Photo by Raye Levine and Google Earth The town of DISH, TX is pock-marked with numerous gas drilling sites scattered throughout the area. The mayor of DISH will visit the area on February 20.

Small-town mayor battles the industry

By FRITZ MAYER

REGION—The town of DISH, TX, can hardly be called a bastion of anti-capitalism. In 2005, the town of about 200 people changed its name from Clark so that residents could receive free satellite television reception.

But since then, the tiny town has become nationally known for its fight, led by Mayor Calvin Tillman, to get gas drilling companies to clean up their act.

DISH is a place where several gas lines intersect and the town sports many gas wells, as well as 11 gas compression stations. For the past couple of years, residents have complained that the air smelled bad, was making them sick, was causing trees to wither and killing horses.

Early last year, the energy

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Good news for honeybees

Colony collapse disorder update

By FRITZ MAYER

REGION—Thinking about raising honeybees this year? If so, you’re not alone. One beneficial effect of colony collapse disorder (CCD), that mysterious malady that has been causing honeybees to abandon their hives never to return, is that extensive media coverage over the past couple of years has prompted many people to give the natural world a boost by keeping a few hives of their own.

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Part of county jail ordered closed

New jail seems inevitable

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY—The former sheriff of Niagara County, Thomas Beilein, toured the county jail on January 27, and quickly concluded that a portion of the facility was in such bad shape that it needed to be permanently closed.

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Other stories in this issue:

• Gas at a Glance
• PPL power line moves forward
• Honesdale’s Robson well: part 2
• Smith speaks up at milk coop meeting
• Bids for training and 911 facility opened
• Walls exonerated in Shohola

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S