The Curse of the Lake Winds Energy Refinery

[XLFD]

CAMBRIDGE TWP., Mich. —

An investigation continues into a motorcycle crash Sunday that killed an Onsted man and seriously injured his wife.

Darren Lee Owens, 50, was pronounced dead at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo after the motorcycle he was driving west on U.S. 12 near Brix Highway crashed at 2:15 p.m., Cambridge Township Police Chief Larry Wibbeler said today.

Wibbeler said two westbound cars were stopped on U.S. 12 waiting to turn left onto Brix Highway when Owens came up from behind, but was unable to stop in an assured clear distance. He laid his cycle down and skidded past the two cars without hitting them.

Owens and his wife and passenger, Bonnie Owens, 49, were taken by medical helicopter to Mercy St. Vincent. Bonnie Owens was in stable condition today, Wibbeler said.

Both were wearing helmets, Wibbeler said. Neither speed nor alcohol are suspected as factors at this time, he said.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1602165545/Motorcycle-crash-kills-O...

Darren served as the lead project manager for Consumers Energy's Lake Winds Energy Refinery (Park) currently being constructed in southern Mason County.  White Construction Project Manager Rex Roberts said "Bad things aren't supposed to happen to good people, and he was a good person."

 

I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to his wife, and hope she has a speedy recovery.  But is this just the beginning of what might be called the "Curse of the Lake Winds"? 

This project was developed over a period of years before the general public was informed of it.  Agreements with gag orders were made, zoning policy was passed in the background, and backroom deals went on.  Many people in Riverton and Summit Townships had no say in the whole deal, and now have to live with what Consumer's Energy, County Officials, and selfish neighbors have foisted on them, whether they like them or not. 

Such energies have a way of taking on a life of their own; the despair and anger of the disenfranchised landowners combine with the the greed and the cheating of the others.  If you believe in the concept of karma, you just may think there's some going on here, and more to come. 

After all, the County Commissioner elections are less than a week away and it is likely that several of those who are running are going to lose their $1000 a meeting job as a result of their actions in not vetting the whole process and talking with their constituents.  And so we may just have a slew of political deaths next week, all from ...

 

THE CURSE OF THE LAKE WINDS ENERGY REFINERY

[Willy]

Funny. I was thinking the same thing when I heard this story. I feel bad for his family and wife and I hope she recovers. I hope there isn't a curse but if there is it should locate one of the main instigators of this "green energy" idea and give her a good scare. I am of course speaking about Granholm.

[XLFD]

A good curse has to start somewhere, and just in case your reading this and wondering about curses that happen because you have desecrated something (in this case, the public trust, and beautiful rustic farmlands), here's an article on the curse that started it all:  King Tut's Curse

[Steve Smith]

I don't know what your motives were for writing this article, but if you were aiming to cause pain and add insult to injury, congratulations, you have profoundly succeeded!  By using this terrible tragedy as fuel for your political fire, you have deeply wounded the family of a great man.  You have angered and hurt a young woman who is trying to be strong for her recovering mother, and you have enraged the man that is proud to be Darren's son-in-law.  I hope you are proud of your "Curse."  I am willing to bet that if you had actually known Darren, you would be surprised by how much you had in common.  You might have even had the honor to call him a friend.  For the family's sake, I hope you don't let this "curse" spread.  I too am for free speech, but not when it is done with the safety of online anonymity with malicious intent.

[Willy]

It wasn't anyone's intention to make light of his death or make his family feel bad. It is a tragedy for the family and I feel badly for them. That being said, what kind of emotion do you think all of the people who were the unwilling recipients of those monstrous towers being installed next to their dream homes was and still is. The hurt they are feeling by the betrayal of Consumers and the County which couldn't have cared less about them and literal shoved them down everyone's throats under secrecy and backroom deals. By associating himself with the project Mr. Owens then became part of that betrayal and deceit. The following statement which was issued by a White Construction employee is rather ironic. White Construction Project Manager Rex Roberts said "Bad things aren't supposed to happen to good people, and he was a good person."

Well what about all of the citizens and residents of the affected areas where these towers were installed. They consider themselves good people and what has happened to them is certainly bad but I haven't heard anything regarding their pain being mentioned by White Construction or Consumers. Again, I'm sure that everyone feels badly for Mr. Owens family and I send my condolences.

[AQUAMAN]

In defense of the landowners of Mason County, I totally agree Willy, well said. As for Darren Owens, he had a job to do, and his untimely death/accident, has no bearing on what transpired here in Mason County, he was only a pawn in the general mix of this project imho, and I also send my condolences.

[XLFD]

Steve, I assure you that was not my intention.  Willy's post encapsulates the general idea, and my original post had nothing bad to say about Darren, only about the process that was used inside our county that led to his working up here. 

