BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

I don’t know how that sounds to you, but my mouth would have a hard time saying it.  I do live in Chattanooga and for today it’s still all in Tennessee.  But, it seems that Georgia wants to revive a smaller version of the War Between the States.  And, from all I see and hear, it will be one hell of a war.

The fact is Georgia wants to lay claim to a mile of Tennessee that cuts across a corner of the Tennessee River, right in the bend crossing Highway 24.  For a hundred years or more… well, since the first surveyors drew the lines… the bend, commonly referred to as “riverbend” by the locals has been a part of Tennessee.  The residents on the southwest side of the bend have paid Tennessee sales tax rates, paid no state income tax, and enjoyed or endured Tennessee depending on one’s perspective. 

Until a few years ago, the land was mostly undeveloped.  There is a small area called Tiftonia that wasn’t especially attractive to anyone except those who lived there.  It’s a nice little area but lacked convenience.  The scenery is particularly pleasing with hills and Lookout Moutain making the backdrop. 

Then Covenant Trucking Company built its new headquarters in the area.  Shortly after that a Cracker Barrel Restaurant popped up along with several fast food establishments.  Developers began building homes along the water’s edge and off the main road towards the south, communities straddling the Georgia-Tennessee State line.  I suppose the exclamation point came when WalMart built a Superstore in the area. 

Georgia hasn’t been interested in claiming the area in totality until now.  In fact the original survey done with antiquated tools missed the correct state line by about a mile.  Today, that’s the mile that Georgia wants back.  It’s not for a well established tax base, or the newer highways that cut through that area, but rather Georgia wants to reclaim the area for water rights.

The drought of the past year has caused severe problems for most southern states.  Rainfall deficits have hit 20″.  Even in Chattanooga (Tennessee) the deficit reached 18″.  And, the south was drying up.  It was one thing not to wash cars or water lawns.  It was worse on farmers who lost crops to the hot sun and lack of rain.  But, when towns began to run out of drinking water Georgia declared war on just about all its neighbors. 

First, there was a few feathers ruffled between Georgia and Alabama.  That got Georgia no where.  Alabama was drying up, too.  Then, Georgia attacked Florida for following federal guidelines concerning endangered species.  The two states sent representatives to Washington to work something out.  Apparently, like most issues that go to Washington, there was nothing decided, at least nothing in favor in Georgia. 

So, today Georgia decided in their legislature to reclaim the one mile of territory that has held no interest for them since the state line was drawn.  That one mile gives Georgia a corner of the Tennessee River and an abundant water supply, albeit a polluted water supply.  Of course, we get our drinking water from the river and none of us have died from bad water, although we are cautioned that pregnant women shouldn’t eat fish caught from the Tennessee River due to high levels of mercury.

It’s too soon to tell whether Lookout Mountain, Tennessee will be embroiled in battle against Lookout Mountain, Georgia or if Point Park will be revived to its old status of the main position for overlooking the Tennessee Valley for incoming soldiers.  The northern end of Missionary Ridge still gives the best view from Tennessee of the river and with the number of cannons and cannon balls and monuments that line most of the mountain ridges surrounding the Tennessee River, I have a feeling that I may need to go outside and dust off the old cannon in the front yard. 

Or, maybe the water war can be settled in the fall when Uga and Smokey meet at the UT-GA football game.  So far, Smokey is two up on Uga.  I do believe he bit another player last year.  And, for now, I still live in Chattanooga, Tennessee.