The U.S. Air Force has completed its environmental impact study (EIS) for making this area a part of their training grounds for fighter pilots. The notice in the June 26, 2010 issue of The Millen News informed us that a copy of the final study is located in our local library and online at http:// www.accplanning .org/ current_projects.html. Concerned citizens are looking at it so they can understand this link-in-the-chain of events that will affect the lives of everyone living in Jenkins County. Bulldog B and C areas include these historic sites: Birdsville Plantation, Camp Lawton, portions of the City of Millen and Carswell Grove Baptist Church.

The EIS mainly concerns endangered species and scantily mentions wildlife (game-deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbits, ducks, geese and doves). The good news is that they will try to avoid hitting brown storks (endangered) and hope that the salamanders (endangered) will be all right. I would hate to lose the salamanders or the red cockaded woodpeckers but since it is for the greater good, it is all right. Affected migratory birds will naturally find other routes to travel.

There are no training schedules posted but since they are using flares, I reckon there will be some night training and as we lay awake at night listening to jet engines roaring 500 feet overhead we should remember that it is for the greater good.

You might wonder why they couldn’t train somewhere less invasive. Do not be silly! Why should fighter pilots have to train in far off desert areas that are devoid of life or to the north over factories and offices where windows might be broken and problems may arise? Here the population is sparse and wildlife does not lodge complaints or file lawsuits. In addition, changing the pilot training area means there would be fewer troops stationed at Shaw AFB and McEntire Air National Guard Station and the local communities of Sumter and Columbia in South Carolina would suffer economic hardships.

Jenkins County is already the dumping ground for undesirable projects like prisons and battery factories so why not have jets roaring overhead day and night? Aw shucks it doesn’t matter about some danged old deer and turkey and we don’t want to be no thriving bedroom community anyhow. Heck, maybe the noise and vibration will chase away the gnats.

Wayne Salter Suburbs of Perkins