Border Battle

The line between Georgia and Tennessee is now the cause of a border battle. Legislators in Georgia introduced a bill today to discuss moving that border about a mile into Tennessee.

This isn't the first time the issue has come up... ever since the 1800's that line has been debated. But the Tennessee River runs through the very corner in question, so if the border was moved up... more water would come down into Georgia.

The line between Tennesse and Geogria has been clear to many for many years... But now some say that border is blurred. Lee Ellis lives in Marion County, Tennessee, right on the border of Georgia. He says, "They deserve if it's there's, what theirs is theirs, I mean it goes way back."

Today Georgia legislators introduced a bill that would create a commission to discuss a border change in that area. They want the border moved up about five thousand feet to the thirty-fifth parallel. That's where they say the line should have been drawn back in 1818, but they say surveying equipment back then wasn't as accurate.

Highway 156 runs right through Marion County and right over the Tennessee River, which is obviously in Tennessee... but if the ga legislators have their way, this area and this water would soon belong to Georgia.

With Georgia's recent draught, it's clear this border battle may have something to do with the water wars. Representative Harry Giesinger wrote the bill and told us today, "It's a big issue for the entire region, because Georgia and Tennessee have both just been through a draught."

He calls the change fixing an error and helping to fix the water crisis. But Tennessee Representative Bo Watson says it may cause more of a problem than a solution. He says, "How we solve this dispute is the question.. but Tennessee has held the land for so long it, has been the guardian of it."

A problem especially for people like Ellis who would end up moving into a different state without moving at all. He says, "Not very happy about it, I would have to change my license, my address, no I don't like that idea."

This bill was introduced today in Georgia to both the House and Senate where it's already received many signatures. But again, this resolution is just to create a commission to DISCUSS the issue. Both Tennessee and the U.S. Congress would also have to approve for this border change to go into affect.