[GRIZZ]

I agree with Redneck, a lot of the mines in the area give back to the community. A buddy of mine is in the Mining Engineering program at UK and they offer grants and summer employment to local kids, most of the time have a spot for them when they graduate. They also contribute to the area kids with financial contributions to their school for athletic and academic purposes. If mining wasn't in the area it is hard telling what eastern Kentucky would look like. Van Lear was a prosperous part of Johnson County back in the day, but when the mines shut down in Van Lear the community did as well.