By Georg

(Views expressed in this column are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the owner of this publication.)
Wilcox County has a lot going for it. It has a vast expanse of varying countryside, a river flowing through it, good lakes, a large number of historic sites, and plenty of good people. But yet, Wilcox County is one of the poorest counties in Alabama, and the state government as well as the feds ain’t doing a darn thing to help us.
Oh, there is lots of talk by government officials and grandstanding politicians about helping the county. Commissions and committees are set up to study the problem, but nothing is done to implement what is needed to actually help this great county.
It is time for Wilcox County residents to step to the plate and help themselves. We need to overcome the racial divide that has hindered this county for so long. It is as one person said during a county Board of Education meeting, “It is not about black or white; it is about doing what is right.” The speaker was a black lady that had just returned from ‘up north’ following her retirement. She had gone up north because there were no opportunities for her here in her home county at that time. But there are opportunities for our young folk, if we only do what is right.
We need more politicians like John Matthews, and less of the ilk of the Saulsberrys. We need more school principles like Richard Bryant, and less of the likes of James Thomas. We need more of “doing what is right,” and less of “hiring people that look like us.”
Prince Arnold once said, “There won’t ever be a white man elected, countywide, as long as I live.” We don’t need elected officials, especially law enforcement official in the county, with attitudes like that. We need more of the way of thinking of that woman at the Board of Education meeting, “It’s about doing what is right.”
Wilcox County could be the showcase of the entire state, if only we do what is right. And we can’t wait for the state to do it for us.
The Alabama river flows through much of the county. It has two great lakes, and numerous small creeks and sloughs flowing into it. Recreational activities could bring a lot of tourists into the county. And tourism dollars are brand new dollars, not recycled dollars.
Fifty small companies, employing two people each, giving guided tours and fishing trips to rich Yankee snobs are a lot better than one large company employing 100 people. If one of the small companies goes belly-up, there is not much impact on the county economy. But if that large company should relocate elsewhere, the county is hurt, bad.
Thomasville (Georgia) Airport was, in 1996, the busiest general aviation airport in Georgia. A large number of people were flown in to spend time on the 70-some hunting plantations in the area. They spent a lot of money during that time.
We could have the same here in Wilcox County; with fishing instead of hunting plantations. We could have canoe-rental companies providing canoes for day-trippers. It is 15 river miles form Bridgeport landing to Millers Ferry, a good one day canoe trip.
There were plans to build a large-scale, full-service marina in the Bridgeport area. But with the federal government playing funding games about the lock and dam at Millers Ferry, those plans are now on hold. Why should investors put their good money into building a large marina in Camden if the federal government threatens the existence of our lakes. If the funding for the Millers Ferry Lock and Dam is eliminated, the gates of the dam will be left open, and we lose our lakes, and any chance of recreational development along the river.
The State of Alabama, and the federal government, needs to rethink their funding criteria for the dams along the river. Basing funding criteria on commercial activity along the river is pig-headed and wrong. A different funding criteria, such as the number of recreational boats registered in the counties bordering the river would be a better idea.
Wilcox County should be declared an economic disaster area, and full funding for the Millers Ferry Lock and Dam should be restored.
We also have a lot of historic sites in the county. Snow Hill Institute is just one of those sites. yet development of Snow Hill is stalled because of infighting between two groups who want the glory of the Institute for themselves. While the groups fight amongst themselves, the remaining buildings continue to crumble.
There are many civil rights historic sites in the county. We need to mark, and promote those sites to tourists. So what if showcases the racial problems of the 1950s and ‘60s? Tourism dollars are green, not black or white.
We should also do whatever is possible to build a civil rights historic trail from Selma to Montgomery. The trail also covers a lot of other historic happenings along the way. It was also the trail by which General Forrest’s army retreated after the Battle of Selma.
A walking trail from Selma to Montgomery would be 50 miles long. A large number of people hike the Appalachian Trail each year. A 50-mile walking trail in Alabama could bring a lot of tourists here. Tourists who spend money. They would need hotels to stay at least one night on. They would need transportation back to the starting point from their destination point. They would want souvenirs of their visit.
Speaking of souvenirs. Just where in Wilcox County can a person currently buy a souvenir of their visit? Blackbelt Treasures? County residents could provide those souvenirs through a network of home-based cottage industries.
We could also create marked bicycle trails throughout the county. With the high cost of fuel for personal automobiles, we need another mode of transportation. Bicycles are a viable alternative. And they would promote a healthier lifestyle.
BRAG, Bicycle Ride Across Georgia, brings in quite a few riders to those communities along its trail. We could develop a similar ride across Wilcox County. Highway 28, between the Marengo County line and Camden has some wonderful vistas. Highway 10, between Pine Hill and Pine Apple also has some beautiful views that cannot be appreciated from a car. Highway 21/28 from Camden to the Lowndes County line is another good possibility for a bicycle trail. County Road 29, from Alberta to Boykin would be another good bicycle route.
But building tourism in Wilcox County will not happen by itself. Creating another state commission will not make it happen. State Representative James Thomas and Sate Senator Hank Sanders won’t make it happen. Congressman Artur Davis won’t make it happen. Senators Shelby and Sessions won’t make it happen.
By georg, it is up to the good citizens of Wilcox County to make it happen.