By Delivrine Registre - bio | email
November 19, 2008
AMERICUS, GA (WALB) - Jeff Branum and his wife Nancy have walked on this trail at Georgia Southwestern almost everyday for the past three years. "It's a wonderful and rare spot to have something like this," said Branum.
And when they learned it would become the new site for the Health and Human Sciences building they and four others immediately went into action to save it. "We really think that this is a major part of our city," said Branum.
"When you have a population of 20,700 people, and there is no other green space; it is important," said Nancy Spice.
They even pleaded to former-first family and alumni Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter for help. "After a lengthy time, they finally wrote me a letter. And they said their preference be that the trees be saved," said Spice.
The new building is planned to be a duplication of the current education center, and the university plans to save as many trees possible. "We will replace every tree we take off this piece of property with two trees. We will also place the walking track on a different part of the campus," said Assistant to the President, Randolph Barksdale.
But the group is still very concerned about the environment. "We are very concerned as well, but we know there is such a need for the nursing building and with us replacing two trees for every one, we just want to work with the community and do everything we can," said Barksdale.
"We've always wanted the building. We agree we need the building, and want progress, but just not on this site," said Branum. They have been fighting for a year and a half and say they will continue to fight to keep the trail there.
The Board of Regents approved design money for the building. Construction is scheduled to start sometime after 2010.
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