Latest news with #JeffMorris
New York Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Their Water Taps Ran Dry When Meta Built Next Door
After Meta broke ground on a $750 million data center on the edge of Newton County, Ga., the water taps in Beverly and Jeff Morris's home went dry. The couple's house, which uses well water, is 1,000 feet from Meta's new data center. Months after construction began in 2018, the Morris's dishwasher, ice maker, washing machine and toilet all stopped working, said Beverly Morris, now 71. Within a year, the water pressure had slowed to a trickle. Soon, nothing came out of the bathroom and kitchen taps. Jeff Morris, 67, eventually traced the issues to the buildup of sediment in the water. He said he suspected the cause was Meta's construction, which could have added sediment to the groundwater and affected their well. The couple replaced most of their appliances in 2019, and then again in 2021 and 2024. Residue now gathers at the bottom of their backyard pool. The taps in one of their two bathrooms still do not work. 'It feels like we're fighting an unwinnable battle that we didn't sign up for,' Ms. Morris, a retired payroll specialist, said, adding that she and her husband have spent $5,000 on their water problems and cannot afford the $25,000 to replace the well. 'I'm scared to drink our own water.' The Morris's experience is one of a growing number of water-related issues around Newton County, which is a 1.5-hour drive east of Atlanta and has a population of about 120,000 people. As tech giants like Meta build data centers in the area, local wells have been damaged, the cost of municipal water has soared and the county's water commission may face a shortage of the vital resource. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW Charity Pro-Am raises over $16 million for S.C. charities
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — At the BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament, their mission is all about giving back to local charities. For 25 years, the BMW Charity Pro-Am has been in 'full swing,' bringing a fun tournament to the Upstate while raising money for charities across the state. 'Oh, they love it,' Jeff Morris, Executive Director of Folds of Honor for the Palmetto State also said. 'They are calling me as soon as we are finished,' Chrystal Assadzandi, Charity and Volunteer Coordinator for the BMW Charity Pro-Am, said. 'I get a lot of calls saying 'how can we participate? How can we be a part?'' In 2001, the tournament was created to showcase the beauty of the South Carolina Upstate, while bringing locals, celebrities, and professional golfers together. It's aimed to raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities. One of those charities that has been impacted is Folds of Honor. 'I have had many veterans come up to me and they are so grateful to have the opportunity to come watch a golf tournament, come into the hospitality suite, interact with other veterans,' Morris said. 'It is amazing when you hear them, and they just go in there and they swap stories.' Morris said since Folds of Honor's involvement with the BMW Charity Pro-Am began in 2018, their group has been awarded around $250,000. The charity offers educational scholarships to the children and spouses of military and first responders. Funding for Folds of Honor, along with the more than 50 charities involved in this year's tournament, is raised in many ways, including through donations, ticket sales, and volunteer programs. BMW leaders said hundreds of charities have been impacted through this tournament over the past 25 years, and the money raised for them has not slowed down. 'We have given back in the past 25 years over $16 million to charities right here in the Upstate,' Assadzandi said. The BMW Charity Pro-Am will run through Sunday, June 8. For the final two days of the tournament, it's being held at the Thornblade Club in Greenville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
