[DevilsWin]

You know I pretty much agree with everything you say. The people that have decided to go out and make it on their own should also be included in the grand scenario. There is money in Johnson and the surrounding counties, but most of the time all that gets the press is the negative side of everything.:HitWall:

You're the kind to just sweep all the dirt under the rug huh?

[birdstheword]

You're the kind to just sweep all the dirt under the rug huh?

Now YOU are just showing YOUR IGNORANCE. YOUR post makes no sense!

[slingblade93]

I read somewhere that when Coach Matney heard of Shawn's situation, he provided means of housing for his player. Now, that was never mentioned and I had even more bad vibes against Matney and the school system. I feel much relieved and feel much better about Matney, I just hope it was true.

It is very much true. Coach Matney offered to let him live with him and his family. He chose not to follow the rules at the places he was offered.

[sc06cheer]

Okay, so I wasn't going to make my opinion known too much about this whole show because it was the most ignorant thing I've ever watched, and I knew before even watching it that it would be.

My opinion is, what about the good things happening here in all the communities, Harlan County was one of the places shown (which is where I'm from), what about showing the new things going on in the hospital, all the work that's been done on it. What about the fact that the hospital has been in the top 100 hospitals now for like 2 or 3 years now? What about the fact that Harlan Independent High School has been in the top 10 high schools since 2006? What about the new drug center (Hope center) for women who are on drugs that are now making a life for themselves? What about the new detention center? What about the new high school, and all the classes and new programs being offered there? What about the new school store which is allowing students to work there and gain knowledge in the working business?

I ask where was all this stuff? The reason I mention only Harlan county things is because I live here, I'm not saying that we're better than any other county, or anything like that, so don't say it. I simply only know these things about my county, if someone else knows things about the other counties, then list the things you wish they would of posted.

What blows my mind is people say "oh it's mountain dews fault that we don't have teeth" that's the most ignorant thing ever! What about dark pop? I mean seriously... the PARENTS give them the pop to drink which shouldn't be done to begin with, but why not teach them to brush their teeth! If they would brush their teeth then they probably wouldn't have a problem. And I don't want to hear that they don't have money for it, all you have to do is go to the dentists office and they give free toothbrushes away, and even if they don't, go to the health department, and I know that they give them away at schools sometimes, so you can get a darn toothbrush, teach your kids to brush their teeth if you're going to give them junk food and let them drink pop and quit you're complaining about it!

Now, Shawn Grimm's story I look at it in both views, I feel for him for everything he's been through, but he's had support I'm sure, from his coach or so it seemed like that on TV. If you want to make something of yourself then you're going to do it, regardless of the support or not, that should push you MORE to want to accomplish something, he accomplished graduating without them, so why not college? Why not do it so you can throw it back in their face and say "look I did this WITHOUT you, without help, without support." If he didn't have money, they would of put him on finical aid, and theres plenty of other people that do this stuff with all their problems, with all the not having food and all that, other people do it, so why make an exception for him. What about the kids that go to high school and middle schools and only eat AT school, is everyone going to start forking out stuff for them to make it through college? DOUBTFUL.

I'm going to say that the show for Harlan was portrayed halfway, yes we have those problems, yes things are still needing to change, but things like this happen EVERYWHERE not just in the Appalachian community, why not go out to Hollywood and document the people on drugs out there, or what about New York, Detroit , places like this? Why not go somewhere else instead of coming here. Or if you're going to come here, then come back and do another hour long special on things that are CHANGING and the things that are happening that are going GOOD for our communities.

Now again, I talk about Harlan county because this is where I live, I don't know all the other counties situations or things that are changing there, hence the reason I didn't mention those, so don't say I'm trying to pick out Harlan county as the only county to talk about that's doing good, I'm sure others are, but it wasn't portrayed, and I don't live there so I don't know what's going on there, I only know what's going on here.

[Matman]

Comparing the poor here and the poor in the larger cities is pretty interesting. Our poor have homes and electricity. The poor in the cities are the homeless. People just don't see them anymore.

