On Sunday, our organization, Save the Ozarks, held a fundraiser to support our effort to stop AEP/SWEPCO from putting a major high voltage power line through our community. the support was overwhelming and thanks to two 10,000 dollar anonymous matching grants, and all the hard work of a large number of volunteers, and thanks to the generosity of artists and businesses in Eureka Springs, we set a record of nearly 60,000 dollars raised. This equals the amount we had raised previously to support the hiring of witnesses and attorneys.
I've been doing additional research and have learned that when Carroll Electric planned a new power line that is currently under construction from Viola, Missouri to Holiday Island, they were involved in negotiations with the US Army Corp of Engineers for 6 years over the location of a river crossing. AEP/SWEPCOasked the Corp of Engineer for a permit in September 2012, and was asked for clarification and additional information as their application was considered inadequate. They never contacted the Corp with the requested information, but assumed that they would have enough political clout to have their way... Once they got approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission, they felt that the Corp of Engineers permit would become a fait accompli. Then along came a group of concerned citizens who have proceeded to blow AEP/SWEPCO out of the water.
In the meantime, I'm sanding boxes, working to finalize work shop plans for November with the Northeast Woodworking Association and trying to compose my remarks for my sister's memorial on Saturday. For readers in New York State, I will be in the Albany area for box making classes and the Northeast Woodworking Association Fiske Lecture on November 14, 15, and 16.
Make, fix and create...
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