Resident wants help with sewer smell (08/28/2008)

To the editor:

A week or so before the tractor and engine show, there was an editorial in The Commercial Review asking Portland's residents to tidy up their yards and such. Great idea! We want visitors to have positive thoughts about their visit to Portland. So I did my part: Mowed the yard, cleaned out the flowerbeds, etc. And for the most part, I'd say the other residents did, too.

But no matter how nice my property looks, I always get the same question: "What is that awful smell?"

So I have to explain for the thousandth time that the "awful smell" is the Tyson plant. This is only the second summer I have lived out here. I called the city offices last summer numerous times, and always heard, "It's Tyson." I even talked to someone at the wastewater treatment plant and heard several excuses: Tyson is redoing their wastewater system; we've had too much rain; we haven't had enough rain; it'll smell better soon.

Again this summer, I have called the city (as have others, the lady from the city told me) about the smell. Oh, by the way, the "smell" is the overpowering smell of sewage. It smells for days at a time. It doesn't matter if the windows are open or closed; the smell gets inside the house. Sometimes it gets so bad that it gives me a headache. Forget about working outside in the yard. The smell is unbearable.

I know that city officials cannot possibly live out this way or I'm sure it would have been fixed by now. Those of us that own property along Tyson Road have a right to be in our yards or our houses and not have to smell sewage. I know that Tyson employs a large number of people, but they are not being good neighbors.

And the city of Portland is letting them get by with it.

I urge the residents along Tyson Road and in that area to call and complain when it smells. Maybe if they get enough complaints, they will actually do something instead of making excuses.

Sara Berry

Portland

One question

To the editor:

One question. How can the city (Portland) fine someone for weed control when they don't mow their own?

Carl Gierhart

Portland

Good people

To the editor:

What is the fair without good people? Thank you to the good people who donated door prizes, worked with readying the exhibits, greeted visitors or stopped by to play our games.

There were 2,332 pop tabs and 422 Legos in our guessing games.

Thanks to the wonderful ladies who presented our programs. Without all of these good people, there would be nothing in the women's building.

Remember that any resident of Jay County 18-or-older may enter projects at no cost to you. We also have youth entries available for ages 8-and-younger through age 17. It is never too early to start planning for 2009. Look for our entry books starting in June 2009.

Plan now to make something "Divine for '09."

Jane Bailey, chairman,

open class exhibits,

Women's Building,

Jay County Fairgrounds[[In-content Ad]]