Chapter: Perry County

Do you want the absolute best for your family and our Perry County community? So do we.

If you believe, as we do, that working together is the best way to create a better Perry County, then we invite you to be part of our local KFTC chapter.

We are a diverse group of Perry Countians – teachers, retired coal miners, students, unemployed, moms, grandparents and many more. We work together – as we have for 30 years – to protect our water and land, bring new energy and new jobs to our area, share our vision with elected officials and make sure Perry County is a safe place to call home for everyone.

We support each other, have fun and get things done. Come join us at our next potluck chapter meeting!

Recent Activities

Great resources and videos from Appalachia's Bright Future conference now online

KFTC Staff on May 8, 2013 in New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County

The Appalachia’s Bright Future conference, held in Harlan, KY April 19-22, brought together more than 200 people for conversations about shaping a just transition in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia.

Appalachia's Bright Future

KFTC is pleased to now make available a large number of videos, presentations, notes, media coverage about the event, suggested next steps, and other documents that were shared or created during the weekend.

The collected information can be found here.

We appreciate all of the speakers, workshop presenters, artists and conference participants who shared stories and provided important information and perspectives. Even a brief review of the conference web pages makes it clear that this was a pretty extraordinary gathering and conversation.

As KFTC chairperson Sue Tallichet said during her opening remarks, “…it is difficult to envision more than a coal-based economy in our region. But I believe we have the opportunity, today, to build a diverse and healthy economy here in the mountains. Eastern Kentucky has many assets. We have a rich culture, an abundance of natural resources, and innovative, serious-minded, hard working people. Those things give us a foundation on which we can build.”

Justin Maxson, president of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, underscored the point. “…if you take anything away from what I say here today, I hope it is this: We know a lot more than we think we know. We have many more assets to build from than we often believe. And despite our many challenges, including rapid changes to our local and regional economy, there are innovative people providing hopeful examples all around us. What we need now is to knit these pieces together with a vision for Appalachian renewal and help grow them to scale.”

KFTC members and many of our allies in the region are spending time this month reflecting on the conference and developing key next steps. We encourage all KFTC members to bring your ideas and questions to the next chapter meeting in your area. You may also leave comments and questions on the conference web pages. And conference participants are invited to join a phone call on May 30th to discuss ways forward.

Together we can build Appalachia’s Bright Future.

Review of research adds support for moratorium on mountaintop removal

KFTC on April 24, 2013 in Coal and Water, Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Perry County, Air Quality, , Water Quality

Two media events Tuesday helped focus attention on the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act, legislation in Congress that would place an immediate moratorium on new permits while the health impacts of mountaintop removal mining are studied.

Known as the ACHE Act, H.R. 526 was introduced earlier this year by Reps. John Yarmuth of Kentucky and Louise Slaughter of New York, who was born in Harlan County, Kentucky.

“I’ve talked to citizens in the area – towns were 25 percent of the people suffer from some kind of disease, way beyond the national average,” said Yarmuth in an afternoon Congressional briefing. “I’ve talked with teachers whose students color creeks orange.

Appeals Court agrees: permit used to bury streams with mining wastes not valid

KFTC on April 22, 2013 in Coal and Water, Enforcement, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County, Water Quality

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit today invalidated the 2007 version of the nationwide permit used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to authorize the dumping of coal mining wastes into hundreds of miles of Appalachian headwater streams.

The Corps had justified the using the National Permit (NWP 21) based on the "irrational" claim that burying streams with toxic mining wastes had no significant environmental impact.

“I’m thrilled they overturned this decision; it’s a victory for people in eastern Kentucky," said KFTC member Rick Handshoe, a party in the case whose family land in Floyd County is surrounded by mining. "People who live in eastern Kentucky deal with both the immediate and long-term cumulative impacts of mining everyday. Even when the mining is stopped and the coal company is long gone, we deal with the poisoned water and devastated land for decades afterwards.”

Beshear administration still pushing weakened water quality standard for selenium

Spinal deformities in fish resulting from selenium exposure. Photo: Wake Forest University.
KFTC on April 6, 2013 in Coal and Water, Enforcement, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County, Water Quality

On Tuesday, a legislative subcommittee will consider again a proposal from Kentucky’s Division of Water to significantly weaken the water quality standard for selenium pollution.

Be Part of a Just Transition for Appalachia, April 19-21

KFTC on February 24, 2013 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Energy Democracy, Big Sandy, , Harlan County, , Perry County

Eastern Kentucky's economy is changing fast, and our future is unwritten. We believe we have the opportunity to move forward together, to build a new economy here in the mountains – a diverse, home-grown economy good for all people. We can generate new jobs, new businesses and new opportunities for the workers, families and young people of eastern Kentucky. It won't be easy, but we can have a bright future here, if we build it.

We believe it's essential that the transition to the new economy is a just transition – one that celebrates our culture and invests in communities and workers who depend on the old economy. We have many assets here.

Who is this
conference for?

This gathering is for anyone who cares about the future of eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia and is interested in a positive, constructive conversation about the challenges and opportunities we face. Please join us whether you are already working to build a more diverse and sustainable economy or simply want to learn more about what a just transition means and ways to move forward together.

Details and registration information is available at www.kftc.org/abf

Schedule

Lodging/Logistics

Registration

Cost: a sliding scale of $5 to $100. Lodging and some meals not included. Some lodging scholarships available
(apply when registering).

Don’t delay in registering for this exciting event. Many of the hotel rooms we’ve reserved will only be guaranteed through March 19. You are encouraged to make your arrangements as soon as possible!

Our goal is to develop opportunities for our people, for eastern Kentucky, to thrive. We hope you’ll join us for a conversation about the opportunities and challenges we face in our state and region as we work together to build the next economy in eastern Kentucky.

Program overview

The program features positive stories and examples about economic transition from eastern Kentucky and many other Central Appalachian communities. We’ll also hear from invited guests from places that have been through major economic upheaval, including speakers from Wales, the north Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and rural Pennsylvania, to name a few. The program has been designed to engage participants in many ways, including through art, music and theater as well as more traditional conference formats.

More than a dozen workshops will focus on promising pathways for job creation and community development in areas like renewable energy, land and stream restoration, arts and culture, broadband internet access, sustainable forestry, and energy efficient affordable housing. Additional workshops will explore what a just transition in eastern Kentucky means, and what it will take, from the perspective of journalists, workers, and young people in the region.

A primary goal throughout the weekend is to foster an honest, constructive conversation about economic transition. We don’t pretend that we (or anyone) has the answer. But there is a lot we can learn from each other about what’s possible and what’s needed.

Find out more: www.kftc.org/abf

Page

Chapter Feature:

Russell Oliver"KFTC empowers residents to bring about positive changes in their communities. It gives members confidence that they can make a difference. You are not one person, but part of a statewide organization of thousands supporting you and your cause."

-Russell Oliver, Perry County Chapter member

Regular Meetings:

Hazard, KY 41701
Monthly chapter meeting

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every other month at 6 p.m. for the Perry County chapter meeting. We rotate meeting locations so please check the KFTC calendar for most up to date meeting information.

Chapter meetings are a great time to plan local work, discuss local and statewide work, meet new people, and much more. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend! Hope to see you there!

Chapter Organizer:

Jacob Mack-Boll
Hazard, KY 41701
606-263-4982

Other Pages

Upcoming Events:

April 22

Perry County chapter meeting

PO Box 1557
Hindman, KY 41822

The Perry County chapter will be moving its meetings to the *fourth* monday of every month.