What's in a Name?

As the de-facto communications person, I seriously feel we have some unfinished business that we must take care of before everyone is distracted by the holidays.  We need a name!

name

[neym] noun, verb, named, nam·ing, adjective noun

1. a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.

2. mere designation, as distinguished from fact: He was a king in name only.

3.an appellation, title, or epithet, applied descriptively, in honor, abuse, etc.

4. a reputation of a particular kind given by common opinion: to protect one's good name.

5. a distinguished, famous, or great reputation; fame: to make a name for oneself.

There are a multitude of reasons why:

• We need to make ourselves united and official.
• We need to file paperwork for a LLC for legal reasons.
• We need a common theme to use on everything from signs and flyers to email and websites.
• We only get one name change with the Facebook page.  It by far is our biggest communications medium.
• We need something for letterhead and business cards.

A name should be instant recognition of who we are and what we represent.  It should be short, simple and to the point.  No one wants to remember or have to type www.batesburgleesvillecedargrovecommunityunitedagainstthestutmanquarry.com into their web browser.  More so how will we ever fit that on printed material?

I've put up a "poll" here on the blog to get some feedback on some names.   You can find it on the left column of the main page.  I can't promise the "winner" will "win" (how crazy does that sound?) but it will certainly give us an idea of what the folks like and the direction we should go.  And more than likely it may very well end up being what we use.

Feel free to comment any suggestions here at the bottom of this post. 

(Only a week until Santa, are you ready?)

Meeting Summary

There was great turnout tonight at Cedar Grove Lutheran Church for the first "formal" community meeting against the proposed quarrry.

(Sen. Shealy and Rep. Kennedy Addressing the Group)

Senator Katrina Shealy, Representative Ralph Kennedy, Councilman Todd Cullum and Councilman Frank Townsend were in attendance to show their support for us in preventing the destruction of our communities way of life.  All of them stressed the absolute importance of a continuous letter, phone call, email assault on ALL of the Lexington County delegation in Columbia to include Governor Haley to express our STRONG opposition to this project.  Senator Shealy even stated that the Director of DHEC Catherine Templeton should also receive our attention as well in our blitz.

I would estimate the total attendance was well over 100 people though we surely need a lot more bodies behind this effort.  A lot was accomplished towards the end goal of being a more formal and organized group.  

• Dean Craps was "elected" President of the group by overwhelming majority.  Dean has been actively involved in fighting this from the beginning and knows more about what has been done and what needs to be done than anyone.  Dean also if the face of our group in that he is one of the property owners who is right next to the site.
• Lauren Warmuth was "elected" Vice President again by a majority of the group present.  Lauren has been hard at work since the first community meeting behind the scenes in a lot of the planning and organizing.  She organized the agenda for tonight and magically provided the large maps that were present tonight for citizens to look over.
• Donna Fletcher was chosen to serve as Secretary after some discussion and a second candidate withdrew their name voluntarily.  This type of it's not about me cooperation will be VITAL in this long fight.  Donna has been instrumental as well behind the scenes and offers a very focused, task oriented mentality to this position.
• There was some discussion about a Treasurer and the most obvious answer is Theresa Craps who is a certified CPA.  However both Theresa and Dean are concerned about the appearance this gives and maintaining checks and balances with the financial side of the group.  It was decided to hold off on this vote to give people time to offer another nomination and contemplate qualifications.  This will also give the group time to plan ahead details so if it is Theresa we have those checks and balances in place.

We discussed a logo to use on printed materials and online.  The group overwhelmingly chose one that I hope I can get a digital copy soon to begin implementing into our web presence.

There was some discussion on coming up with a name for our group.  Our main problem is our formal names (Batesburg-Leesville, Hollow Creek, Cedar Grove) are all way too long when they have to match up with something like ----Citizen's Against the Stutman Quarry or ----Preservation Alliance or -----Community Preservation Group.  Ideally the name should be short and something easy  for the citizen's and POLITICIANS to remember.  This is still a work in progress and the executive committee group will be meeting this week to further discuss this.  Once this is finalized, it will also be incorporated into our web presence to include a real web address/URL.

Finally the meeting ended by folks being allowed to break up into 5 basic small groups based upon their interest or professional expertise.  The major categories include (with examples of sub-committees below):

• Executive/Administration
• Legal
• Financial
• Communications

• Environmental
• Air Quality
• Water Issues
• Plants/Animals
• Wetlands
• Geology

• Cultural
• Archaeological
• Historical

•   Quality of Life
• Traffic
• Infrastructure
• Noise
• Dust
• Safety (Vulcan)

• Activism
• Petition Drives
• Recruiting
• Researching and Maintaining Permitting and Other Notifications
• Identifying Locations to Protest/Petition, put up signs, etc.

