Siri Hedreen / The Outlook
Randall Hendrix lives on a 23-acre pasture where he lets his friend keep his cows. The property borders the Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park on three sides.
Kellyton resident Randall Hendrix lives, grows vegetables and tends his friend's cows on a quiet, 23-acre pasture bordered on three sides by property of the Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority.
For 20 years, the industrial site has sat undeveloped. Weeks ahead of anyone else, however, Hendrix got tipped off that was about to change when subcontractors showed up at his house, asking if they could drive their core-drilling trucks down his driveway in preparation for an $80 million graphite processing plant. Hendrix allowed it, but he isn't thrilled about his new neighbors.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmQxVG6 H@C<65 :? 2 4@EE@? >:== 7@C bd\A=FD J62CD 2?5 J@F 42? D66 H92E <:?5 @7 DE2E6 xV> :? — E9C@2E 42?46C[Q 96 D2:5[ A@:?E:?8 @FE 2 D42C @? 9:D ?64< 2?5 ;2H=:?6] Qp?5 5FDE[ 7C@> H92E6G6C E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ 36 5@:?8]]] >2J36 :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 D276] x 5@?VE <?@H]Qk^Am
kAmt2C=:6C E9:D H66<[ v@G] z2J xG6J 2??@F?465 p=232>2 :D D6E E@ 364@>6 E96 7:CDE &]$] D@FC46 @7 8C2A9:E6[ E96 <6J 32EE6CJ >:?6C2= 7@F?5 :? =2AE@AD[ >@3:=6 A9@?6D 2?5 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D] |:?:?8 4@>A2?J (6DEH2E6C #6D@FC46D[ H9:49 @H?D E96 >:?6C2= C:89ED E@ ?62C=J `_T @7 r@@D2 r@F?EJ 3J =2?5 2C62[ H:== 3C62< 8C@F?5 @? :ED AC@46DD:?8 A=2?E @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 4@F?EJ :? s646>36C]k^Am
Mining company Westwater Resources is set to build its flagship processing plant just outsid…
kAmpE AC6D6?E[ r9:?2 4@?EC@=D 23@FE EH@\E9:C5D @7 E96 H@C=5VD 8C2A9:E6 DFAA=J 2?5 ?62C=J 2== @7 :ED 32EE6CJ\8C256 8C2A9:E6 DFAA=J] pD 4=:>2E6 492?86 ?646DD:E2E6D 2 7F== D9:7E E@ 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6D[ 9@H6G6C[ E96 &]$] 8@G6C?>6?E 92D >256 :E 2 AC:@C:EJ E@ 7:?5 H2JD E@ D@FC46 <6J 32EE6CJ 4@>A@?6?ED 5@>6DE:42==J[ :?4=F5:?8 8C2A9:E6[ E96 =2C86DE =:E9:F>\:@? 32EE6CJ >:?6C2= 3J H6:89E]k^Am
kAmqJ a_ab[ (6DEH2E6C DF3D:5:2CJ p=232>2 vC2A9:E6 !C@5F4ED :? z6==JE@? H:== 36 E96 @?=J 8C2A9:E6 AC@46DD:?8 A=2?E :? E96 &]$]k^Am
kAmQtG6CJ 46== A9@?6 92D 2 76H 8C2>D @7 8C2A9:E6 :? :E[Q (6DEH2E6C G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 @A6C2E:@?D s2:? |4r@:8 D2:5] Q}@3@5J C62==J <?@HD H96C6 E96JVC6 7C@>j D@>6E:>6D A6@A=6 5@?VE H2?E E@ 2D< 3642FD6 E96JVC6 >256 :? 2C62D @7 E96 H@C=5 E92E 5@?VE 92G6 E96 36DE 6?G:C@?>6?E2= @C A6CD@?2= D276EJ :? >:?5] $@ <?@H:?8 :EVD >256 :? E96 &]$]p][ :E 42? AC@323=J 8:G6 FD 2? 25G2?E286 :? E96 >2C<6E[ 2?5 >2<6 A6@A=6 766= 2 =:EE=6 3:E 36EE6C 23@FE E96 AC@5F4ED E96J 42? 3FJ]Qk^Am
