Hyperion Opinions Written On Pavement

People are taking their opinions to the streets when it comes to a proposed oil refinery in Union county. But how they are sharing those opinions is illegal. Refinery opponents are using spray paint to write their message on the roads.

Many people who live around the proposed refinery site in Union county say the debate is getting heated as a June vote on the issue gets closer. But they say whoever spray-painted 'Vote No Hyperion' on the roads, has crossed the line. 

It's a clear message for the people of Union county, 'Vote No,' and it's a message not many are missing. 

Union County resident Mary Erickson says, "We can't figure out why or who's doing it but it's there." 

Large spray-painted messages have been popping up on Union county roads for the last week. The sheriff's office has counted at least 11, 'Vote No Hyperion' messages around the county. Monday night, KELOLAND News found several more that simply read 'Vote No.' 

Erickson says, "If that's the way they gotta do it that's not living." 

Mary Erickson lives in Spink, close to the proposed refinery site. She's opposed to the plan, and says spray paint on the roads is just the tip of the iceberg for what has become an issue that is dividing the county. 

Erickson says, "I think it's going to get pretty hot. Give it another month there will be a lot of people out there doing some things they probably shouldn't be." 

While Erickson agrees with the message, she doesn't agree people should be vandalizing property just to get that message out. 

Erickson says, "I don't like to see people messing up other people's properties." 

But it's clear some think that it's worth the risk to vandalize roads in an effort to stop Hyperion's project.

The Union county sheriff encourages anyone with information about the writing on the roads to call their Crimestoppers hotline. You can remain anonymous and could get a thousand dollar cash reward if the person responsible is arrested and convicted.