in a Wise County back yard.
Welcome to the Ruggiero home in Wise County. They bought 10 acres, built a nice fence and a barn then bought their 9 year old daughter, Reilly, a horse for Christmas. Now they have to board their horses at a cost of $1,000/month because, as you can see, there is no place left to keep them. The Ruggiero’s 10 acres just happened to be part of the 950 acre Wright lease. Out of that 950 acres of mostly vacant land, the only place Aruba Petroleum found to drill was in the Ruggiero’s backyard.
(See daytime pictures HERE)
Industry likes to claim that the vapor, smoke, steam you see is only sand.
Tim Ruggiero is now a powerful speaker for drilling reform. When he spoke in Fort Worth recently, many in the audience shed tears and everyone was shocked. He received a standing ovation.
Thank You Aruba Petroleum
You can read the entire story, view more videos and many pictures HERE
The now well known view out the Ruggiero kitchen window.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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It going to be 25 degrees tonight. It sure would be nice if Aruba Petroleum would disclose the contents of those "proprietary" chemicals used in fracking like I requested so I could turn on the heat without having to wonder what we are breathing.
Dang, I bet my pipes freeze. =(
Hopefully, they'll be through tomorrow.
Tim, Christine and Reilly,
A Grandparents perspective:
When we approached Tim and Christine's home we could see the rigs from some distance off. I had no idea of the ruin caused by Aruba. The horse pasture was gone, replaced by drilling rigs, trucks, tanks,noise and unidentifiable smells. Their small property had been transformed from a peaceful country setting to an ugly industrial site.
As we turned the corner into their driveway, I noticed tears in my wifes' eyes and her silence told much about how she was feeling. We had come for Thanksgiving as we often do, but this would be much different. Sorrow filled my wife and myself as we noticed how tired our beautiful daughter looked.
It had not been so long ago that we had shared Tim and Christine's joy when they purchased their new home and as they shared their vision to turn it into a sanctuary for themselves and our granddaughter Reilly. A place where Reilly could have her beloved animals and revel in the nature which surrounded her. A pond, a wooded area, and maybe someday a place for horses. Two dogs became four and the home was filled with a menagerie of critters from hamsters to guinea pigs to rabbits and even a whole bunch of praying mantis. The smaller animals often caught a ride on Reilly's head and might show up at the doctors office much to the shock of the physician.
Reilly has always had a deep concern and love for animals and hopes someday to become a vet. Probably her most exciting moment was when Ninya her new horse joined the family last Christmas.
Along with Ninya came Franklin, an incredibly scruffy abandoned stable dog, dog number five. Soon to follow were stables, an enclosed pasture and riding lessons.
An idealic way of life to be sure but it was accomplished through hard work, long hours and persistance. This was to be their home, their santuary, it represented safety and security, a place that was a joy to visit, relax and enjoy our kids and granddaughter. The seemingly perpetual smile on their faces was a tonic to us.
It is gone now, the horse pasture, the horses, the view of the pond, the peaceful setting. It has been replaced by an industrial site with all the inherent noise, smells and pollution. Gone is the property value but more importantly, the peace is gone from the faces of our children.
Kids are resilient but I suspect that Reilly hides her heartbreak very well.
Aruba, I have given you a very personal insight, will the money justify the damage to property and lives? I hope that others will say no!!
Jim and Tommie Edwards, proud parents and grandparents.
Jim and Tommie,
Aruba doesn't care but there are many people on Tim's, Christine's and Reilly's side. We love them and we are pulling for them.