Letter: Mid-States Corridor will destroy more than homes

I took some time this past weekend to visit several of the homes and owners on North 190, Jasper Dubois Road and Meridian Road whose homes would be taken if this proposed highway goes through.

It is a crime!

These are homes where families have worked hard to build a life and to raise a family in a peaceful, serene country setting. Many of them have postcard views of the rolling hills, trees, and farmland. Stunning vistas that could be taken away because of a few high-powered people wanting this highway.

I heard stories of when they built their homes and how over the years they shared the land so their children could build their homes. I heard stories of several generations of landowners, the memories, and the sacrifices their grandparents made to make sure their children would have a better life. It was gut-wrenching to hear the pain in their voices as they shared their stories. Many of the people I talked to have no clue where they will go since they will never be able to find a comparable place with what is irreplaceable to them.

I must ask, has anyone doing the study who worked on the various routes along with the recommended route personally visited these families, seen their homes, and seen what they will destroy? Have any of the politicians who want this highway and those council members who voted to fund this study visited and talked to these families? How about the business advocates for this highway whose homes or businesses are not in the path? I don’t think so.

This project is destroying more than homes. It is destroying lives; it is destroying families. I don’t care if the home is worth $100,000 or $1 million. Each one has a story, each owner has pride in the work they have done to make their house a home, and each owner is angry.

Stop this nonsense of a project and work on smarter solutions that won’t destroy people’s lives.

Mark Nowotarski, Jasper