Property owners in the Loogootee and Jasper areas are outraged after the Mid-States Corridor sent a letter ordering owners to access their property.

On Sunday, it was reported by Wayne Flick on Facebook that property owners affected by the Mid-States Corridor will face possible arrests as a final warning before going to court.

The statement read in part, “This is a final notice before court action is take to access your property. If you were added to the list in error, contact our team within three days.”

The statement sent to property owners affected by the Corridor continued to mention surveyors will visit the properties to check on the trees and infrastructure on any property surveyed for the Tier 2 Study. The current study is poised to map location and plan for the required ecosystem development to help them build the highway near one’s property affected in the zone.

This is not just outraging residents, this is making them furious.

The political advocacy group against the Corridor, “Stop The Mid-States Corridor” said in a statement posted last night on their Facebook page, “This is a copy of the notice that the Lochmueller Group has been sending out to property owners regarding authorization to survey people’s land. While we find the intent of the letter threatening, we are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.”

The account said, “What we highly encourage anyone that has received a notice is to make sure when they do come that they have a court order in hand. If they do not, you have the right to ask them to come back with the court order. We also encourage people to video the interaction or record it on your phone. At that point it is at your discretion whether or not to allow them to do the survey.

“At this time we have no verification if they will take legal action or not. Whatever you decide, please, please DO NOT use violence or physical force against the surveyors. When they are surveying, please be sure to document any damage that is done to your property as they will be liable for any damage.”

Many residents have been furious over the handling of the Corridor in the last four years, but many residents say this has been taken to the most extreme measure possible to as they say, get what they want.

There have also been reports by the political advocacy group stating farmers have been arrested by state officials.

On a recent interview with WTHI Channel 10 News in Terre Haute, Jason McCoy who is a property owner in Martin County said a riveting statement on the Corridor and it’s impact on what will happen to his property. “It’s not just about the loss of farmland and loss of property, it’s about the loss of our way of life…”

Taking action have been increasingly difficult for people to voice their opinions on the matter according to reports as many are fighting to keep their land safe and away from being plowed and have a highway built.

We at The Loogootee Times will have more on the Mid-States Corridor that has affected our area an in-depth three month investigation that will be released two days before Election Day to help voters comprehend more about what the Corridor means to many.

If you have any information to help us chat please email our Editor-in-Chief at braydynlents09@gmail.com.