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December 21, 2005
Stop I-3 partners with SAFC
December 14, 2005
Stop I-3 Petition Drive Underway
September 7, 2005
Stop I-3 Coalition calls on Congress to redirect
highway money to Gulf reconstruction
August 24, 2005
Mountain residents raise common-sense questions
and concerns about Interstate
August 8, 2005
Norwood goes into "neutral" on I-3 for
constituents in Georgia mountains
August 4, 2005
White County Commissioners Take Strong Stand, Oppose
Interstate 3
July 27, 2005
Federal studies cast doubt on economic benefit of
Interstates
July 26, 2005
Mountain communities organize to fight new interstate
highway
July 9, 2005
Rabun commissioners declare unanimous opposition
to Interstate
July 4, 2005
Rabun residents form Stop I-3 chapter,
Urge large turn-out at board meet Thursday
Press Releases 2008
Press Releases 2007
Press Releases 2006
Press Releases 2005
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For immediate release, August 4, 2005
White County Commissioners Take Strong Stand, Oppose Interstate
3
The White County (Ga.) Board of Commissioners on Tuesday
evening Aug. 2, 2005 unanimously declared its opposition to
a federal proposal to build Interstate 3 through their locale.
The three Commissioners each spoke to a courthouse full
of White Co. citizens who turned out to oppose the interstate.
They are also drafting a letter to their Congressmen stating
their opposition. Some ten speakers, including District 8
State Rep. Charles Jenkins, spoke against building this huge
highway through the mountains and in support of the STOP 1-3
Coalition's position. Rep. Jenkins told the Commissioners,
"We don't want an interstate through the North Georgia
mountains." Jenkins also said he had talked with U.S.
Sen. Johnny Isakson who told him, "If the people of North
Georgia don't want that road, then you're not going to have
it."
White County becomes the third county in northeast Georgia
to officially declare its opposition to this new road. Commissioners
in Habersham and Rabun County previously voiced their concern
and opposition to an interstate which, they say, their constituents
neither need nor want.
The interstate at issue, dubbed "Interstate 3"
by its supporters, would cut through the mountains of north
Georgia on its way from Savannah to Knoxville (via Augusta).
Under federal legislation embodied in the recently passed
federal highway spending bill, the federal Department of Transportation
is required to study the feasibility of costs and possible
routes for this interstate. Funding, originally $400,000 was
more than tripled by U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood to $1.3 million.
Opponents contend this study is nothing but the first step
to fast-tracking a vast roadway, with a right-of-way perhaps
as wide as three and one-third football fields. They say cutting
such a destructive swath would devastate protected mountain
and forest areas and diminish economic bases for recreational
tourism and small local businesses (see two "Economic
Effects" white papers at www.StopI-3.org). Long-time
local residents as well as seasonal visitors, Appalachian
Trail hikers, and area retirees are joining forces based on
their outrage at the I-3 proposal.
STOP I-3 Coalition Chairperson Elizabeth Wells, spoke for
the group, composed of people from four states and representatives
from an increasing number of counties and citizen organizations
opposed to I-3:
"We in the White County STOP I-3 Coalition are delighted
with our County Commissioners' vote to oppose Interstate 3,
not only for White County but for surrounding counties as
well.
"We are most appreciative that our commissioners have
taken time to familiarize themselves with this issue and vote
for unanimous opposition. They have shown courage to stand
strong in their convictions on this matter, joining the commissioners
in Habersham and Rabun Counties. They have made us proud,"
said Dr. Wells.
"We thank our Representative in the Georgia Legislature,
Charles Jenkins, who joined all the concerned, diligent folks
here in White County to support our Commissioners' stand.
Now we move on to host the Regional STOP I-3 Coalition Meeting
on August 23rd at 6 PM at White County High School,"
she concluded.
The STOP I-3 coalition was organized in response to congressional
I-3 proposals, on grounds that there are numerous economic,
environmental, and safety concerns that urge against running
such a huge highway through mountain communities that neither
want nor need such an Interstate.
Local residents and local chapters have banded together
under the STOP I-3 coalition from the following locales: Oconee
County, S.C.; Stephens, Habersham, White, Rabun, Towns, Union
and Lumpkin counties, Georgia; Jackson, Macon, Clay, Cherokee
and Graham counties, North Carolina; as well as residents
of the Maryville and Knoxville, Tennessee, areas.
Contact:
Elizabeth Wells, ewells@georgia-research.com |