These list are not all inclusive and are subject to change as needed with additions or deletions.

We really ran out of time for the sub-committees to do much planning or organizing.  We hope to plan a day in early January where all the sub-committee's can get back together and begin their work.  Look for announcements on that and full community meetings in the near future.

What's Your Specialty?

We are less than 24 hours away from our first "formal" (hopefully standing room only) community meeting.

• Community Meeting
• Thursday December 12, 2013 at 6:00 PM
• Cedar Grove Lutheran Church
• 1220 Cedar Grove Road  Leesville, SC

We are excited that Senator Katrina Shealy is as of now scheduled to be in attendance.  Some of our other local and state elected leaders have been  invited as well and may be in attendance.

One of the things we hope to accomplish at the meeting tomorrow is to organize everyone into manageable productive groups.  Dean suggested we have Special Interest Groups (Committees) that can focus on specific issues and problems.  This will alleviate everyone trying to do everything and give folks with special education, skill and knowledge a chance to offer their expertise.

Some of the groups we are looking at forming are:

1. Financial
2. Organizational
3. Legal
4. Communications
5. Water (Waste/Storm/Ground)
6. Air
7. Wildlife
8. Activists
9. Wetlands
10. Archeological
11. Historical
12. Geology
13. Traffic/Infrastructure
14. Quality of Life/Noise/Pollution
15. Property/Real Estate

This list is not all exhaustive and is open for suggestion.  We may add, combine and/or delete as necessary.
Look it over and get an idea before tomorrow night on where you'd like to serve.

A Giant Has Awoken

America was reeling, thrust into a World War on two fronts, multiple continents and two oceans.  Japan's march across the Pacific and the losses in the Philippines made the citizenry hungry for action, for revenge, for anything to lift their spirits.  On April 18, 1942 a group of 80 brave men known as the Doolittle Raiders  flew 16 B-25 bombers on a mission to attack Japan.  Our first "retaliation" for that horrible day 62 years ago. 

This mission did little to truly hurt the Japanese or its military.  It was probably more like an aggravating mosquito at the time.  Even the mission itself didn't go as planned with losses and planes crash landing in places they weren't supposed to be.  However what this mission did was restore the American resolve, morale and spirit. 

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."  Those words were supposedly written in the personal diary of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto sometime after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.  If they truly were penned, they could not have been any truer in foretelling what was to come.

Our Pearl Harbor has passed.  Today however we were the mosquitoes.  County Council voted unanimously to keep Stutman Road open until such time as a court decides otherwise. 

We won a small victory for our neighbors, community and Lexington County to boost our morale, our spirit and our resolve.  A sleeping giant in Western Lexington County has been awakened.  Councilman Todd Cullum described it best when he said that all of county council had "heard you loud and clear" from the hundreds of emails, calls and letters.  Over 400 alone from the online petition.

This was our first skirmish and it was all we had set out to do today.  But there is tomorrow and the day after and next month and next year.  The battle isn't over, the war has not been won, but a sleeping giant has been awoken.

Take the Time

As I sit and contemplate a topic for tonight, one thing from the meeting this past week comes to mind as I think it is one of the single most effective things we can do collectively and the only thing it requires is a little time on your part.

Taking the time to contact our elected officials and voice our concerns and displeasure over this proposed project.

  One of my very first blog entries talked about this so I'm going to plagarize myself and repost most of it right here:

"it is imperative that we start NOW in contacting them through email, letters (yes old fashioned type/write snail mail letter) and phone calls to express our displeasure and objections to this project.

This HAS to be done. If all you do is join a page and hope somebody else makes the call, writes the letter or sends the email then we may as well grab a shovel as start digging that hole ourselves.

There is strength in numbers! Why do you think Vulcan wants to meet one on one? The same reason predators in the wild target one lone prey away from the pack!

The more each one of those ELECTED officials realize how many of us there are, the more attention we get. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Start writing, calling (leave a message, call back) and sending emails!!! Everyone! Not just on a petition. They MUST hear our voices and they must start hearing them now."

I will add this, I think actually writing a letter or taking the time to call is the most important.  So much so that I've update the page with all of the contact information for our elected officials.