His death was a sad event, and if you'll notice, I have made a long term group called BUMPS (Bicyclists United with Motorcyclists and Pedestrians for Safety), an organization made to make the roads safer for the vulnerable users of the road which I post on regularly here.

"Bad events" that happen after a desecration of an area have traditionally led to the local natives suggesting a "curse" might be in place.  And if you happened to have a beautiful tract of land in Riverton Township and fought against these turbines being snuck in without any thought to safe setbacks or any other concern, a desecration has occurred.  Much like looting the hallowed ground of a burial mound.   

 

[Steve Smith]

I highly respect your activities regarding the safety of cyclists and motorcyclists, as I am an avid cyclist and triathlete, but to say that this terrible event was "karma" is outright hurtful.  To quote Darren's daughter, "This makes me so mad, this guy didn't even know my dad."  It may not have been your intention to hurt anyone, and I'm sure you never guessed that his family would see this, but know that we hold Darren in the highest regard.  It saddens me that anyone would remember him as anything but a great man.  I understand that his project was intrusive, but that in no way reflects upon him as a person.  I am sorry if Consumers has angered you, but please do not view Darren as a pawn of evil.  He was a great Christian man who will be greatly missed. 

[XLFD]

And I will not say that he wasn't a great man, nor would I respect any person who didn't know the man that was Darren Owens and who made his affiliation to this Consumer's Energy project a reason to villify him and his memory to be read by those who loved him.

But neither do I hold any contempt for Lord Carnarvon, Howard Carter or anyone else who opened up King Tut's tomb, and became part of the "curse" legend of that pyramid.  In this case, the actual curse will be found to pre-date your father-in-law's regrettable demise once the public gets wind of what actually happened these last few years. 

Let me formally offer my sincerest sympathies to your wife, and everyone else who knew and loved this man.  I regret distracting all of you from your fond remembrances of him at this time.

 

[Willy]

Steve

I know your family is in pain and this topic hits a nerve but for the rest of us who have to live with what Mr. Owens has done,  is a continuing saga. I really don't want to be saying this but some of your comments beg to be answered. Mr. Owens fully understood how his project affected hundreds of people who live in the area where the towers are being installed and chose his profession knowing how it affects people emotionally and financially. There are life long neighbors whose friendships have ended with the installation of these towers and feuding between residents is tearing the community apart. There are huge financial losses suffered by people whose property values have plummeted and who are unable to sell their homes to escape these monstrous turbines. I don't consider Mr. Owens a pawn but a player since he was the lead project manager and was therefore the person in charge with installing these giant eyesores. Again I am sorry for the loss of your friend but as they say, "life goes on" and the emotional and financial pain which is raining down on the citizens of Mason county will continue for years to come. 

[Steve Smith]

Willy,

This isn't about Consumers or the wind project, it is about the use of my father-in-law as an anti-martyr of sorts.  Anyone would be upset by an article (and comments) such as this following the death of a loved one, regardless of what that person's profession was.  Again, I am sorry that this project has displaced people, but I am not here to defend Consumers.  DARREN chose his profession because he wanted to help people just like you.  It is clear to me that no one wants to address the issues that I initially brought up.  I never intended for this to be about the wind project, I was merely defending the legacy of Darren. 

[Colleen Plummer]

Like it or not karma is a part of our lives. Living within an area at one time where many practiced Voodoo, after witnessing unexplained events, I can tell you there is some merit to "Karma". I just lost my father this past week so I know what this family is going through. I am sure he was a wonderful person and am sorry his family has to be exposed to statements like this. But working in the position he was in as a facilitator for the wind park, unfortunately he has been placed by others in an unfortunate light. Peace be with his family. This is/was a political issue and unfortunately some people will find a coloration, as ridiculous as it might seem to some.This is unfortunate innocent people have to be hurt. Those in control sneaking about ignoring the health/welfare concerns of their constituents fostered this ugly environment..... On the other hand, lets not forget about the deadly issue of the combination of sour gas lines and 50 story wind turbines. The sour gas leak north of Ludington that killed 91 head of cattle along Lincoln River that hovered for 2 1/2 days settling in a day care center causing a baby and toddler to be revived. No, we here in Summit Township haven't had a disaster happen like this "yet", but I wonder what those who signed on and were part of this project will think if one should happen? If there were to be errors with this project, wouldn't it be best to error on the side to save lives?? Concerns for those lives within the potential danger area were/are ignored. How would anyone like to live within a lethal threat 24/7 knowing the possibility exists you and your loved ones would not wake up the next morning? When people use lies to justify bad behavior, it begets more of the same behavior.....

[AQUAMAN]

Keen observation and well said Colleen.