary work for the well drilling activities began on Sept. 20, 2004. Not one of my neighbors on Sharon Drive who are within 500 feet of the drilling activity was asked beforehand if they wanted the well in this location. Mr. Matak's statements are totally false and misleading to the Vindicator's readers!
It is too late to stop this well in our backyard, but I hope that others will have the opportunity to voice their opinion before a well is actually being drilled in their backyard. We did not have this opportunity, and contrary to Mr. Matak's statement, majority did not rule on Sharon Drive in Boardman Township. The drilling activity takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the noise level at my house exceeds 90 decibels. The smell of gas and other odors related to the drilling are nauseating. Dust from this drilling is ever present in the atmosphere. My next door neighbor's wife was admitted to the hospital last night and I understand that it was related to this traumatic event taking place in her backyard.
Having worked in steel and aluminum plants for the past 30 years, I can testify to the fact that the noise level from this drilling activity is overwhelming, far surpassing what is allowed by OSHA in an industrial facility. Many of my neighbors have young children and they are concerned about their welfare. It may be too late for my neighborhood, we have seen our property value drop and our once tranquil neighborhood turned into an industrial abyss of noise and air pollution. But to those who have not felt the wrath of this new regulation, HB 278, be aware. Contact state Rep. Ken Carano, who has been the only elected official who has shown any interest in protecting the rights of his constituents.
PATRICK KLIMEK
Boardman
Gayety isn't contagious
EDITOR:
During a recent debate about gay marriage and adoption in a college classroom, a fellow student asked me, "What if everyone turned gay and got married and had gay kids? Then we would all be gay!" My response was "What if everyone turned into a duck? Then we'd all be ducks!"
But my question is, why do so many people fear homosexuality becoming a contagious disease? When did becoming gay become something that you could catch just by having a gay parent or friend? Can you catch it just by being in the same room with someone? Is it air-borne? Maybe you can only get it from kissing or holding hands.
All I have to say about this is, get real. Whether or not you believe that homosexuality is a personality trait from birth or that it is a learned behavior, at least know that it's not something you can "catch" from anyone else. There is very little danger of our entire world turning gay. Just as there's little chance of our entire world ever being straight. So calm down. Just because the guy next to you is gay doesn't mean that you have to be too.
KATIE SHUMAKER
Youngstown