kAmx?5665[ 2 a_`e k6>m(2D9:?8E@? !@DEk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H2D9:?8E@?A@DE]4@>^8C2A9:4D^3FD:?6DD^32EE6C:6D^8C2A9:E6\>:?:?8\A@==FE:@?\:?\49:?2^Qm2CE:4=6k^2m @? r9:?6D6 8C2A9:E6 >:?:?8 56D4C:36D 2 A@==FE65 G:==286 H:E9 2 A6CA6EF2= D9:>>6C :? E96 2:C[ 4@2E:?8 6G6CJ DFC7246 2?5 86EE:?8 :? @?6D E66E9] p44@C5:?8 E@ k6>m%96 !@DEk^6>m[ E92E 8C2A9:E6 6G6?EF2==J H6?5D :ED H2J FA E96 DFAA=J 492:? E@ 4@>A2?:6D =:<6 $2>DF?8[ v6?6C2= |@E@CD 2?5 %@J@E2]k^Am
Siri Hedreen / The Outlook
Despite some mixed messaging, Hendrix said he did not kick up a fuss when Alabama Graphite Products subcontractors asked to run their core-drilling trucks down his driveway.Â
kAm(6DEH2E6C 5@6D ?@E :?E6?5 E@ DE2CE >:?:?8 8C2A9:E6 :? r@@D2 r@F?EJ F?E:= a_ag] qJ E96?[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ r9C:D y@?6D D2JD E96 >:?6 H:== 36 2? @A6?\A:E >:?6 2?5 H@?VE FD6 6IA=@D:G6D[ H9:49 D6?5 FA A2CE:4=6D E92E 2C6 E96? :?92=65] x? E96 >62?E:>6 E96 AFC:7:42E:@? A=2?E H:== 36 FA\2?5\CF??:?8 @? :>A@CE65 8C2A9:E6 7665DE@4<[ FD:?8 2 AC@AC:6E2CJ AC@46DD:?8 >6E9@5 56G:D65 3J p=232>2 vC2A9:E6 !C@5F4ED]k^Am
kAmQ%96 AC@46DD :ED6=7 :D >256 FA @7 E9C66 F?56CDE@@5 AC@46DD6D 2?5 E96 A2E6?E :D E96 =:?<:?8 @7 E9@D6 AC@46DD6D E@86E96C[Q y@?6D D2:5] Q%96 C62= 36?67:E @7 @FC AC@46DD :D E92E :E FD6D 496>:42=D 2?5 AC@46DD6D E92E 2C6 C62==J @77\E96\D96=7] r@>>@? :?5FDEC:2= 496>:42=D E92E 2C6 C6=2E:G6=J 62DJ[ C6=2E:G6=J 36?:8?[ 2?5 H:E9 H6==\<?@H? 92?5=:?8 AC@46DD6D E92E 2C6 D:>A=6]Qk^Am
kAmy@?6D 4@?EC2DED E92E AC@46DD H:E9 E96 r9:?6D6[ H9:49 :?G@=G6D 9J5C@7=F@C:4 24:5]k^Am
kAm%96? E96C6VD E96 D@=:5 H2DE6 — E96 dT @7 E96 8C2A9:E6 ?@E >256 FA @7 42C3@? E92EVD 6IA6==65 :? E96 AFC:7J:?8 AC@46DD] ~7 E96 f[d__ E@?D p=232>2 vC2A9:E6 !C@5F4ED :?E6?5D E@ AC@46DD 2??F2==J[ E92EVD @?=J bfd E@?D @7 D@=:5 H2DE6 E92EV== 36 D6?E E@ 2 =2?57:== A6C J62C[ y@?6D D2:5] k^Am
kAm#2E96C[ E96 3:886DE A@E6?E:2= A@==FE2?E — 2E =62DE 7C@> E96 AC@46DD:?8 A=2?E — :D E96 6DE:>2E65 a__[___ 82==@?D @7 H2DE6H2E6C A6C 52J[ H9:49 :D H96C6 p=6I2?56C r:EJ 4@>6D :?E@ A=2J 3J 3F:=5:?8 2? S``]b >:==:@? :?5FDEC:2= D6H6C =:?6 4@??64E:?8 E96 z6==JE@? D:E6 E@ :ED $F82C rC66< (2DE6H2E6C %C62E>6?E !=2?E] p44@C5:?8 E@ p=6I r:EJ >2J@C (@@5J q2:C5[ E92EVD 2 5C@A :? E96 3F4<6E 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 `]d >:==:@? 82==@?D #FDD6== |:==D FD65 E@ 6IA6= 7C@> :ED 5J6 9@FD6 2?5 3=6249 EC62E>6?E A=2?E 6249 52J]k^Am
Coosa County's graphite has been waiting in reserve.