Pretty interesting about the miners though. An 18 year old right out of high school starting off at 60k a year. Thats not too bad. Thats enough money to make alot of people think twice about going to college. I looked up the average house hold income in ky and it was around 47k. That had us listed in the bottom 10 poorest states. I think Hawaii was in the top 10 with an average income of just over 60k. I don't know about you but i would much rather make 40k in ky than try to live off 60k in Hawaii.

[Matman]

It is very much true. Coach Matney offered to let him live with him and his family. He chose not to follow the rules at the places he was offered.

Matney is a great person to have in your school systems. He will try 100 times harder than any teacher to help a student to get into college. He will do everything he can to help the kids as well. I wasn't in the best situation growing up and Coach Matney would go out of his way to get me a ride to and from practice and school. Often times driving me himself.

[TheRealVille]

A followup on ABC this morning said 3-4 colleges have offered a 100% ride since seeing the program on Shawn. 100%, tuition,room,books and even food. I hope he goes with one of them and gets a good education and break the cycle that has his family down.

[TheRealVille]

Comparing the poor here and the poor in the larger cities is pretty interesting. Our poor have homes and electricity. The poor in the cities are the homeless. People just don't see them anymore.

Pretty interesting about the miners though. An 18 year old right out of high school starting off at 60k a year. Thats not too bad. Thats enough money to make alot of people think twice about going to college. I looked up the average house hold income in ky and it was around 47k. That had us listed in the bottom 10 poorest states. I think Hawaii was in the top 10 with an average income of just over 60k. I don't know about you but i would much rather make 40k in ky than try to live off 60k in Hawaii.

47K sounds a little high. Just two years ago I read the median income in KY was 32K, which souds closer to real than 47K.

[Matman]

47K sounds a little high. Just two years ago I read the median income in KY was 32K, which souds closer to real than 47K.

It could be high. I got it from Wikepedia. But look at three of the bigger employers in the area Federal Prison, hospitals, and coal mines. I think the average miner earns around 63k a year. The prisons average income is about 60k a year. So add in the hospitals. 32k a year would sound a little low to me for a house hold. Especially with two incomes.

[Big_Wiggle33]

i just wanna know one thing......nothing against shawn but if he wasnt an all star football player in the mountains, how many of these people would care how he lived or living.....there are all kinds of ppl living like that everywhere but nothing really said about them....makes you wonder.....he had an opportunity and failed, but from the website he has he has other offers so let everyone move on!!!!! some of that doc. was just stupid and she have been kept in eastern ky and stop making everyone that lives there look stupid and acts like that ky is worthless!!!!

[ek_baller]

i just wanna know one thing......nothing against shawn but if he wasnt an all star football player in the mountains, how many of these people would care how he lived or living.....there are all kinds of ppl living like that everywhere but nothing really said about them....makes you wonder.....he had an opportunity and failed, but from the website he has he has other offers so let everyone move on!!!!! some of that doc. was just stupid and she have been kept in eastern ky and stop making everyone that lives there look stupid and acts like that ky is worthless!!!!

SAY WHAAAT?:moon:

[FOX SPORTS]

A followup on ABC this morning said 3-4 colleges have offered a 100% ride since seeing the program on Shawn. 100%, tuition,room,books and even food. I hope he goes with one of them and gets a good education and break the cycle that has his family down.

He had a full ride at Pikeville College and was even asked again this week by the new president if he wanted to re-enroll at Pikeville College and declined.

