I don't think the following is limited to EKY kids.

 

A lot of people just don't know how to nor maybe want to leave the area they know. While you can make sound arguments to do so they simply can't pull the trigger. It doesn't make sense to those of us who are not in his situation but its not unusual.

 

I'm not trying to criticize. I'm trying to understand why someone didn't tell him or encourage him to seek alternatives instead of giving up his dream.

 

No jumping. Sometimes the written word doesn't convey the intended meaning.

 

My point was that he is nowhere near the normal kid that needs financial aid.

 

Again, I don't argue that his situation is near the situation of a kid from a stable family, etc. However, I do know kids from certain parts of Louisville that have similar living challenges.

I'm not trying to criticize. I'm trying to understand why someone didn't tell him or encourage him to seek alternatives instead of giving up his dream.

 

 

 

Again, I don't argue that his situation is near the situation of a kid from a stable family, etc. However, I do know kids from certain parts of Louisville that have similar living challenges.

 

Yeah like Diane Sawyer...Diane went to High School with my Mother-in-law at Lou Senaca and witnessed many families that weren't so fortunate. So Diane knows first hand how tough it can be growing up in a tough environment. She seeing the situation in the Mountains was really no new news to her.

Yes, the national media rarely gives our Eastern Ky counties a fair shake, and yes, the cop-out that there are some nice areas and well-off people in EKy is true, to a degree. It doesn't change the fact that Eastern Kentucky is bleeding population at an alarming rate, and has been doing so for a long time. There's gotta be a reason for it; and it shouldn't be ignored or explained away, whether it is a common problem elsewhere or not.

Yes, the national media rarely gives our Eastern Ky counties a fair shake, and yes, the cop-out that there are some nice areas and well-off people in EKy is true, to a degree. It doesn't change the fact that Eastern Kentucky is bleeding population at an alarming rate, and has been doing so for a long time. There's gotta be a reason for it; and it shouldn't be ignored or explained away, whether it is a common problem elsewhere or not.

 

:thumb:

I thought it was pretty sad the cases that they showed. Drugs are in every community across this country but when you have such a lack of industry down in that area of the state it explains why folks sometimes resort to welfare and drug dealing.

 

The hardest part for me to watch was when the little girl who was very cute by the way and had a lovely voice, said that they run out of money for food.

 

Also, if they are demanding $120 for one pill, how in the world do they afford it or are they all just dealing back and forth?

 

I am not naive to think that there arent very nice places in EKY and also good people in that part of the state. I thought the fact that Mr. Booth built down there and lives where he owns the company was stand up. I do worry aboutg those miners and Black Lung though.

I'm not trying to be hyper-critical of his situation, but neither of my kids have gotten 100% college-aid, as well as most kids I know. They have to work AND go to school. Was his situation worse that the norm?

 

 

The main difference between The Rockchildren and Shawn Grimm is you. I'm sure you and the Trinity advisors would have set down with your son and examined the NAIA scholarship and understood that it was only a partial deal conbined with other monies at an expensive, private school. Grimm had no such support nor understanding.

 

Here's the link if you like to watch. It's in segments and Grimms story is the first up. http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6845770&page=1

 

Like some others, I'm a bit suspicious that grades played a roll in his dropping out but I have no doubt the boy was ill prepared for what he was facing.

The story seemed to have a fixation with all of the Mt. Dew everyone was drinking. Maybe there should be limitations on the kinds of food that can be bought with food stamps. At least the kids could get milk for their bottles--maybe?

A lot of kids seem to be jacked up on Mt. Dew up in the Mts. I wonder if there is something the soft drink company puts in that stuff to get people addicted? Hmmmmmm

I'm not trying to be hyper-critical of his situation, but neither of my kids have gotten 100% college-aid, as well as most kids I know. They have to work AND go to school. Was his situation worse that the norm?

 

Worse than the norm? Are you being sarcastic? Did you even watch the show? Please tell me your joking...

