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FREE AppalachianThe June/July 2017 VOICE Hidden Treasures Fishing and Swimming Spots Reclaiming Mountains Communities Create Opportunities Special Section Appalachian Voices on Lands Scarred by Mining Celebrates Larry Keel on Fishin’ and Pickin’ | Carbon Offsets in Appalachia A note from our team A note from our executive director AppalachianVOICE This year, Appalachian Voices celebrates our 20th anniver- A publication of On weekend mornings, my 18-month old son sary. In the center section, we recognize our accomplishments Environmental News From Around the Region AppalachianVoices and I walk our long gravel driveway — he watches and reflect on the work ahead to protect Appalachia’s natural out for puddles to splash in, and I watch him against treasures while fostering a just, healthy economy. Agricultural Runoff Defiles Shenandoah River NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 a backdrop of mist rising from the ridgelines above The effort to bring the benefits of clean energy to communi- Communities Push Back Against VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 ties impacted by coal is already underway. Below, Adam Wells, By Carl Blankenship creased levels of phosphorus and E.coli. Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA • Raleigh, NC our home. The connection between these ancient Algae growth due to high phospho- mountains, this child, the six generations of our fam- our New Economy program manager, shares his perspective on White Supremacist Groups On April 26, the watchdog group AppalachianVoices.org | [email protected] ily who have lived in this holler and the generations our exciting solar progress in Southwest Virginia. rus levels from the runoff can severely By Lou Murrey such as “Rednecks against Racism.” Environmental Integrity Project re- For the future, harm wildlife in waterways, and con- EDITOR.................................................. MOLLY MOORE to come is profound. leased a report saying the Shenandoah At the rally, one local Pike County suming water with high concentrations ASSOCIATE EDITOR.......................... ELIZABETH E. PAYNE Appalachian Voices’ work here in Southwest Tom Cormons, Executive Director On April 29, citizens of Pikeville, River had been polluted by livestock ONSULTING DITOR AMIE OODMAN woman told a reporter from the inde- C E ............................. J G Ky., Central Appalachia, and beyond of E.coli can make humans ill, including CONTRIBUTING EDITOR............................. BRIAN SEWELL Virginia reflects these connections — we’re nurturing production and sections of the river pendent media network Unicorn Riot, vomiting and diarrhea. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER.................... MEREDITH SHELTON something new and energizing against a backdrop to keep wealth here in Southwest Virginia. Our innova- showed up clad in red bandanas on the were unsafe for recreation. SPRING EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.............. CARL BLANKENSHIP “We didn’t really plan on coming down that’s old and familiar. tive approach is gaining traction at the local, state and streets of downtown Pikeville in op- The state of Virginia is supposed SPRING EDITORIAL ASSISTANT................. ADRIENNE FOUTS here, but once we were watching it from The report, which is based on infor- UMMER DITORIAL SSISTANT EREDITH BERCROMBIE to advise the public not to recreate in S E A ..... M A Solar energy is critical to achieving a clean energy federal levels — we’ve received grants this year through position to the white supremacist hate mation from the Virginia Department of SUMMER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT............. RACHEL PRESSLEY afar and we just started thinking about the water when 10 percent of sampling RAPHIC ESIGNER AGGIE HERWOOD economy. But the clean energy revolution can’t create the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Ini- groups that had converged in Eastern G D .......................... M S it and we’re like, we can’t just stand Environmental Quality, says E.coli pollu- GRAPHIC DESIGNER................................. CARRIE HAYES exceeds safe levels of E.Coli. Of the 58 a 21st-century economy in Southwest Virginia unless it tiative and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar in Your Kentucky for the “Take a Stand for tion levels have exceeded more than 100 MARKETING ASSISTANT............................. TYLER BIZJACK here and not go, that’s just as bad as regular sampling sites on the Shenan- MARKETING ASSISTANT............................ JACK POWNELL reaches the deepest hollers of Appalachian coal country. Community Challenge to further these efforts. White Working Families” rally. [the Nazis], so we came down here.” She times the limit for safe water recreation Coal country isn’t the easiest place to make this The Traditional Workers Party doah, 53 exceeded the safe threshold DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Another Season Honey America can repay the people and places that gave the in certain parts of the river, and Virginia continued, “It’s surreal, modern-day between 2014 and 2016. Farm, Alison Auciello, Karen Austin-Clayton, Debbie Bahr, most to our nation’s economic rise by ensuring that happen, and we’re facing plenty of hurdles. Yet there planned the rally intending to work authorities have failed to notify people Nazis. I think they thought they were The report recommends Virginia Becky Barlow, D’Arcy Batson, Shawn Becker, Bob Belton, mountain communities can share in the benefits of a is a growing recognition that our region is at a historic with other white-supremacist groups, who intend to recreate in the river. Charlie Bowles, Lynn Brammer, Ben Bristoll, Steve Brooks, welcome here but they’re not.” develop a system to manage manure, clean energy future. crossroads. Many in my community are eager to di- including the National Socialist Move- Manure from livestock in the area Teri Brown, Christa Brusen, Bill Bunch, Derek Burke, Rob Pikeville isn’t the only place in require farms to have nutrient manage- We’re working to accelerate the development of versify the economy and see an ever-widening path ment and the League of the South, surrounding the river is used as fertil- Campbell, Sarah Caskey, Charlie Chakales, Shay and Kim Appalachia resisting messages of forward. We hope you’ll join us in the movement to to create a “National Front” in order ment plans, tighten inspections and en- Clanton, Cara Cooper, Dave Cooper, George Cortesi, Carly the solar industry in Southwest Virginia. izer, but it is applied in excess and leaks hate. On May 15 in Charlottesville, forcement on cattle farms and increase Crickenberger, Darlene Cunningham, John David, Sister In May, we co-hosted a Solar Fair in Wise County to build a just, clean future for the region. to strengthen racist organizing in the into groundwater to later be washed Beth Davies, Deborah Deatherage, Clint Dye, Bill Elliott, Va., hundreds of people gathered for the frequency of bacteria monitoring. showcase the benefits of solar and launched “Solarize United States. All three of those groups into waterways, contributing to the in- Jakob Elliott, Nels Erickson, Frank Frey, Joe Geiger, Dave For our communities, a “vigil against hate” in response to Wise” to make it cheaper and easier for people in the are designated as hate groups by the Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Lisa Goodpaster, Bruce Gould, Janet a rally protesting the removal of a county to install solar panels on their homes. Southern Poverty Law Center. Mascara Wands to the Rescue for Appalachian Wildlife Hagy, Bill Harris, Jackie Havenaar, Susan Hazlewood, statue of Robert E. Lee the night be- Sharon Helt, Tim Huntley, Mary K., Dennis Keeney, Allison Along with local partners, we’re identifying solar Citizens of Eastern Kentucky A donation program, Wands for Wildlife, ple to host their own local “Wandraisers” to fore, which was led by known white Keith, Frances Lamberts, Carissa Lenfert, Susan Lewis, projects for schools, low-income housing and other sites had been vocal in their opposition has gone viral along with images of small benefitthe project, and provides a printable Loy Lilley, Joy Lourie, Diane Lucas, Gail Marney, Kate Adam Wells to the presence of hate groups in supremacist Richard Spencer. animals being combed with mascara wands. “Wandraiser” poster and forms for mailing and developing workforce and supply chain solutions The “Wandraiser” collects mascara the wands. — Carl Blankenship McClory, Kim McClure, Rich McDonough, Mike McKinney, New Economy Program Manager their community from the time the The response to the presence of Linda Meyer, Steve Moeller, Nick Mullins, Catherine Murray, white supremacists in Appalachian wands, which Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Don O’Dell, Rob Osborne, Adam Pendlebury, Tessa rally was announced. A University of uses to clean fly eggs and larvae from communities has been varied in tactics Perkins, Rick Phelps, Patti Phelps, Stephanie Pistello Chase Pikeville student organized a counter- the fur of rescued animals. The volunteer, New Entrance Fee for WV Pugh, Bronwyn Reece, Carol Rollman, Kristin Rouse, Jenny environmental & cultural events demonstration, the “Rally for Equal- but unified in message: “hate is not nonprofit refuge coordinates wildlife reha- Rytel, Debbie Samuels, Steve Scarborough, Gerry and Joe GET INVOLVED welcome here.” As one local organizer bilitation efforts in Western North Carolina. State Parks and Forests See more at appvoices.org/calendar ity and American Values” to be held Scardo, Frank Schaller, Susie Seiler, Kathy Selvage, Brenda Roan Mountain Firefly Gathering of the Pikeville counter-protest

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