But why?  Electronic Mail or zipping off one of those contact forms is so much easier.

The answer itself lies in that statement.  Because it is so easy and so convenient in today's world anyone can fire off a "I don't like this or that" email left and right. I'm sure they are used to receiving those.  But when you take the time to write a letter, address an envelope, buy a stamp and mail it; it means something.  Same thing when you take the time out of your busy day to call or even meet one of the elected officials.  It means something.

I'm not taking away from the electronic means of communication but it is impersonal. I hope you, like myself, take this very personal.

Notes from the Meeting

There was a meeting held on Thursday December 5th that had 50 or so in attendance.  (I'm not good with estimating a large group of people, could of been more or less)  Anyway a few of us had wanted to get together to plan and organize a little better than we could if hundreds showed up.  This is why it wasn't "published" here or on Facebook.  Where we need and want hundreds is this coming Thursday (more on that meeting later).

Mr. Furman Cantrell spoke first and stated he had been in touch with environmental experts and attorneys who provided him a list of 10 important and strategic items we must consider.

1. Spokesperson - We need someone who can speak for the majority.
2. Organization Name - We need a name to represent who we are.
3. Letterhead - All correspondence needs to come from the organization and letterhead will achieve that.
4. Notify - Our first step should be to officially notify the land-owners and Vulcan opposing the project based on fact.
5. Involvement - ANY meetings (like the simple one on Tuesday) we must "pack the room".
6. Agenda - Respect any rules or agendas in meetings, prepare beforehand, know what is expected.
7. Support - Enlist support from any and all environmental groups that already have resources such as Sierra Club and the SC Nature Conservancy.
8. Recorder - Hire (or recruit for our cause) a professional recorder/reported who can accurately record all meetings, etc.
9. Specialist - Hire an Environmental Specialist to represent our interests.
10. Attorney - Hire an Environmental Attorney to represent our interests now and in court (this is going to court I hope we all realize).

So as you see, our work (and the dreaded word money) is cut out for us.  Some of this will be easy.  Some of it hard and costly.  Very costly.  One thing I'd point out is that if we are in, then we need to be all in and prepared to fight this when it gets expensive and when it gets long.  I have more to say about this later.

Mr. Cantrell also mentioned how Avery County NC was able to successfully fend off Vulcan from their community and save a scenic mountainside viewable from the Appalachian Trail.  A book was written about it called "Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail".  I've attached the link to Amazon where copies are still available really cheap.
Here is a link to another article about it.

After discussion from the floor addressing our major concerns, Dean sent a list around for people to sign up for Special Interest Focus Groups (just sounds better than committee).  This list includes things like Air Quality, Water, Quality of Life, Agriculture, etc.  His goal is for each group to focus and learn all they can about these specific issues in regards to aggregate mining.  These lists will be available this Thursday as well for those who want to serve in that capacity.

One final big topic that was discussed was our plan of attack.  I think (correct me if I am wrong) the general consensus was that we need to continue to pressure Lexington County, DHEC and our State and Federal Politicians.  You never know who or what could potentially stop this planned project; maybe a protected woodpecker, maybe Federal concern over the watershed, maybe an ordinance change by county council, maybe pressure on DHEC to deny permits by politicians.

Anything is possible so we must attack and fight on all fronts in one united voice!

Tuesday Council Meeting!

It is IMPERATIVE we show up in droves on Tuesday to let all of County Council know there are real people and real faces behind the petition signatures and we are serious!

The Public Works Sub-Committee of County Council meets at 2:55 on Tuesday December 10th at the Lexington County Administration Building 212 S. Lake Drive in Lexington.  This will NOT be a public hearing and unless addressed no one will be allowed to speak.  The only thing on the agenda as Lauren posted is the report to the committee on traffic counts for Stutman Road.

Again despite this, it is vitally important that we have a grand showing!  They were already advised we would probably pack the house and that the sub-committee meeting may ought to be moved.  I will remind them Monday.  Make plans to attend!

The entire council. agenda can be found here: December 10, 2013 Agenda

DHEC Mining Permit Notification System

Below is from an email received and forwarded around some today courtesy of Bill Barr and Carole Bastian.

All proposed mines in SC must have a mining permit from DHEC.  These must go up for public comment, but they aren't well advertised. So far one for the proposed Stutman Road quarry has not been found as of yet.

 

These are the instructions for how to sign up to receive public notices.

 

1. Go to this link http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ocrm/public_notice.htm. You will see the page above. 

