Residents near the Walker/Blount County, Alabama line in the community of Empire, and as far away as Ricetown and Smoke Rise, ten miles from Empire, are not happy with Cupps Coal Yard and the Walker County Commission. And they are setting up to blast back at the coal yard and its destructive way of doing so-called "legitimate business."
C-3 explosive blasts are going off regularly, sometimes as many as thirty an hour, and it's damaging not only the residents homes, but their nerves are shot too. One former US Veteran says it reminds of him of his war service--his battlefield memories are not pleasant. Nor is it something he expects years later in his own backyard.
The Walker County Commission says that Cupps is a "legitimate business operating within the law." What part of that law as they see it says it's okay to destroy people's homes?
Attempts by CBS 42 and the Blount Countian newspaper to the company have gone unanswered. They're not the only ones ducking and hiding. State Fire Marshall Paulk did not return the Blount Countian's phone calls for their February 23 new story on the issue. Mr. Paulk's idea of a solution sounds like something out of "You might be a redneck if:"
It is thought that the blasting being done is within legal limits as determined by State Fire Marshal Edward Paulk, but the newspaper’s calls to Paulk had not been returned at press time. According to reports, Paulk has asked the operator of the business to construct a “blasting curtain” made of telephone poles with tires suspended from metal cables running between the poles to absorb some of the noise and concussion from the open-air explosions, which are reported to come only minutes apart at certain times of the day.The newspaper has so far been unable to confirm the above information with the state fire marshal, but will continue its efforts.
Walker County has long been overly friendly to big coal, but this time the Empire will strike back at the mine and the Walker County Commission with some not so friendly verbal explosions of their own.
Posted by Winger
Posted by Winger
I have a friend who lives in the area who says it is like a war zone out there, constant blasting one right after the other. Her kids are scared and nervous and afraid to be outside. Sometimes pieces of rock come flying into the people's yards and it's a wonder no one has been hurt, yet.
ReplyDeleteThe commission is not helping and does not seem to really care.
People who live in that area are not sophisticated, they're just good average people who want to live in peace and safety.
That's not anything close to what they have now.
It has taken the media too long to cover this, but finally they have and hopefully it will help.
Thank you for doing the same.
I feel sorry for you folks and hope your story will continue to be followed.
ReplyDeleteI hate the way this state declares war on the little people in favor of big business.
Cupps was involved in a court case alleging fraud and the like in the late 1990's that kept him from making a contract with Birmingham Coal & Coke.
ReplyDeleteHe lost the case.
He's a dirty boy.
So is the Walker County Commission.
I am glad that CBS 42 picked this up, but what took them almost a month?
ReplyDeleteIf that was a well to do neighborhood this would not be a story, because there would be none of this going on.
ReplyDeleteLooks like just trying to get by people, like most of us, so just go on ahead and conduct your "legitimate business" with our blessings.
What BS!
They have different ways of doing that blasting, ways that dont cause noise pollution and enviromental pollution. I am a truck driver and have seen a system for this in Bloomington, Il with my own eyes.
ReplyDeleteOK people, look out we have a Cupps running for county commission.That's all we need,we already have a commissioner that rented land to kenneth cupps.If mike cupps becomes commissioner we'll be in deep crap.It not the county CLOWNS,don't forget our state rep Reed he is the one that said we had on property rights.What ever we do,we have to put a stop to this!
ReplyDeleteTG
DeleteDo you have an opposition group with a web site?
MAX