Wisconsin has had sand mines for more than 100 years, but the recent exploding demand for them to meet natural gas and oil demand worldwide has created more controversy than ever. In a Newsmakers interview on Jan. 25, four officials talked about how sand-mind developers have targeted rural areas without zoning codes, angering neighbors worried about dust, groundwater contamination and trucks destroying rural roads. Panelists were DNR Waters Division specialist Thomas Woletz, Democratic Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma, Republican Rep. Kathy Bernier of Chippewa Falls and Richard Stadelman, executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association.