Nexus - 0805 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Reaching for a stack of papers and docu- ments, Gumz shows pictures of humped-up cows and others with open sores that began to show up on the herd in 1997. "This stuff is real, it's there." The pizza is finished. She calls to her son to get ready. "You know, most of us are happy to be living in the country and to be called farm- ers," she said. "It's gotten to the point that we're called stupid..." Gumz stops and blinks back the tears. She walks past the guardian angel plaque and leaves for church. oo Just a few minutes after her husband ments, Gumz shows pictures of humped-up James leaves to milk the cows, Grace cows and others with open sores that began Gumz arrives home from her job. She _ to show up on the herd in 1997. "This stuff quickly tidies the kitchen and puts ona __ is real, it's there." frozen pizza in the pizza oven that was an The pizza is finished. She calls to her anniversary gift from James. There's just son to get ready. enough time for a quick meal before she "You know, most of us are happy to be needs to leave again to teach her son's reli- _ living in the country and to be called farm- gious studies class at church. ers," she said. "It's gotten to the point that Gumz has asked her pediatrician for we're called stupid..." medical information about the possible Gumz stops and blinks back the tears. effects of high-frequency current on her She walks past the guardian angel plaque three children. "All of the utilities say and leaves for church. oo there is no documentation and my pediatri- cian gave me at least a one-half-inch-thick packet of documentation," Gumz said. Editor's Note: Chris Hardie's article was originally we ‘ «a veal had j 4. published as "Electricity's Dirty Little Either they're doing a real bad job or it's Secret" in the La Crosse Tribune, all a cover-up." . . od ; re Wisconsin, USA, on Sunday 6 February She wipes the table with a dishcloth and 2000. It can also be accessed via the puts down some dinner plates. "I shouldn't Tyipun¢'s website at www.lacrossetribune. be tired in my own home. My husband — ggm, shouldn't have to come home walking like For further information, news updates a 60-year-old man. He shouldn't wake up and links on stray voltage, visit the website crying because he's in so much pain. www.strayvoltage.org, set up by the La What's this doing to my kids? I want to be Crosse Tribune and funded in part by the taken care of. I just get so angry..." Pew Center, an organisation devoted to Gumz pauses, her voice choking and civic journalism projects; also see the eyes watering. "It's just so pathetic." website www.toxicelectricity.com. worn power poles on the way to the Beyerl farm. He says he never paid much atten- tion to them until he became involved in the stray voltage issue. "Now I look at them all the time," he said. Stetzer knows that his confrontational style and the letters he has written to state officials have made him an outcast to some. Along with putting his reputation and 21- employee business on the line, he claims he has poured $2.5 million of his own money—along with $2 million from his partner Graham—in research that includes computer monitoring of more than 6,000 cows in several states. This money he says he will never recoup because he's got "nothing to sell". "If I charged the Beyerls my normal rate of $150 an hour, they'd owe me $500,000," Stetzer said. "This isn't about money. I spend 21 hours a day on this. The three hours I'm supposed to be sleeping I keep a pencil and paper next to my bed. Yes, it's consumed me. It's obsessed me. I could lose everything." com. For further information, news updates and links on stray voltage, visit the website www.strayvoltage.org, set up by the La Crosse Tribune and funded in part by the Pew Center, an organisation devoted to civic journalism projects; also see the website www.toxicelectricity.com. NEXUS = 83 The Dangers from Stray Electricity in the Ground Continued from page 16 INCOMPETENCE OR A COVER-UP? AUGUST —- SEPTEMBER 2001 www.nexusmagazine.com