Free The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County by Jerry Apps

museum’s meeting room when Emily Higgins called out in a loud voice, “May I have your attention, please?” In an instant the room was so quiet that you could hear a chair squeak.
    â€œMost of you who read the Argus are aware that our Economic Development Council has been in discussions with the Alstage Sand Mining Company of La Crosse, and that the company has its eye on the Link Lake community for the development of a new sand mine.”
    Heads were nodding. The news of Alstage’s interest had spread rapidly throughout the community. As was typical, about half of the people in Link Lake thought it was a great idea and the other half had concerns about having a sand mine so close by.
    â€œI have just learned,” Emily said, catching her breath, “that the Alstage Sand Mining Company plans to open their sand mine in Increase Joseph Community Park.”
    A gasp went up from the audience. Members of the historical society knew the park’s history and couldn’t imagine that any commercial development would ever take place there.
    â€œAnd even worse,” she continued, “rumor has it that the company plans to build a road into the park and they want to cut down the Trail Marker Oak, which would stand in their way.”
    â€œThey can’t do that,” said someone from the back of the room.
    â€œI’m afraid they can,” said Emily, “if the village board votes approval of building a sand mine in the park. Why, for heaven’s sake, locate a sand mine in the park in the first place, you might ask? Why not somewhere else? Well, word is that the village will not only gain with more jobs, but they will receive a percentage of the revenue from sales of the sand. Since the Great Recession, the village’s budget has suffered. The village board sees the sand mine as solving all of their problems.” Emily had a heavy tone of sarcasm in her voice, for she had little faith in the village board and, in her mind, their often misguided decision making.
    The meeting went on for more than an hour with people lamenting the possibility of losing the Trail Marker Oak and several suggesting strategies to save the famous old tree.
    â€œLet’s hold off a bit until I learn more,” Emily said. “I plan to meet with Billy Baxter at the Ames County Argus tomorrow as a first step.” With that she adjourned the meeting, although several people stayed on to talk about the possibility of a sand mine coming to Link Lake and what that would mean for the future of the village.
    E mily Higgins showed up at the offices of the Ames County Argus in Willow River the next morning. Her face was red and she had fire in her eyes. In recent years Baxter had gained a renewed respect for older people who stood up for what they believed and weren’t reluctant to speak their minds. Emily Higgins surely fit into the category.
    â€œHave you heard the latest about the Alstage Sand Mining Company?” she blurted out. There was no hello, no good morning, no how are you.
    â€œGood morning, Emily,” Baxter said. “And how are you this fine morning?”
    â€œYou hear where they’re going to locate the sand mine?” she said, as if she had not heard Baxter’s greeting.
    â€œWell, I did hear that the village of Link Lake plans to lease part of their park to the mining company,” Baxter said, wondering what else he didn’t know about the mining company’s plans and deciding he’d better get busy and find out more.
    â€œThey are planning to cut down the Trail Marker Oak,” Emily cried. “They . . . are . . . planning . . . to . . . cut . . . down . . . the . . . Trail Marker Oak,” she repeated slowly.
    â€œI must say I don’t know much about the Trail Marker Oak,” Baxter said.
    â€œYou don’t know . . . you don’t know the history of the Trail Marker Oak?” Emily could scarcely speak, she was so