The sand mine proposal near the Illinois 71 entrance to Starved Rock was approved today

[Critters2]

by the LaSalle County Board. 39 new jobs promised. But how many tourism jobs lost, along with wildlife and natural beauty?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-sand-mine-near-starved-rock-gets-ok-by-lasalle-county-board-20120112,0,4605518.story

[Peregrine Took]

1. So sad. Mike Nowak (WCPT radio Sunday 9 AM) has been hitting on this catastrophe for weeks.

It certainly was wrapped up fast with very little public input. Just the way they want it.

[Critters2]

2. We've been grateful for Mike Nowak's publicity, and for the front page story

in the Trib. Some still hold out hope that the DNR will come to the rescue, but I doubt that'll happen. I fear this is a done deal.

[Peregrine Took]

3. We were, one day, planning on moving out there as we are active retirees who love

Starved Rock STATE Park. Now? No way.

I wonder if the people who live in Ottawa and environs realize how disruptive those sand trucks etc. are going to be? And that is just one aspect of the process.

[Critters2]

4. It would be great if you would let the City of Ottawa, the LaSalle County Board,

and the Ottawa Visitors Bureau know of your change of plans. We keep trying to point out that this may cost as many jobs as it creates.

Here's the Visitors Bureau website:

http://www.experienceottawa.com/visitors_attractions.cfm

[MerryBlooms]

5. fuck.

[feat12515si]

6. nm

[coffeenap]

7. Still fighting?

http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/Simonwantstokeeppublicspotlightonsandmine.aspx

[Critters2]

8. Yes. There's a group of citizens who've organized and are doing our best to fight this.

The Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and others are involved, too. I'm not real hopeful, but the fight isn't over yet. The next hope is that the DNR will deny them a permit.