The Appalachian Voice

images/voice_uploads/AppalachiaMarchCircle.gif My name is Carl “Pete” Ramey. I am 75 years old. I have worked in the coal industry for 37 years from 1949 until retirement in 1985. All of my financial and health benefits have been provided by the coal industry. I have no desire to damage the coal industry. However, I do not…

South Carolina: USC Opens World’s Largest “Green Dorm” This semester, USC officials and students are celebrating the official opening of South Carolina’s “green dorm,” the largest residence-hall complex of its kind in the world. The “West Quad” complex was built with the hope that “[students] will realize that comfort and ‘green’ are not mutually exclusive,”…

Dear Appalachian Voice, Thanks for bringing attention to the New River in your last issue (“The Watery Heart of Appalachia” Fall, 2004). The good work of the National Committee for the New River deserves to be highlighted – as does the exceptional smallmouth bass fishery in the New River. However, your readers may also be…

West Virginia: New River Gorge threatened by massive development A real estate developer has proposed a 2,200-home development along ten contiguous miles of the rim of the New River Gorge in Fayette County. The Atlanta-based development firm, Land Resource Companies, hopes to complete the purchase of 4,300 acres by the end of February. If it…

Dear Appalachian Voice, I enjoy reading Appalachian Voice and appreciate and support the good work that your organization does for our regional environment. I have a comment regarding Jay Kranyik’s article, “Leaves of Three, Let It Be” in the last (Early Winter 2004) issue. I have always suffered from at least a moderate poison ivy…

The Appalachian Treasures Project brings its four-month spring tour to an end this month. Danny Dolinger took to the road in April to build a national network that will end mountaintop removal coal mining. Danny reports: “It’s been very heartening to meet so many decent, involved people who universally are shocked & appalled when they…

Tennessee: New Law Allows Citizens to Comment on Water Permits On June 7, the Tennessee state legislature unanimously passed a bill that will allow citizens to comment on pollution and water quality permits for the first time in 30 years. Prior to the bill’s passage, when a polluter applied for a permit, there was no…

Dear Appalachian Voice I am a woman who’s life yearning is to help, heal, and save the world and its living beings. I pray many hours a day and night for healing of us and the other living beings including plants and animal kingdoms. I yearn to be praying with others-all people to want us…

Alabama: Snails Back from Supposed Extinction The Nature Conservancy of Alabama has reported that three species of snail thought to have been extinct for decades have been spotted in the Coosa and Cahaba rivers in Alabama. Jeff Garner, a biologist and mollusk researcher for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources stumbled across the…

Dear Appalachian Voices, I recently left the Appalachian region and felt the need to commend you all on your environmental endeavors that protect the vitality of the Appalachians. I am thoroughly impressed with your effort to take action opposing the “Clear Skies Initiative.” Appalachian Voices successfully rallied environmental enthusiasts in a jovial and fun manner.…