News

LIGHTNING TOP 10: No. 7

Green River residents turned out to oppose a firing range at the old Camp Flintlock.

By Bill Moss, Published: December 23, 2015

No. 7: Board guns down firing range

It was the summer of our discontent when it came to disruptive land uses, and when the Green River community converged on their assembly room in the Historic Courthouse, county commissioners almost delighted in being able to act. Sheriff Charlie McDonald may have proved his political skill in winning election for the first time the year before but he grossly underestimated the power, unity and culture of the Green River community when he announced a firing range at an abandoned summer camp. It was the Duke Energy’s transmission line writ small — but not that small. Commissioners lamented that they could do little to influence the utility’s decision on running a high-voltage line through Henderson County but they sure had the authority when it came to McDonald’s proposed training center. After listening to emotional and passionate Green River residents, commissioners summarily killed the project.