V: HOMETOWN FEATURE NEWS

 

Local Mill Responsible For Longterm Sickness in Rural Town

In Crossett, Arkansas, the Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill produces 1.5 million pounds of toxic chemicals every year, according to the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory. 

A former Georgia Pacific employee, Delores Wimberly worked in the chemical division of the paper mill. When asked how Crossett has changed since mass manufacturing began, she responded, “A lot of people aren’t aware of the negative effects from the mill’s chemical release until it’s too late.”  She furthermore explained, “ The few people who are aware use air filters because the air isn’t safe.” Ms.Wimberly had to learn this the hard way in 2011 after her daughter died of cancer. 

Her daughter, Letitia Dickerson, worked at the paper mill for 20 years before her death. Just on the road that Ms.Dickerson lived on, 12 other resident died of cancer in a five year time span. The origin of this problem lies at the end of that road: Georgia Pacific’s ‘Stink Creek’, where chemicals left over from production are dumped. Although they have minimized this practice, administrators are constantly trying to disguise its effects. Recently, the paper mill has purchased property near the creek to minimize the public’s will for investigation and expand business. 

Another former employee of Georgia Pacific, Mr. Larry Moore, remembers a time before Stink Creek was private property. “ At times, you couldn’t even see the water; there would only be high rising foam.” Mr. Moore also discussed how Crossett’s nature scene has evolved with increasing mass chemical use. “When I was a child in the 1960’s, there were fruit trees all around, but now, I don’t see any.” 

the aforementioned, "Stink Creek"

Chemicals like formaldehyde, chloroform, and dioxin are exposing the citizens of Crossett to carcinogens that could cause death. As the Koch brothers look to expand their industry, the world will watch as the health of Crossett citizens is put into jeopardy.