2. Sign up to receive email notifications.and DHEC will send you emails regularly about critical area permits.

  

3. These are NOT the ones we're interested in.  They do not send email notifications about the mining permits.  But each time you get an email from DHEC, go to the link in the email, and look in the center column of the web page and click on DHEC Land and Waste Managment Coastal Mining (see sample page above).  I know it says Coastal Mining, but all mining applications from across the state wind up in that link.  They are labeled by county.

 

Once the public notice of application has been posted, the public generally has 30 days to register protests. There should be instructions in the public notice about who to write to with your protests, along with a deadline. Protests should be specific (reasons why this would be bad for the community, etc) and hard copy, possibly backed up by email if the public notice requests it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men Take a Stand

After a week of being live on Facebook and a little less than that with the petition I was checking through some stats that can be found with both.  I'm a numbers nut (no that doesn't mean I'm good with math), I enjoy researching and developing statistical data.  Anyway as I was gathering these stats, one jumped out and hit me like a ton of bricks.  See if you can pick up which one (as if the title isn't a hint):

• 601 "Likes" in a week. 
• 337 petition "signatures" at change.com
• Petition signed by people from 18 different states, the furthest California.
• Our peak day so far was the day after the page was created. All categories have declined since.
• After a week we have not been "hidden, reported as spam, or unliked" 
• Our only referral source other than Facebook itself is email.
• Fans on Facebook are listed as from SC, NC, GA, NJ, NY, OH, IN, FL, TN and TX. (I'm waiting for our first international fan/like)
• 35-44 age range is by far our largest age group of supporters. 
• Probably the most interesting and kind of disturbing is that 70% of all of our likes are women!

 So men, where are you?  We need your fight and support as well!  Tell your friend and family, co-workers, hunting/fishing buddies, anyone!!  Most importantly (and I know you are here as men make up about 46% of all of Facebook)  Like and support our page.

Where the Battle Lies

Thanks to everyone for your concern over the future of our community and your help in spreading the word and garnering support far and wide.  We have a whole lot at stake here and can not afford to be passive.

Look for developing information in the days to come on some upcoming meetings (one with Senator Shealy)  and a council sub-committee meeting we all need to plan to attend.

I've spent quite a bit of time researching and today had the chance to talk one on one with a couple of high officials with Lexington County, one of whom is a powerful councilman.  Through all of this I've learned many things that are not going to sit well.  But they do provide us with guidance on where we need to focus our time and attention.

• Vulcan has not presented or offered anything on the mine to the county. They have talked to Walt McPherson who is the Zoning Administrator.  That is all they have done.
• The county has no recourse whatsoever. This area is zoned appropriately (RD) and Windmill is the proper road classification (collector).
• There has been no official request to close Stutman.
• The only thing on any council agenda for next week is a report to a sub-committee back from Public Works on a traffic count for the road. I'm sure this is for consideration in the future on the county's stance on closing Stutman.
• Stutman is a state road therefore it is not the county's decision to close it. A petition has to be made to the court. The county is usually asked their position and they either state no position or disapprove.
• Even if the county disapproves, it is ultimately up to the judge/court.
• There is the possibility that even if Stutman is closed Vulcan could continue with the project.

I say all of that to emphasize that as it stands, the only big hope in preventing this lies with DHEC as they would have to issue many permits for this project. Air, water, blasting, landfill to name 4 biggies.  I have already signed up to be notified of any filings by Vulcan and planned public hearings from the Air division.  

DHEC may not be elected but they certainly can be influenced by our state leaders like Senator Shealy.

I'm not at all saying we do not need to stop letting the county hear our voices or see our faces at meetings where any aspect of this is discussed.  I also think that we need people/faces to go with the petition at the council meeting. A lot of them.  If and when the time comes, we want the county to not recommend the road closure.

The point of attack lies with DHEC. That is where this war will be won. I believe the majority of our resources need to focus on them and not the county.  This includes as many state leaders including Lexington County's own Governor Haley, Senator Shealy and our Representative Ralph Shealy Kennedy.

None of this is wasted.  The petitions, the voice, the support against this is strongly needed throughout the fight.  Vulcan has deep pockets and attorneys already working on this plan.  This fight is not over and there is no easy fix.  

Thank you again because without this support, any one of us might as well grab a shovel and start helping them dig.

Online Petition is Here

The online petition is up! 

 

 

Stop the Windmill Road Petition
(click the link above)



Share with anyone you know who supports our cause to prevent this permanent damage to our quality of life!

