Wise County, VA: the Story of Kathy Selvage

America's Most Endangered Mountains - Wise County, VA

Pledge to Help End Mountaintop Removal. Visit:
www.iLoveMountains.org


- - - COMMUNITY STORY - - -

Wise County, Virginia was officially formed in 1856 from parts of Virginia's Lee, Russell, and Scott counties. Nestled on the Kentucky border, its one of the most beautiful counties in the Appalachian coalfields, but unfortunately is also one of hardest hit by surface coal mining. In fact, between 1950 and the present, 25% of Wise County's land area was devastated by mountaintop removal and other surface coal mines.

Despite the large scale extraction of natural resources (both coal and timber), county residents still have many things to be proud of. Wise County boasts some of the most beautiful mountaintop vistas in Appalachia. It's home to Jefferson National Forest, which protects High Knob and Little Stoney Creek Falls. The Clinch River, Guest River, Powell River, and Russell Fork are home to rare and endangered fresh water mussels, and offer miles of free-flowing canoeing for all skill levels. The Clinch is home to more varieties of fish than any river in Virginia.

Wise County also has a lively art community, with regular performances of the Trail of the Lonesome Pine Drama and shows at the Charles Harris Art Gallery. Art and river festivals attract people throughout the summer to celebrate the county's rich history and landscape.

But even with so many assets, Wise County is suffering from a lack of economic diversity and the effects of mountaintop removal. Unlike the surrounding counties that don't have coal, Wise is loosing population, and has a 22% poverty rate. What's worse, suicide rates in Wise are DOUBLE the state average.

"We have so much to share with the people who might visit us. If we could only stop blasting away our mountains and dumping them into valleys and streambeds. Mountaintop removal is destroying the land, the people, and our cultural heritage. We could make it if only our elected leaders shared our vision?one that doesn't concentrate on destruction, but instead on construction." - Kathy Selvage, Resident, Wise County, VA

To support Kathy and her community contact:
Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards
(276) 565-1083 • www.samsva.org

SAMS is committed to stopping the destruction of communities by surface coal mining and to help rebuild sustainable communities.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

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• AMMOENMTN
• appalachian
• voices
• ilovemountains.org
• southern
• mountains
• stewards
• kathy
• selvage
• larry
• keel
• boss
• hawg
• music

[SkinnyLegHumper]

All you tree huggers are against coal fire power plants but at the end of the day you still enjoy turning on you tv and computer and taking a hot shower with energy provied by burning coal. you call for wind and water energy but you would bitch if the windmills covered your beuatiful mountain or the waters flooded your valley. You would also be against nuclear power. the best thing all you tree huggin hippies could do is become amish and leave dominion alone sw va needs the jobs

[TonyBeazley]

Thanks for this video.....I hope people understand coal is not the answer...

[zLOSTNOMOREz]

I hate that they are doing this. Go up to Flag Rock and look across.there used to be a mountain there! People get on there soap box and want to defend this practice but they never give a second thought to the number of Jobs that surface mining takes away from their community. This is done so that greedy mine owners can put more money in their pockets while those are these areas suffer for it!

[lrwwolf]

Almost Heaven, West Virginia... Not if the Coal Companies have their way!

[turborabbit1114]

@SkinnyLegHumper I would not be for wind farms, you are right on that, but there is alot of abosulute dessert out west that could have solar colectors that would not bother anyone. Nucler is fine too, also I think it is not the coal mineing that is that much of a problum, it is all the overburden that is removed to get it. just make a tunnel into there, takeout the coal and leave all the rest of the mounten in one piece. ya it is more expensive but it is worth it.

[taylorbrooke1122]

@SkinnyLegHumper Finally someone who speaks the truth!!

[tiffanynl1]

@jammineddie Please explain how SWVA could actually get millions in tourism. I don't see it happening. Even Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cut down mountains to clear off for hotels restaurants and shopping. Face it not a lot of people travel just to look at mountains. GET REAL!

[tiffanynl1]

I wonder if any of my comments are going to be posted. This country is supposed to be about freedom of speech. You posted your video with your opinion now let everyone see the opinions of those that watch it.

[funkster22657]

fuckit were all going to get dirt in the face in a six foot hole. i say use up the earth the cheapest way quickest way.fuckit were all doomed the bible is bullshit by the way,prayers dont work for amputees does it.

[laurelfan1]

Yeah I know what you mean. It's awful. I live in Weber City---right next to the train tracks!

[kevindepriest]

you cant even git a job in the mines round here ne more and who would wont do that

[kevindepriest]

there are lots of things that suck about this place trust me i live here u should see the ponds and strems around some of thow strip jobs where they just blast off the whole mountian. this whole county and sw va in no mans land