Group concerned with meth, the environment
A new group concerned with environmental, racial and other issues has formed in Warren County after expanding from its base in East Tennessee.
So far, Save Our Cumberland Mountains, also known as SOCM, has about 30 local members with goals of addressing issues like clear cutting on Harrison Ferry Mountain, promoting racial equality, the meth epidemic and the potential for a local treatment facility, pesticide use and local jobs.
SOCM is a community organization comprised of mainly rural families from the across the state and battled the coal industry in the ’70s. A group formed locally in February, according to member and Warren County resident Connie Levenhagen, who said she joined after becoming concerned about the local environment.
Levenhagen said work groups are currently focusing upon encouraging the school system to hire minority teachers and clear cutting, noting the group is supporting SOCM’s state-wide effort to regulate industrial chip mills, which is where much of the timber goes.
The organization overall is committed to improving issues in the community, she said.
“We’re just in the community to work on issues that are important to people. A lot of people see SOCM as an environmental organization, but it’s more about what’s good for the community.”
The group meets about once a month and has been meeting at a local utility company.
“The group has met a few times and we have decided to look into what can be done about the meth problem and some concerns about fair treatment of people regardless of race,” member Fred Locke said. “We welcome anyone who has an interest in improving the community.”
For more information, contact local chapter chair Tara Schoenmann at 507-8272.