Substitutes for Mining

One of our followers on Facebook posted this very informative document.  It is long, technical but very worth reading considering what we face.

Substitutes for Mining

Natural Beauty

I shared these photo's this morning on our Facebook page and wanted to show them here as well.  They were taken just this morning in and around the immediate area of the proposed quarry.  My daughter (who took a few of them herself) said "I never realized Windmill Road was so beautiful".  Stop and take a look at the photo's and you will see yourself.  It is nature at it's finest.  I know it's going to sound like a "fish story" but as we drove through that section, I noticed something in the rear view mirror and watched a deer stroll across the road behind us.  These scenes and that wildlife will forever be changed if this quarry comes to fruition.  Take a drive yourself down Windmill Road, from US #1 to Priceville Road.  Slow down, look and you will see for yourself that it is a road worthy of many more pictures.  Just like my daughter did.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish each and everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Thank you for your tremendous support thus far in preserving our health, peace and quality of life.  This is the easy part, the fight lies ahead.  We must work together and present a united front in this battle.  I can't do it alone no more than any one of you.  The support and cooperation with one another has to continue and not die off in the days, weeks, months and yes even years ahead.  United we stand, divided we fall.

How close is Vulcan to you?

How close are you and what is around the proposed site?

Take a look at these maps to see just how close they are, it may surprise you!

3 Mile Radius Map

5 Mile Radius Map

Write, Call, Email, Carrier Pigeon or Smoke Signal!

There is so much information and things to talk about and share I can't possibly do it all at once. Between the research, contacts, writing, posting, replying, calling, creating other sites and occasionally yelling "squirrel" (my funny for the day) it's a whole lot overwhelming.

I'm trying to slow down, make notes, get organized and tackle one issue at a time. I just posted in the notes section the contact information for all of our elected officials. I believe it is imperative that we start NOW in contacting them through email, letters (yes old fashioned type/write snail mail letter) and phone calls to express our displeasure and objections to this project.

This HAS to be done. If all you do is join a page and hope somebody else makes the call, writes the letter or sends the email then we may as well grab a shovel as start digging that hole ourselves.

There is strength in numbers! Why do you think Vulcan wants to meet one on one? The same reason predators in the wild target one lone prey away from the pack!

The more each one of those ELECTED officials realize how many of us there are, the more attention we get. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Start writing, calling (leave a message, call back) and sending emails!!! Everyone! 

Not just on a petition. 

They MUST hear our voices and they must start hearing them now.

Our Elected Officials

Activism begins with letting your elected officials know your stance on an issue.  This is very important and a first step to fighting something the government can control.  Take a minute and contact each and every elected official listed that represents our area and Lexington County.

County Council Members

Frank J. Townsend, III
6915 Fairview Road
Batesburg, SC 29006
Phone (803) 800-1766
ftownsend@lex-co.com

James E. "Jim" Kinard, Jr.
515 Basil Road
Swansea, SC 29160
(803) 568-2573
jkinard@lex-co.com

Kent Collins
Kent Collins Law Firm
607 South Lake Drive
Lexington, SC  29072
(803) 808-0905 – Office
mkcollins@lex-co.com

Debra B. "Debbie" Summers
1132 Swannanoa Dr.
West Columbia, SC 29170
(803) 518-6858
(803) 791-8619
dsummers@lex-co.com

Bobby C. Keisler
163 Gravedigger Road
Lexington, SC 29073  
(803) 359-6033
(803) 518-6414
bkeisler@lex-co.com

Johnny W. Jeffcoat 
(Vice Chairman)
9 Regatta Court
Columbia, SC 29212
(803)  509-3089
(803) 781-6522
jjeffcoat@lex-co.com

Brad Matthews
111 Old Home Place
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 466-5995
kbmatthews@lex-co.com

William B. "Bill" Banning, Sr. 
(Chairman)
2109 Beaver Lane
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 661-4822
(803) 791-1379
bbanning@lex-co.com

M. Todd Cullum
955 Bruce Road
Cayce, SC 29033
(803) 794-6930
(803) 936-0167
tcullum@lex-co.com

State Officials

Governor
Nikki R. Haley
Office of the Governor
1205 Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 734-2100
http://governor.sc.gov/Pages/SendMessage.aspx
Web and Facebook Pages:
http://governor.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/NikkiHaley?fref=ts

