SHERBURNE – Flooding, unanswered questions, and more rain could have been stifling obstacles in the quest to vanquish the threat posed by New York Regional Interconnect Inc. However, these recently dubious themes of Chenango County have only proven the resilience in the local character, said citizens, officials and grassroots organizers at a rally against the power line over the weekend in Sherburne.

“You can’t let rain stop you,” said Sherburne resident Myrtle Crandall. “It’s a small thing compared to these lines.”

Roughly 100 people from around the county gathered in Gaines Park under a steady downpour Saturday to hear songs, speeches and support through the voice of Sherburne, speaking on this day for all the communities within the 190 miles that the transmission line would cross.

“I want to thank Mother Nature again,” said Earlville resident and STOP NYRI co-chair Eve Ann Shwartz, “for proving that nothing can stop the grassroots effort to defeat this NYRI power line.”

Albany-based NYRI announced at the end of March that it is planning to gain approval to construct a high-voltage, 1,200 megawatt direct-current transmission line from Marcy to New Windsor. The line would bisect eight counties with 115 foot tall steel towers, going through 44 miles of Chenango.