Kandi Manhart of Class 40, surprised the group by streaming into the bus PA system, the theme song, “Dukes of Hazzard” which got the group fired up for the visit to Hazard. During the ride, classmates discussed several social and economic issues regarding the City of Hazard and Perry County. Class 40 arrived at Hazard Community and Technical College and were joined by Hazard government and community leaders. Jim Shattuck of Class 40 had the honor of introducing Mayor Gorman, who is in his 33rd year as Mayor of Hazard. Mayor Gorman has been the Mayor since 1978 and for 85 years young, a great inspiration to all of us. A special thanks goes to Ron Daley, Senior Director, Office of Advancement & Government Relations for use of the college conference room and for providing lunch. Class 40 fellows asked questions of the panel in the following areas: coal mining, economy, education, unemployment, regulatory burdens, obesity, drug use, water storage and other health care issues. Some of the panel members included the Mayor, Commissioner Happy Mobelini, Betsy Clemons (Chamber of Commerce) and Dan Smoot, Director of UNITE (Law Enforcement). The City of Hazard provided a gift bag to all Class 40 fellows. The hospitality of the Mayor, panel and college will not be forgotten, thanks again City of Hazard!!
(The below is a link to a news article in the Hazard Herald newspaper about our visit)
http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/6855515/article-California-delegation-discusses-Hazard-economy--rural-issues?instance=secondary_news_left_column
At the conclusion of our Hazard Community Panel discussion we broke up and mingled with the community panel members. While eating and visiting with them we were entertained by the Hazard Community and Technical College Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music. Dean Osborne and his band did a wonderful job of setting the ambiance. Thanks Dean for entertaining all of us!
Toward the end of our time at the Hazard Community and Technical College, Class 40 fellows were honored by Mayor William D. Gorman by making a proclamation. The proclamation made each of us a Duke or Duchess of Hazard as well as gave us each a key to the City.
After experiencing the warm hospitality, we were off to tour a mountain top removal coal mining site. The 2500 acre site, 20 minutes from Hazard is owned by Pine Branch Coal Sales, Inc. We were met at the site by Robert Ray of Pine Branch Coal Sales, Inc. Robert has 35 years experience as a surface mining manager. He showed us their mountain top removal site where they extract coal; the site was opened for mining in 1992. We saw large trucks, “Tonka trucks” that can carry 200 tons of rock and coal per load. The process includes removal of all vegetation, cutting with dozers and excavators, removing the soil/rock to the reclaimed land to build up the mountain per regulation permits. Lastly, as the veins of coal are exposed, it is then broken up by the loaders and loaded for transport. We also viewed a site where the stream bed restoration process was being done. Eastern Kentucky provides coal to China and Europe as well as power plants in the United States.
Prior to leaving the coal mining site we were joined by Dr. Tammy Horn, Director of the Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute. Dr. Horn discussed the practice of reclaiming coal mines with pollinators, trees, shrubs and vegetation.
Finally we learned about how they take a reclaimed surface mining area and turn it into grazing pasture for cattle. The pasture contains one animal unit per two acres. The pasture we viewed was approximately 600 acres in size, and is now useable land for the agricultural industry. The pasture, with its rolling hills, reminded us of parts of Montana.
The hospitality continued with Betsy Clemons, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, organizing a group dinner (at the last minute) at the Hazard Country Club Golf Course. We enjoyed filet mignon and all the fixings. A BIG Thank You goes out to opening the restaurant especially for us!
To end the night we learned about the Pikes County Community Arts Program. Stephanie Richards, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Agent for Fine Arts shared how several programs benefit youth in Appalachia. Goals of the programs are to instill in the youth an appreciation of their cultural heritage and enhance their appreciation of the arts. Stephanie is involved in the Artists Collaborative Theatre, Inc. in Elkhorn City, KY. For more information go to http://www.act4.org/. Stephanie developed and made a success story by introducing fine arts programs into a small community (Population 1,060) in Pikes County, KY. Stephanie was inspiring and reminded all of us how passion may be the most important character of a person to benefit the community, and ultimately make yourself happy.
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