SC State Senator:
Katrina Shealy
(Senator Shealy serves on both the Agriculture and Natural Resources and Fish, Game and Forestry Committees)
502 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Business Phone (803) 212-6108
Home Phone (803) 957-5404
Business Phone (803) 365-0078
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send her an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1656817983

SC State Senator
Ronnie Cromer
Columbia Address
311 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 378
Prosperity, SC 29127
Business Phone (803) 212-6330
Home Phone (803) 364-3950
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=438636311

SC State Senator
John Courson
Columbia Address
412 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 142
Columbia, SC 29202
Business Phone (803) 212-6250
Home Phone (803) 256-7853
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=422727222

SC State Senator
Shane Massey
Columbia Address
606 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 551
Edgefield, SC 29824
Business Phone (803) 212-6024
Home Phone (803) 480-0419
Business Phone (803) 649-6200
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1185227131

SC State Senator
Nikki Setzler
Columbia Address
510 Gressette Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Home Address
249 Congaree Park Drive
West Columbia, SC  29169
Home Phone (803) 796-7573
Business Phone (803) 212-6140
Business Phone (803) 796-1285
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1649999802

SC State Representative
Ralph Shealy Kennedy, Jr.
323A Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Business Phone (803) 212-6938
Home Phone (803) 532-4003
Business Phone (803) 532-4100
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=987499882

SC State Representative
Todd Atwater
Columbia Address
320D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 1056
Lexington, SC 29071-1056
Business Phone (803) 212-6924
Business Phone (803) 798-6207
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=67045447

SC State Representative
Nathan Ballentine
Columbia Address
320B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC 29201
Home Address
324 Sienna Dr
Chapin, SC 29036
Business Phone (803) 734-2969
Home Phone (803) 732-1861
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=102272715

SC State Representative
Kenneth "Kenny" Bingham
Columbia Address
519B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 2025
Cayce, SC  29171
Business Phone (803) 734-3114
Home Phone (803) 796-3582
Business Phone (803) 796-9300
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=143181801

SC State Representative
Chip Huggins
Columbia Address
323B Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Business Phone (803) 734-2971
Cell Phone (803) 331-8468
Home Address
308 Wayworth Court
Columbia, SC  29212
Home Phone (803) 732-4418
Business Phone (803) 734-2971
Cell Phone (803) 331-8468
Business Phone (803) 732-2000
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=897727165

SC State Representative
Kit Spires
Columbia Address
326D Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Home Address
P.O. Box 396
Pelion, SC  29123
Home Phone (803) 894-4440
Business Phone (803) 606-5749
Business Phone (803) 734-3010
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1743749791

SC State Representative
Mac Toole
Columbia Address
323C Blatt Bldg.
Columbia, SC  29201
Home Address
180 Dogwood Cir.
West Columbia, SC  29170
Home Phone (803) 755-6542
Business Phone (803) 755-6542
Business Phone (803) 734-2973
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send an email:
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?T=M&C=1838636143

DHEC Officials

Director
Catherine B. Templeton
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Catherine.Templeton@dhec.sc.gov

Federal Officials

US Senator
Senator Lindsey Graham
Washington Office:
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: (202) 224-5972

Columbia Office:
508 Hampton Street
Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29201
Main: (803) 933-0112

US Representative
Congressman Joe Wilson
1700 Sunset Blvd
Suite 1
West Columbia , SC 29169
Phone: (803) 939-0041
Phone: (888) 381-1442 (*only accessible when calling from area codes 803, 843, and 864) Fax: (803) 939-0078 Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser to send him an email:
https://joewilson.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/default.aspx

Welcome

This blog is for anyone directly or indirectly affected or concerned over the proposed mining operation in the Leesville area of western Lexington County in South Carolina.  Vulcan Materials Company has begun the process of trying to start open pit mining of aggregate (crushed rock) on over 300 acres.  This proposed site is located just couple of miles from the Batesburg-Leesville town limits along a scenic and beautiful two lane country road named Windmill Road.

The proposed site is surrounded by forest, wetlands, farms and homes.  There are many concerns our residents have over this planned quarry and the majority of people do not want this industry here.

The natural land will forever be ruined.  The peace will be gone, replaced by explosions, dust, dirty water, rock crushers and heavy trucks.  The deer, turkey, owls (aren't they protected?) and other wildlife will be displaced.  Livestock will be lost.  The economic and environmental impact will be devastating.

Follow this blog and our Facebook page to keep up with our fight to prevent this endeavor from ruining what each of us has worked so hard to achieve.