Dear Editor:

Richmond Hill & Bryan County heads up! Westwin Elements (et. ‘PROJECT PATRIOT’) industrial blight is encroaching upon our community & county, even appearing to dominate the wishes of our citizens and local government (who knows what other industrial toe into our unwary door Westwin’s win might open). NOT IS THE TIME FOR COASTING OR INERTIA RH & BRYAN!

PBS’s news article Feb 4, 2026, “Bryan County to review Westin allegation ...” by M. Coker & M. Landers covered the issue well as did WJCL’s L. Blackstone, “Nickel Refinery Project Sparks ...”.

I was approached by a Westwin Elements rep months ago at 9701 Ford Ave. soliciting a petition signature bringing Westwin to the former Caesarstone facility in RH. The Westwin rep did an impressive (& persistent) job, he provided a Westwin information pamphlet upon my request, even including his name & phone number for further questions. He never mentioned the site was a “toxic waste” & “environmental threat” to the RH community.

He never said Westwin would remove any such waste prior to the Westwin facility installation. It never came up. He implied the “petition” was just a formality, that our Bryan County Commissioners were all on board in welcoming this project upon my questioning him further (not so ya’ll). I refused to sign, adding I would have to study the project & get the County Commissioners input first (I felt unease with what I found as Westwin’s random process & its representative).

Folks please know, there is a reason(s) Westwin Elements (et. ‘PROJECT PATRIOT’) has not found welcome in other parts of the country. Please research why. Contact your congressional representatives, county commissioners, the GA governor, the regional EPA & EPD.

Find a petition to sign against Westwin’s apparent laying claim to an unsuspecting Richmond Hill & Bryan County. Westwin is moving fast, RH & Bryan we have to move decisively faster. Thank you.

Connie Miller, Richmond Hill, Georgia

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