BTW---ABC is airing a 20/20 follow-up this Friday night at 10p

[bigbluefever]

The whole point of the show was to show the poverty in the area. The whole "Hidden America". If they had shown all of the good in the area, what makes that a "Hidden America". There are success stories everywhere in America. I live in Eastern KY and although I am not from here, I thought they could have gone without some things shown on the documentary. However, where I am from, you can find people like that as well. It is not just in Eastern KY that it is happening. We were just fortunate enough to have this area shown on national television. People are complaining about it and how it makes the area look bad, but the fact of the matter is it is here. There are people like that. Most people turn their heads and look the other way when they see it, but Diane Sawyer just brought it to light. Perhaps now it will spark a change and some outside assistance to help those less fortunate in the area. I think the fact that Shawn Grimm is being offered more scholarships and a second chance is something positive that has come from it. I for one don't see why he didn't make it at Pikeville College, but maybe it takes getting away from the area so he can see what else is out there to actually push him to make his life better. It is hard for me to feel sorry for people who aren't wanting to make their lives better. I do feel sorry for the children because they don't have a choice as to how their parents raise them. What they do have is an opportunity to make their lives better once they graduate high school. Shawn has this opportunity...AGAIN..and I hope for him that he takes advantage of it.
The parents shown on the show living in filth are choosing to do so. It doesn't matter what size your house is or what kind of car you drive, but living in filth is a CHOICE. Choosing to have diapers and garbage lying all over is a choice and I can't feel sorry for someone choosing to live in those conditions. Giving a child mountain dew in a bottle is not okay and using the excuse "we can't afford groceries" is pathetic since you are smoking a cigarette with tattoos on your body. How much do those cigarettes cost? Buy your children some milk! People like that just want an excuse...they can't afford it. Well in today's age, you work for what you have. If you are perfectly capable of working then don't complain about not having money. I work for what I have. The truth of the matter is people just aren't willing to do it. They want everything handed to them and if it's not, they complain about not being as fortunate as others. Well those other people who have the nice houses, cars, etc.. have them by working and making something of themselves. Not by sitting at home smoking cigarettes, wondering when it is someone is going to hand you a better life. You have to earn it!

[ek_baller]

bigbluefever, you are my hero. It couldn't have been put better!

[sc06cheer]

The whole point of the show was to show the poverty in the area. The whole "Hidden America". If they had shown all of the good in the area, what makes that a "Hidden America". There are success stories everywhere in America. I live in Eastern KY and although I am not from here, I thought they could have gone without some things shown on the documentary. However, where I am from, you can find people like that as well. It is not just in Eastern KY that it is happening. We were just fortunate enough to have this area shown on national television. People are complaining about it and how it makes the area look bad, but the fact of the matter is it is here. There are people like that. Most people turn their heads and look the other way when they see it, but Diane Sawyer just brought it to light. Perhaps now it will spark a change and some outside assistance to help those less fortunate in the area. I think the fact that Shawn Grimm is being offered more scholarships and a second chance is something positive that has come from it. I for one don't see why he didn't make it at Pikeville College, but maybe it takes getting away from the area so he can see what else is out there to actually push him to make his life better. It is hard for me to feel sorry for people who aren't wanting to make their lives better. I do feel sorry for the children because they don't have a choice as to how their parents raise them. What they do have is an opportunity to make their lives better once they graduate high school. Shawn has this opportunity...AGAIN..and I hope for him that he takes advantage of it.
The parents shown on the show living in filth are choosing to do so. It doesn't matter what size your house is or what kind of car you drive, but living in filth is a CHOICE. Choosing to have diapers and garbage lying all over is a choice and I can't feel sorry for someone choosing to live in those conditions. Giving a child mountain dew in a bottle is not okay and using the excuse "we can't afford groceries" is pathetic since you are smoking a cigarette with tattoos on your body. How much do those cigarettes cost? Buy your children some milk! People like that just want an excuse...they can't afford it. Well in today's age, you work for what you have. If you are perfectly capable of working then don't complain about not having money. I work for what I have. The truth of the matter is people just aren't willing to do it. They want everything handed to them and if it's not, they complain about not being as fortunate as others. Well those other people who have the nice houses, cars, etc.. have them by working and making something of themselves. Not by sitting at home smoking cigarettes, wondering when it is someone is going to hand you a better life. You have to earn it!

