Posted: Nov 27, 2012 6:08 PM EST
By Whitney Delbridge
Uranium Mining Debate Continues in Chatham
Chatham, VA - The uranium mining debate is heating up as more leaders in the community are speaking out.
The President and Trustees at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham are the latest to express their opposition to lifting the moratorium on uranium mining.
But some Hargrave alumni and members of the community are not happy about that decision.
The Danville - Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce asked members to submit their stance on uranium mining.
Hargrave President Don Broome did just that in an e-mail to Hargrave alumni.
Now, some who received that email are saying they disagree with the President's choice.
General Don Broome sent an e-mail to Hargrave alumni expressing the school's support for keeping the ban.
One of the recipients of that e-mail is Hargrave alumnus and Virginia Uranium chief geologist Dr. Joseph Aylor.
He's paid by the lobbying group that's working to have the mining ban lifted.
"Well over 60% of the alumni would ask me, 'What's Hargrave's position on this uranium issue?'. I said look, they need to understand where we're at with this." explained Hargrave Military Academy President General Don Broome.
Broome conferred with the Board of Trustees on their position.
He says it's about doing what they felt is best for the future of the school and its students.
And parents of Hargrave cadets we talked to, seem to agree that lifting the moratorium would have a negative impact.
"We love Hargrave and I think it would just be a very sad thing for them, and for us,"
Even though many are still divided on the issue, Broome says he felt it was important to take a clear stance.
"People are not always going to agree with your stance and I understand that, and I understood that when I sent that email out. We are doing this for the long-term benefit of the school," Broome said