kAmQ%96 H2E6C E92E 4@>6D @FE @7 E92E WD6H286 EC62E>6?EX A=2?E[ J@F 42? 5C:?< :E[Q q2:C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp7E6C $F82C rC66<[ q2:C5 D2JD[ p=232>2 vC2A9:E6VD a__[___ 82==@?D H:== CF? E9C@F89 2 ?6EH@C< @7 A:A6D 2=@?8 $E2E6 w:89H2J eb[ 24C@DD r@G6? p336E 2?5 5@H? !:?6JH@@5D #@25 367@C6 6>AEJ:?8 b__ J2C5D 7C@> E96 D9@C6=:?6 :?E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 {2<6 |2CE:?]k^Am
kAmu@C >@?E9D 29625 @7 %F6D52JVD 2??@F?46>6?E[ p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ r@@D2 r@F?EJ 2?5 E96 {2<6 |2CE:? pC62 t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?E p==:2?46 W{|ptspX 925 366? H@C<:?8 369:?5 E96 D46?6D E@ 4@2I (6DEH2E6C E@ E96 z6==JE@? 2C62 H:E9 2 >2DD:G6 :?46?E:G6D A24<286[ :?4=F5:?8 7C66 FD6 @7 z6==JE@?VD {2<6 |2CE:? #68:@?2= x?5FDEC:2= !2C< 2?5 E96 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 H2DE6H2E6C CF?]k^Am
kAmu@C q2:C5[ E96 3:886DE 4@?46C? H2D H96E96C E96 AC@46DD:?8 >6E9@5 H@F=5 H@C<]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46C?D[ Q}@] p3D@=FE6=J ?@?6[Q 96 D2:5] Qp?5 ECFDE >6[ xV> 2? 64@\7C62<] xV> 3:8 @? C64J4=:?8]Qk^Am
kAmu@C E96 4@>A2?JVD A2CE[ y@?6D D2:5 E96 QH6==\CF? >249:?6Q @7 E96 $F82C rC66< (2DE6H2E6C %C62E>6?E !=2?E H2D 2 <6J 724E@C @7 E96:C 564:D:@? E@ =@42E6 :? E96 2C62]Â k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 H2DE6H2E6C EC62E>6?E 724:=:EJ 2?5 E96 8FJD E96C6 :? @C56C E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E E96 H2E6C H6 3C:?8 E@ E96 724:=:EJ 7@C EC62E>6?E :D 62D:=J EC62E65 3J E92E 724:=:EJ 2?5 H@?VE A@D6 2?J 52?86C E@ {2<6 |2CE:?[Q 96 D2:5[ 255:?8 ?@E @?=J 5@6D E96 4@>A2?J AC@>:D6 :E[ E96 =682= 6?G:C@?>6?E 8F2C2?E66D :E]k^Am
kAmt?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED[ 9@H6G6C[ A@:?E @FE 2 =@?8 9:DE@CJ @7 A@==FE:@? 3J C68F=2E65 2?5 @7E6? H6==\:?E6?E:@?65 4@>A2?:6D] p>@?8 E96> :D r@@D2 #:G6C<66A6C 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C yFDE:?? ~G6CE@?[ H9@D6 492C86 :D E96 r@@D2 #:G6C H2E6CD965 H96C6 p=232>2 vC2A9:E6VD >:?:?8 D:E6 H:== 36]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 E@ FD — :7 E9:D 92AA6?D 2?5 :7 E96J DE2CE >:?:?8 — :D[ V(:== E96:C A6C>:E 36 6?7@C465 3J @FC DE2E6 C68F=2E@CJ 286?4:6DnVQ ~G6CE@? D2:5] Q%:>6 2?5 E:>6 282:? @FC p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= |2?286>6?E Wpst|X :D >@C6 369@=56? E@ E96 A@==FE6C E92? E@ E96 AF3=:4 :? >2:?E2:?:?8 H2E6C BF2=:EJ 7@C E96 C:G6CD 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 E92E C6=J @? E96D6 A=246D]Qk^Am
