Let me tell you a little story about The Fenhalloway River. About a year before I moved to that area as a kid in the early 80’s, some reporter came to report on it. Some locals assaulted her buy burning her with cigars and cigarettes, then pouring the river water into her burns.
I remember wandering some places with my step brother. One spot was along that river. The spot was out there, but still on a decently used dirt (sand) road. We got to the end and to an area we heard was a swimming hole. This was before we heard the river was badly polluted. It was littered with empty bullet casings, KKK signs and nazi symbols. We noped the fuck out of there quick.
While I lived there, at one point, the EPA provided everyone who wanted it with cases of bottled water. We lived close enough to see the sign over highway 19. A 30 second walk and I could just read it. Our well water stunk of the paper mill and you couldn’t see the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. The EPA water program lasted about a year. Then…nothing. The river wasn’t any cleaner. It was still black coffee. Still smelled of satan’s farts. I just now get the irony of living there and watching Captain Planet.
The mill shut down last year. It will probably take some time before the pollution from it will fade. Decades.
Thankfully for that area, the plant closed last year. It wasn’t profitable anymore. Unfortunately, it and logging are really the only game in that town. They took 2 direct hits from hurricanes in fairly quick succession as well. Keaton beach, Fl is only about a 45 min drive from Perry. Some potato chip company was talking about moving there, but it remains to be seen. If I were them, I wouldn’t with the 2 direct hits. Too much risk.
The entire town got filled with that sulfur smell a few times a day. When we first moved there, we were baffled about the smell. The locals all said; “smells like money.” Even the other kids in school. I never got accustomed to it. It’s a smell that will forever be stuck with me.
Let me tell you a little story about The Fenhalloway River. About a year before I moved to that area as a kid in the early 80’s, some reporter came to report on it. Some locals assaulted her buy burning her with cigars and cigarettes, then pouring the river water into her burns.
I remember wandering some places with my step brother. One spot was along that river. The spot was out there, but still on a decently used dirt (sand) road. We got to the end and to an area we heard was a swimming hole. This was before we heard the river was badly polluted. It was littered with empty bullet casings, KKK signs and nazi symbols. We noped the fuck out of there quick.
While I lived there, at one point, the EPA provided everyone who wanted it with cases of bottled water. We lived close enough to see the sign over highway 19. A 30 second walk and I could just read it. Our well water stunk of the paper mill and you couldn’t see the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. The EPA water program lasted about a year. Then…nothing. The river wasn’t any cleaner. It was still black coffee. Still smelled of satan’s farts. I just now get the irony of living there and watching Captain Planet.
The mill shut down last year. It will probably take some time before the pollution from it will fade. Decades.
This has happened multiple times in the USA. There are so many Erin Brokovich type stories.
If something is causing so much environmental damage, do we need it?
Thankfully for that area, the plant closed last year. It wasn’t profitable anymore. Unfortunately, it and logging are really the only game in that town. They took 2 direct hits from hurricanes in fairly quick succession as well. Keaton beach, Fl is only about a 45 min drive from Perry. Some potato chip company was talking about moving there, but it remains to be seen. If I were them, I wouldn’t with the 2 direct hits. Too much risk.
My God I can’t ever comprehend how people can be so wrong
And like, a LOT of them too
At least when my dog hurts me they don’t try to convince me it’s for my own good too
I didn’t know how gnarly paper mills were, that sucks
The entire town got filled with that sulfur smell a few times a day. When we first moved there, we were baffled about the smell. The locals all said; “smells like money.” Even the other kids in school. I never got accustomed to it. It’s a smell that will forever be stuck with me.