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June 16, 2006
WNC regional planning commission opposes “devastating”
new interstate
March 22, 2006
Stop I-3 Coalition to hold public information
meeting in Clarkesville
February 22, 2006
More county commissions vote to oppose
I-3 corridor
February 6, 2006
Macon County commissioners vote to oppose interstate
corridor
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For immediate release, February 22, 2006
More county commissions vote to oppose I-3 corridor
Two additional sets of local elected officials, the county
boards of
commissioners in Cherokee County, N.C., and Lumpkin County,
Ga., have voted
to oppose construction of the Interstate 3 corridor in Southern
Appalachia.
The Lumpkin resolution, adopted unanimously Feb. 16, opposes
the
“proposed interstate regional highway so long as any
portion of the highway
passes through north Georgia.”
The Cherokee commissioners unanimously passed a motion on
Monday, Feb.
20 opposing Interstate 3 and will instruct the county attorney
to draft a
formal resolution.
Cherokee thus becomes the third county in Western North Carolina,
and
Lumpkin the fifth county in north Georgia, to formally come
out against a
route that would cut a wide swath through Southern Appalachia
on its way
from Savannah to Knoxville, via Augusta.
Macon and Clay counties in North Carolina and Habersham,
Rabun, White
and Towns counties in Georgia have previously adopted similar
resolutions
(details of which are all contained on The Stop I-3 Coalition’s
website at
www.StopI-3.org.)
"These latest actions are clearly indicative of the
sweep of growing
momentum against this ruinous interstate.", said Elizabeth
Wells,
Chairperson of the Stop I-3 Coalition. "We have repeatedly
been told by
Congressman Norwood, Isakson and Chambliss, sponsors of I-3
construction,
that if we do not want this road it will not happen. Are they
listening to
their constituency? Will they honor their word?
"It is unfortunate indeed when our elected officials
refuse to speak
with us as has been the case with these three gentlemen. Are
they going to
insist on the official study, now getting underway, being
as closed as they
have been to public participation? If so, we have a prime
example of
democracy at risk. The people are speaking. Who is going to
listen?" Wells
added.
The coalition represents a growing confederation of community
organizations and conservation groups located in the four-state
Appalachian
region. It is dedicated to stopping an unneeded highway that
it believes
would do irreparable harm to mountain economies, forests,
farms, and
streams, and to rural qualities of life rooted in a strong
sense of place.
Contact:
Elizabeth Wells, (706) 878-2030
Joe Gatins, (706) 782-9944
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