Give and you shall receive

The Tennessee Clean Water Network(TCWN) presented its annual River Hero award to Wilma Dykeman. Dykeman authored “The French Broad” in 1955 and was a lifelong advocate for the Appalachian people and environment. She died in December 2006. Senator Lamar Alexander presented the award to Jim Stokely, Dykeman’s son. Meanwhile, the organization was awarded the 2007 Green Paddle by the American Canoe Association for its statewide efforts protecting water quality. TCWN helped win a major victory in 2005 when the state legislature passed a bill allowing citizens to appeal pollution permits. This year the state passed a TCWN-sponsored bill requiring the Department of Environment and Conservation(TDEC) to post notices of water quality violations on its Web site. Their “Build the River Movement” program is helping unite communities across the state around water quality issues, and the network is working to pass the Water Quality Act, which includes an innovative penalty structure designed to reward good actors, discourage repeat offenders and bolster TDEC’s enforcement budget.

Who keeps Blount beautiful?

By Rikki Hall

Civic groups in Blount County gathered at Preservation Plaza in Maryville for the fifth annual Environmental Achievement Awards. Erich Henry won the individual award for his contribution toward acquiring an $835,000 federal grant for the Little River Watershed Association. Fairview Elementary School won an award for recycling, waste reduction and other efforts made while earning an Earth Flag from Ijams Nature Center. The business recipient was the organizers and sponsors of AirFest, and Harper Street Lofts won for building reuse.