kAmz6:E9 y@9?DE@?[ q:C>:?892> 5:C64E@C @7 E96 $@FE96C? t?G:C@?>6?E2= {2H r6?E6C[ 2=D@ DEC6DD65 E96 Q6IEC6>6[ 6IEC6>6 :>A@CE2?46Q @7 pst| C6>2:?:?8 G:8:=2?E[ 6DA64:2==J 2C@F?5 E96 >:?:?8 @A6C2E:@?] Â k^Am
kAmQ%9:D Vc_[___\A=FD 24C6D @7 >:?6C2= C:89EDV D66>D =:<6 2 A@E6?E:2==J >2DD:G6 >:?:?8 @A6C2E:@? 2?5 H6DE6C? r@@D2 r@F?EJ 92D D@>6 AC6EEJ >28?:7:46?E H2E6C C6D@FC46D[Q 96 D2:5] Qx >62?[ :EVD 2 9F86 C65 7=28[ E92EVD E96 3@EE@> =:?6]Qk^Am
kAm}6:E96C ~G6CE@? ?@C y@9?DE@? 2C6 AC6A2C65 E@ 564=2C6 2 DE2?46 @? E96 AC@;64E :? 86?6C2=[ 9@H6G6C[ D:>A=J 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6?VE >2?J :?DE2?46D @7 32EE6CJ\8C256 8C2A9:E6 AC@5F4E:@? E@ C676C E@ — 2D:56 7C@> r9:?2[ H9:49 D6ED 2 AC6EEJ =@H 32C] ~G6CE@? D2JD D96VD C624965 @FE E@ 2 D:>:=2C H2E6C AC@E64E:@? @C82?:K2E:@? :? r9:?2 H:E9 2 8C2A9:E6 >:?:?8 @A6C2E:@? :? :ED H2E6CD965]k^Am
kAmQ(6VC6 7:89E:?8 2? 2?:>2= C6?56C:?8 A=2?E C:89E ?@H :? E96 v25D56? 2C62 2?5 2?:>2= C6?56C:?8 A=2?ED 2C6 G6CJ H6==\5@4F>6?E65 7@C E96 H2JD E96J :>A24E 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 H2E6CH2JD[Q D96 D2:5] QqFE 8C2A9:E6 >:?6Dn }@E D@ >F49]Qk^Am
kAm(9:=6 (6DEH2E6C #6D@FC46D H:== ?@E 36 E96 7:CDE 4@>A2?J E@ >:?6 8C2A9:E6 :? r@@D2 r@F?EJ — E96 2C62 H2D >:?65 6IE6?D:G6=J 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE 2?5 D64@?5 H@C=5 H2CD — :E H:== 36 E96 7:CDE D:?46 E96 r=62? (2E6C p4E @7 `hfa] pD DF49[ E96C6 :D?VE >F49 @7 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= A2A6C EC2:=]k^Am
kAm~G6CE@? 2=D@ A@:?ED @FE E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C C68F=2E@CJ 9@=6D :? 2 Q7:CDE\@7\:ED\<:?5Q @A6C2E:@? —Qp?5 E92E :D?VE ?646DD2C:=J 3642FD6 2?J@?6 :D 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 HC@?8[ 3FE 3642FD6 E9:D :D DF49 2 ?6H AC24E:46 E@ @FC ?2E:@?[Q D96 D2:5] Qp?5 :EVD @3G:@FD=J G6CJ 9:89\AC:@C:EJ E@ @FC 8@G6C?>6?E]Qk^Am
kAmq2:C5[ 9@H6G6C[ H9@ 92D 9:89\D49@@= >6>@C:6D A@<:?8 2C@F?5 @=5 8C2A9:E6 >:?6D :? r@@D2 r@F?EJ[ :D 4@?G:?465 :EVD 36?:8?]k^Am
kAmQvC2A9:E6 :D ?6FEC2=j :EVD 42C3@?[Q 96 D2:5] Qr2C3@? :D 32D:42==J 2 ?6FEC2= DF3DE2?46] }@H 2?JE9:?8 :? 4@?46?EC2E:@? :D 52?86C@FD @C 5625=J] *@F 42? 62E 42C3@?j J@F 42?VE 62E 7:G6 A@F?5D @7 42C3@?]Qk^Am
kAmw6?5C:I[ dh[ :D 2 7@C>6C 4@==628F6 @7 q2:C5VD] z?@H:?8 q2:C5 92D D:8?65 @77 @? E96 AC@;64E[ Q:E 96=AD[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@C 7F== 2DDFC2?46 9:D 9@>6 H@?VE 36 A@==FE65[ 9@H6G6C[ w6?5C:I D2JD 96 ?665D E@ 962C :E 7C@> (6DEH2E6C #6D@FC46D — Q7@C D@>6 @7 E96> E@ 4@>6 3J 2?5 E6== >6 E92E[ 7@C DFC6[ :E 2:?VE 8@:?8 E@ 86E :?E@ E92E 4C66< 2?5 :E H@?VE >6DD E96D6 4@HD FA]Qk^Am
