In the tight-knit community of Lincoln County, Tennessee, a peculiar and alarming situation has unfolded. Anger and frustration have taken hold of the residents as they grapple with the repercussions of an invasive black fungus that has engulfed their town. Astonishingly, they attribute the source of this relentless fungal assault to none other than the renowned alcohol producer, Jack Daniels. According to the locals, the whiskey behemoth has failed to contain a nefarious “whiskey fungus” that thrives on the ethanol vapors emitted from their factory’s barrel houses. As a result, this insidious fungus has wreaked havoc on Lincoln County, persisting for years without respite.
Unfortunate individuals residing near the Jack Daniels factory bear the brunt of this affliction, as their homes, porches, and even their vehicles become shrouded in the eerie black whisky fungus. Some go so far as to claim that this unwelcome fungal presence has decimated wildlife populations and obscured street signs, rendering navigation in the area a daunting task for unfamiliar visitors.
The onset of this black whisky fungus nightmare dates back to the time when the liquor company unveiled its ambitious plans in 2018 to construct six new barrel houses, with a further fourteen slated for future development. Ever since, a sense of fury has gripped the beleaguered locals, who demand that Jack Daniels take immediate responsibility for this predicament and rectify the issue before further harm befalls both people and wildlife alike.
Patrick Long, a resident living in proximity to one of the barrel houses, has taken matters into his own hands by filing a lawsuit against the county for their failure to control the menacing black mold. Property values have plummeted in the affected area, and concerns surrounding community health have reached a boiling point, as the populace unwittingly inhales potentially hazardous mold particles. Long expresses his anxiety, stating, “It’s in the air. And you really, probably don’t want to be breathing that in. But nobody has done a test to determine if it’s actually poisonous. I’m extremely concerned. My wife has breathing problems. One of the neighbors got cancer.”
Local authorities, having exhausted their efforts to combat the invasive black whisky fungus, have reluctantly resigned to replacing illegible street signs instead of attempting futile clean-up operations. Long, burdened by the relentless presence of the sticky black mold on his property, claims to have spent a staggering sum of over $10,000 throughout the years on power washing alone. To rid his belongings of this stubborn residue, he relies on a potent concoction of water and Clorox bleach, a veritable cocktail that manages to eliminate the pervasive black stains.
Driven by their belief that Jack Daniels expanded the number of barrel houses through dubious means, Long and his wife have taken their fight to the legal arena, seeking justice. Long’s wife, expressing their frustration, shares, “We are asking the judge to compel the county to issue a stop work order, effectively halting any ongoing construction at Jack Daniels. Here we are, residents of District 6, utilizing our own personal funds to hold a corporate giant like Jack Daniels accountable for the well-being of Lincoln County.”
As the community grapples with this extraordinary challenge, their plight has attracted attention on social media platforms. Concerned citizens have rallied together, sharing their experiences and offering support to those affected. The collective effort aims to raise awareness and push for swift action to mitigate the impact of the black whisky fungus that has taken their small Tennessee town by storm.
