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?

 

Jim Booth grew up with nothing! He is now one of the wealthiest men in KY. He has been very good about giving back to the area. I'm sure there are people jealous of him but I haven't met a person that doesn't think highly of him. If you heard the guys that worked for him they talked about how safe they have felt working for somebody they know that cares about them.

I think Pikeville College kind of got a bad wrap. Anybody that has been to college knows it is a tough transition for a lot of people. When you don't have a strong foundation going in and no support system then it is even tougher. Not to mention he is pretty undersized coming off an injury going into league with much bigger kids. My guess would be that it was just to overwhelming. IMO a kid like him needs some kind of mentor to push him along (tutoring etc) to help him get on his feet the first couple of years at least of college.

Honestly the thing that has helped most of my friends that I grew up with that had no home life/discipline etc is going to the military. My cousin was in last week. His dad left him before he knew him. His mom slept around and could care less about him. I tried to take him under my wing and got him to move in with his grandmother while we were in high school (great move for him). We talked a lot about the Air Force and while he was scared he knew it was his only shot to make something of himself. He is now out and has a great job, family etc in Virginia. I couldnt' be more proud of him. He has overcome a lot and didn't have a great educational background. He learned discipline etc by joining the Air Force.

College is pushed on so many kids that just aren't college material. More time needs to be focused on bringing in industry, training kids that want a vocational job with a craft to make them self sufficient and looking into the military IMO. It's tough because of the war but for a lot it is the best route IMO.

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.

 

In some places, it does look that way.

 

Part of what makes EKy harder-hit by poverty is the isolation compounded with the lack of decent blue-collar jobs -- unless you either have the political connections to get a govt. job or you're willing to go into the mines, there's not much to build a career on. That's why we see such a massive out-migration of people from the area. If I'm not mistaken, as recently as 20 years ago the Pike Co. school system had more than 10 high schools, and now has five.

In some places, it does look that way.

 

Part of what makes EKy harder-hit by poverty is the isolation compounded with the lack of decent blue-collar jobs -- unless you either have the political connections to get a govt. job or you're willing to go into the mines, there's not much to build a career on. That's why we see such a massive out-migration of people from the area. If I'm not mistaken, as recently as 20 years ago the Pike Co. school system had more than 10 high schools, and now has five.

 

The one kid that took a job in the mines stated his salary at 60,000 a year. the owner said he had 100 openings that he cannot fill. Something doesn't quite add up here.

The one kid that took a job in the mines stated his salary at 60,000 a year. the owner said he had 100 openings that he cannot fill. Something doesn't quite add up here.

 

 

Why do you say that?

The one kid that took a job in the mines stated his salary at 60,000 a year. the owner said he had 100 openings that he cannot fill. Something doesn't quite add up here.

 

 

I just watched the show via the link Pepper provided.

 

What the issue is, is that many who could potentially work for the Booth mines, wouldn't pass the drug testing they have.

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.

 

 

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't think that the show overdid the poverty. In the beginning of the show, Diane Sawyer said there are 2.2 million people living in the area she's covering, and that half-million live in the kinds of conditions she's showing on the show. She never said everyone lives like that. She also mentioned Paintsville as a thriving town.

 

I will say that the living conditions she showed on the show are not worse than some I've seen in other parts of the state.

 

As to Shawn Grimm, I feel bad he felt he was overwhelmed and left school. I don't know Pikeville College, but I would hope they have resources available for students that could help them through the transition. I wonder if he availed himself of them? I would hope he doesn't give up his dreams forever. He seemed much more determined early in the show. I wonder if his sense of being was deeply rooted in his success in football? I know for some kids it's hard for them to go from being the star, to being one of many former stars. I hope he gets some good advice from someone to find a new dream, whether that involves college or not. The important thing is to not give up.

The one kid that took a job in the mines stated his salary at 60,000 a year. the owner said he had 100 openings that he cannot fill. Something doesn't quite add up here.

 

I have a hard time believing that, unless he said that during a "boom" period in the industry, or he just didn't advertise the job openings very widely.

I have a hard time believing that, unless he said that during a "boom" period in the industry, or he just didn't advertise the job openings very widely.

 

He said it. He stated that no one can pass the drug test. They even showed were he was creating a sort of pre miners program to keep the kids off the drugs, so they can be employable. One part of the show you have poor down trodden claiming they just don't have a chance, and the next you have a wealthy business owner saying he can't fill good paying jobs. What the heck?

