Harlan High School students address county's problems
Regular Meeting, August 9, 2006

    On their second day back at Harlan High School, several students were prepared to hit important issues head-on during Wednesday's meeting of the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce.

    Initially presented by the students in April at a state leadership conference, the presentation explored the lack of activities geared toward the youth, a lack of jobs and drug abuse as reasons that college graduates don't wish to return to Harlan County after finishing their education. The students also commented on the lack of careers in areas other than medicine and education in Harlan COunty, and the overall lack of pride in the county's appearance.

    The students also made suggestions to entrepreneurs in the county to create more activities for the younger population, including a YMCA, bowling alley and a larger mall. Drugs, however, were the main focus of discussion.

    Harlan High School senior Blake James said there were four major reasons why Harlan County had a drug problem - the easy availability of drugs, the excellent source of income drugs provide, a lack of activities for young people and emotional problems. “I encourage you to seriously think about and help with this problem,” said James.

    Chamber President Roger Fannin returned the challenge to the students, pointing out that Harlan County had a lot to offer them, and they had a lot to offer the county.

“Imagine that there wasn't a Wal-Mart, a theater, a Belk or Goody's, or a hospital,” Fannin said. “I grew up in a town that had none of those things. ...there's a lot of good things here in Harlan County, but I challenge you to come back home and to make a difference. You will have the knowledge and the power to do just that.”

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