**UPDATE: 4:15PM – TransCanada’s Workers Turned Away!
TransCanada’s surveying crews arrived at David’s to set up for Keystone XL construction. They saw our big community rally and turned away! Another delay is another day that David’s home and business will be safe.
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David Hightower and his family are rallying with the community and supporters with Tar Sands Blockade in his front yard for another community cookout and rally to defend his home. We were invited back after the outpouring of support from last Friday’s rally to stop the Keystone XL pipeline from cutting 200ft from his front door and plowing through his home business, a muscadine grape vineyard. His nephew, Jerry Hightower, is happy to see the 25 supporters and affected landowners from across the area who have rallied to support his family farm.
“I heard some of TransCanada’s machinary within earshot this morning. They want to plow right through my uncle’s vineyard that he’s carefully tended by hand for the last 12 years,” said Jerry Hightower. “Now how you gunna do that to someone who’s a veteran? He served this country for 20 years and this is how they are treating him.”
Here’s more from our friends at the East Texas Observer.
In 1957, David Hightower’s parents bought 70 acres of land and moved their family onto the property north of Winnsboro, Texas. The land is rolling and beautiful, and from the time David was three years old he called it home.
David grew up, married, raised a family and spent 20 years serving in the U.S. Air Force. In 1999, David and his wife retired back to his homeplace to start up a vineyard and plant an orchard. They now have 500 running feet of productive muscadine grapes, as well as mature peach, pear, and persimmon trees.
David’s mother, in her 80’s, was approached by TransCanada several years ago with a contract for the Keystone XL pipeline to cross this property. She signed, without fully understanding what this would mean. She has since passed away, and David, while not wanting the pipeline, also didn’t want to cause his mother additional stress in her last years of life by vocalizing his opposition to this project.
The pipeline will take out a good portion of his vineyard and fruit trees. It will be mere feet away from their home. This is not the peaceful retirement that David and his wife envisioned. The destruction to their vineyard and orchard will be immense.
David talked to representatives about just moving the pipeline over a few feet, so at least the vineyard and trees would be spared. TransCanada refused to change the pipeline route.
In David Hightower’s words, “I just wish they would go away”.
The East Texas Observer cannot help but observe the lack of help Texans have received from our elected officials to protect our land from vicious predators such as TransCanada. This pipeline, carrying a bellyful of poison, will benefit no one but TransCanada. Why are thieves being allowed to steal our property?
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greg duval
September 16, 2012 at 1:27 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
This is horrific and disgusting….so sorry that “Trans Canada” (who owns it by the way?) is doing this. Keep up the good fight!
Sherry Kessel
September 18, 2012 at 4:07 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Unfortuately the answer to Mr. Hightower’s question is “Yes. These theives will be able to steal your property.” I am heartsick for him–but thi is all his mother’s fault. She had no business signing papers without fully understanding what she was signing. I hope the Tar Sands people rot in hell.
Sherry Kessel
September 18, 2012 at 4:10 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Just to make things clear: In my prior comment, when I spoke of Tar Sands people needing to rot in hell, I was refering to the TransCanada group–not the Hightower family.
ALMA MILLER
September 18, 2012 at 10:55 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I am Canadian, and I support you. I wish I could send money but I can’t. I hope with all my heart that a stop is put to this and all tar sands and operations.
I will keep you in my thoughts strongly. Good Luck to you. I hope you and others like you have huge strong physical presence.
The illegal leader of my country is in this deep and is happy as the dangerous clown that he is.
Sincerely
Alma
Jill Ochalek
September 18, 2012 at 10:56 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Re: David Hightower’s property north of Winnsboro, TX & the Keystone XL pipeline.
I hope TransCanada changes their mind & does the decent thing (i.e., moves the pipeline over slightly to allow the Hightowers vineyard & orchard to remain unharmed). Sheesh. It’s a no-brainer to me. If they don’t cooperate, I’ll see what I can boycott of theirs.
Margo
September 18, 2012 at 11:29 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Stop raping the country. Enough is Enough!
Margie Lawson
September 18, 2012 at 11:48 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
David I Support You! I Would not Want Them On My Land Either! Keep Putting Up A Good Fight, Alot Of People Respect You For You Efforts!
Joanne Bushman
September 19, 2012 at 12:20 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I wish you the best of luck David. My hopes and prayers are with you and all of the other families being affected by this outrageous action by TransCanada.
Rusty
September 19, 2012 at 12:49 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
We just stopped a super trawler here in Aust with the voice of the people and blockades.If they keep this pipeline going, hell will come to the groundwater when it fractures.It will fracture sometime somewhere thats 100% positive.Its time the people had their say to these corporate empire who feed governments.It has been said by some to go around the vinyard of Hightower,that is just acceptance to a corporation that doesnt care about people and land.Turn them back to where they come from.
Ellen
September 19, 2012 at 3:14 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Dear David,
Many are following your story. Stand Strong with our prayers and strength behind you. Your victory will give us all hope when they come to our door.
THANK YOU.
Ellen
marci lilly
September 19, 2012 at 6:46 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
If your mother didn’t understand then by chance was she diagnosed with dimensia or Alzheimer’s? If she was and u have drs specifically saying so u can fight it legally! She would have been considered not in her right mind and its illegal for anyone not in their right mind to make such decisions. I sure hope u win! Even moving the pipeline just feet over from the vineyard will be extremely hazardous to ur health and the fruit. This makes me sick as we try so desperately to get the land restored .. the government finds more ways to destroy our earth. Its not fair to us, the animals, the food, or our children. Good luck and blessed be all!
Deb
September 19, 2012 at 1:50 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Keep up the good fight!! Let everyone know what’s going on!
Dinah
September 19, 2012 at 2:58 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
What they are trying to do is so WRONG! Good luck, David Hightower!
Sharon Russell
September 20, 2012 at 10:39 pm (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I too am a Canadian, and like (I believe) the majority of Canadians empathize with you. This is not the way to provide energy in your country, or ours. Keep up the good fight, Sharon.
Zel
October 7, 2012 at 2:00 am (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Im disgusted that this should happen, heartless and uncaring, even if you mum did sign something, they could at least ease the pipe over so it saves a productive food growing farm. Im praying for you David and all the other people that this affects. Dirty fuel! we should have renewable power, greedy corporations and governments.
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