I have a hard time believing that, unless he said that during a "boom" period in the industry, or he just didn't advertise the job openings very widely.

 

 

 

I have no problem at all believing that. There are a lot of lazy people that are content to live on welfare, and sell drugs for a living. I know that you couldn't pay me enough money to go work underground like that. It would be an absolute last resort for me, if it were the only way I would be able to provide for my family.

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"!

 

Absolutely. There should be no way this young man was allowed to live in his truck. There are too many agencies as well as caring individuals who would have taken him in. I'm sure of it.

 

It makes good TV and a heart rending story but I agree, it just doesn't add up.

The one kid that took a job in the mines stated his salary at 60,000 a year. the owner said he had 100 openings that he cannot fill. Something doesn't quite add up here.

 

He could fill every position by lunch time if drug testing were'nt required. I have several aquaintances who are in positions of authority in mining or with MSHA and they all say drug use is so rampant they can't recruit nor retain anything close to a full work force.

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.

Exactly, didn't anyone else see the part where the Grimm kid said he read where everyone needs to drink a beer a day to flush their kidneys and that's why he did it, not exactly college material in my opinion and not many 5'6 running back are gonna get a football scholarship anyway. There are places in Mason County and other counties that I am familiar with that look just as bad as what was shown on 20/20, toothless people, trash in the yards, 10-12 people living in a trailor,etc. What about the incident that just happened in Carlisle, far from Eastern Kentucky?

Exactly, didn't anyone else see the part where the Grimm kid said he read where everyone needs to drink a beer a day to flush their kidneys and that's why he did it, not exactly college material in my opinion and not many 5'6 running back are gonna get a football scholarship anyway. There are places in Mason County and other counties that I am familiar with that look just as bad as what was shown on 20/20, toothless people, trash in the yards, 10-12 people living in a trailor,etc. What about the incident that just happened in Carlisle, far from Eastern Kentucky?

 

What's your point? I don't think the kid's athletic career (or lack of) is the focus of the issue. He was raised in a home without reading materials from which to gain knowledge. Probably no WIFI in his truck either. Some drunken relative probably told him the beer theory and it made sense to him. No big deal. However, you're right about the kid being an unlikely college candidate. See, the problem with Eastern Ky is a lack of opportunities. Get a college education and you can choose from teacher, medical fields, lawyer, accountant etc. A high school diploma may only get you fast food, Walmart, truck driver, etc. There is a huge deficiency in good paying blue collar jobs and it's quite a jump for a young man to leave the holler and become a professional. These families got into these living conditions over the course of several generations and in most cases it will require at least a couple of generation to climb out. There needs to be some stepping stones.

What's your point? I don't think the kid's athletic career (or lack of) is the focus of the issue. He was raised in a home without reading materials from which to gain knowledge. Probably no WIFI in his truck either. Some drunken relative probably told him the beer theory and it made sense to him. No big deal. However, you're right about the kid being an unlikely college candidate. See, the problem with Eastern Ky is a lack of opportunities. Get a college education and you can choose from teacher, medical fields, lawyer, accountant etc. A high school diploma may only get you fast food, Walmart, truck driver, etc. There is a huge deficiency in good paying blue collar jobs and it's quite a jump for a young man to leave the holler and become a professional. These families got into these living conditions over the course of several generations and in most cases it will require at least a couple of generation to climb out. There needs to be some stepping stones.

 

Pepper, those are all very valid points. But, they're not unique to Eastern Kentucky. Go to towns in other parts of Kentucky, and you'll find the same issues. I know, my family lives in such an area, not in Eastern Kentucky.

Pepper, those are all very valid points. But, they're not unique to Eastern Kentucky. Go to towns in other parts of Kentucky, and you'll find the same issues. I know, my family lives in such an area, not in Eastern Kentucky.

 

The program we're discussing was dealing with the difficulties of the Children of the Mountains. I'm aware other areas have similar issues.

 

Would everyone feel better if I added an * at the end of each sentence?

 

*(problems mentioned are not intended to be the sole property of the people of Eastern Kentucky. Some problems may actually be worse in other areas. It is understood that misery and poverty are universal in nature and may appear at any time in any area.)