Worse than the norm? Are you being sarcastic? Did you even watch the show? Please tell me your joking...

 

 

If you read my previous posts, you would have known that I did NOT watch the show, and was looking for information. I was not being sarcastic, merely looking for information.

The main difference between The Rockchildren and Shawn Grimm is you. I'm sure you and the Trinity advisors would have set down with your son and examined the NAIA scholarship and understood that it was only a partial deal conbined with other monies at an expensive, private school. Grimm had no such support nor understanding.

 

Here's the link if you like to watch. It's in segments and Grimms story is the first up. http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6845770&page=1

 

Like some others, I'm a bit suspicious that grades played a roll in his dropping out but I have no doubt the boy was ill prepared for what he was facing.

 

Thank you, Pepper. I will watch it and I'm sure it will help me understand. :thumb:

I was feeling the same as you but from what I saw it wasn't, the same old media potryal of EKY :madman:! Yes, there are poverty srtriken areas in Kentucky.....there are also pobverty striken areas in other parts of the country that are never shown. These bleeding heat media trash shows never show the people of the area that you are talking about. I guess being sucsessful doesn't sell as good as giving everyone something to point fingers and looik down their noses at . Typical mainstream media :puke:, I really didn't expect anything else.

 

 

:thumb: No question about it. I couldn't have said it any better!

The main difference between The Rockchildren and Shawn Grimm is you. I'm sure you and the Trinity advisors would have set down with your son and examined the NAIA scholarship and understood that it was only a partial deal conbined with other monies at an expensive, private school. Grimm had no such support nor understanding.

 

Here's the link if you like to watch. It's in segments and Grimms story is the first up. http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6845770&page=1

 

Like some others, I'm a bit suspicious that grades played a roll in his dropping out but I have no doubt the boy was ill prepared for what he was facing.

 

I remember watching Mr. Grimm playing football for JC in 2006, and I saw all the fans in the stands rooting for him in the state semi-final match. The place was packed with good, honest, friendly people, who seemed to care for him and the team and were as friendly and hospitable as any place I have been. I saw the school, it was beautiful, clean and as modern as any I have seen anywhere throughout Kentucky.

 

I also came back to JC in 2008 to again watch JC play, this time a regular season game and they had a completely brand new football stadium. It was indeed a very, very, and I mean very first class complex. The field was the new turf type and was indeed beautiful. The press box was nicer than any other I have had the pleasure to be in and the visitors locker room was indeed first class. I could only image what the home teams locker room looked like as the entire football complex was a thing of beauty.

 

Pepper I understand what you are saying, but why if the school and the community can do all of the above wonderful things for the football team

(and yes I understand a lot of the monies were donated) why can't they take care of the kid. I mean, I understand the parent part, but what about the coach, the teachers, the principal, heck even the school board, they must be educated adults, who understand the importance of a education beyond JC. Yes you are correct (and I don't know rockmom or anyone from "T") but the community at "T" as I know from my own experiences at CovCath, takes care of the kids first, all the rest is secondary.

 

Now I will tell you, my trips to JC changed my opinion on EKy forever, as there I met some wonderful people who really care, but in Mr. Grimm case somebody let this young man down big time, or maybe just maybe he let himself down. There has got to be more to this story, because the folks I met down in JC wouldn't just turn their backs on one of their own.... I am as Paul Havery say's waiting for "now the rest of the story"!

One thing not mentioned so far, is the guy who owned the coal business. He built a large mansion in the hills to make a statement. Anyone know of this guy and how he is thought of by the locals? He stated he had 100 openings in his mine but could not fill them, because no one can pass a drug test. Anyone know if that statement would be accurate?

Unfortuantely, I missed the special... But after reading some of these posts... Is EKY really kind of like a third world country? I've been over that way, I thought it was a nice, beautiful, peaceful place. Is it really that bad or has it been over hyped by ABC? I feel bad for the people involved with this piece, but I'm sure if you come over to Western KY, Central KY, or even Northern KY, you can find the same situation somewhere amongst those areas.