The News Connection has been accused, by both sides of the gas drilling issue, of being for, and against, the continuation of that form of energy exploration in Flower Mound and its environs. Perhaps that demonstrates the way different people look at the same articles or editorials. As a newspaper, it’s our job to disseminate issues of significance to our readers and let them decide whether they’re pro or con on a given topic. Those who are informed on the subject realize that the town is dealing with a legal issue; one that doesn’t allow them to prohibit people from accessing their mineral rights. It’s a pretty good bet that elected and appointed officials wish they didn’t have to deal with the problem at all. But, the fact is that people have the right to enter into a contract with gas companies in order to allow drilling on their land. If landowners didn’t sign leasing deals with the companies, the issue would quickly disappear.

     During this agonizingly protracted period, we’ve all seen changes in the landscape that we could live without. In addition, concerns about our air and water, which could be adversely affected by the use of chemicals in the “fracking process,” continue to alarm residents. Add to that the recent reports of childhood leukemia in neighborhoods near the drilling sites and you have a situation that requires the most severe scrutiny. Although there are bound to be some people who would stoop low enough to use this as a campaign issue; when it comes to protecting the health of children, we can all agree that no amount of caution is too much. The health studies being performed by the state will be completed in a few weeks. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that there are no dangerous levels of carcinogens discovered. Once we’re assured that our air and water are safe from contamination, we can begin to adjust to dealing with the other, less onerous, challenges to the aesthetic atmosphere of our town.