Good post. But no offense, if you're not or originally from here like you said then it's probably not going to urk you as much as it does others. I don't know how long you've lived here, but I've seen this stuff my whole life of how we're a "Hidden America." Whenever I'd go other places I'd get asked questions of "Do you have running water, do you wear shoes, do you chase chickens in the morning, do you even have a bathroom in your house now" And this was all in the late 90's and early 00's. They've already done plenty of shoes about this place, and many changes ARE taking place. You are right in saying that people do make the choice to live with trash and stuff in their yards, but sad to say, them being put on TV isn't going to change them. This will go on for a few more months at the most of people wanting to help the Appalachian area, then it will be swept back under the rug and everyone will go back to pointing laughing and making fun of this area until another TV show is done.

It's the same thing over and over again, and I think most people's point is that we're just tired of being portrayed as a "Hidden America." It's not hidden, trust me everyone knows what goes on in this area, they just choose their points in time to make fun or it or try to act big and bad and "help" us.

[sc06cheer]

i just wanna know one thing......nothing against shawn but if he wasnt an all star football player in the mountains, how many of these people would care how he lived or living.....there are all kinds of ppl living like that everywhere but nothing really said about them....makes you wonder.....he had an opportunity and failed, but from the website he has he has other offers so let everyone move on!!!!! some of that doc. was just stupid and she have been kept in eastern ky and stop making everyone that lives there look stupid and acts like that ky is worthless!!!!

Although your post kind of confused me, I agree deeply, I don't think people would be making the same big deal out of it all if it was a regular student in high school that couldn't pay for college, he had a full ride at Pikeville, and choose to drop out...why not help someone that actually wants to go to college..

[DevilsWin]

Good post. But no offense, if you're not or originally from here like you said then it's probably not going to urk you as much as it does others. I don't know how long you've lived here, but I've seen this stuff my whole life of how we're a "Hidden America." Whenever I'd go other places I'd get asked questions of "Do you have running water, do you wear shoes, do you chase chickens in the morning, do you even have a bathroom in your house now" And this was all in the late 90's and early 00's. They've already done plenty of shoes about this place, and many changes ARE taking place. You are right in saying that people do make the choice to live with trash and stuff in their yards, but sad to say, them being put on TV isn't going to change them. This will go on for a few more months at the most of people wanting to help the Appalachian area, then it will be swept back under the rug and everyone will go back to pointing laughing and making fun of this area until another TV show is done.

It's the same thing over and over again, and I think most people's point is that we're just tired of being portrayed as a "Hidden America." It's not hidden, trust me everyone knows what goes on in this area, they just choose their points in time to make fun or it or try to act big and bad and "help" us.

So it hurt your feelings?

boo hoo

If you're sick of hearing outsiders say "Do you have shoes" instead of getting angry why don't you give them an education. A good answer would be " Yes we have shoes, but some folks still can't afford nice shoes".

What's wrong with the truth?

[DevilsWin]

Although your post kind of confused me, I agree deeply, I don't think people would be making the same big deal out of it all if it was a regular student in high school that couldn't pay for college, he had a full ride at Pikeville, and choose to drop out...why not help someone that actually wants to go to college..

Too many opportunities for failure that close to home. Going to Pikeville was a bad decision unless that was his only offer.

[bigbluefever]

Good post. But no offense, if you're not or originally from here like you said then it's probably not going to urk you as much as it does others. I don't know how long you've lived here, but I've seen this stuff my whole life of how we're a "Hidden America." Whenever I'd go other places I'd get asked questions of "Do you have running water, do you wear shoes, do you chase chickens in the morning, do you even have a bathroom in your house now" And this was all in the late 90's and early 00's. They've already done plenty of shoes about this place, and many changes ARE taking place. You are right in saying that people do make the choice to live with trash and stuff in their yards, but sad to say, them being put on TV isn't going to change them. This will go on for a few more months at the most of people wanting to help the Appalachian area, then it will be swept back under the rug and everyone will go back to pointing laughing and making fun of this area until another TV show is done.

It's the same thing over and over again, and I think most people's point is that we're just tired of being portrayed as a "Hidden America." It's not hidden, trust me everyone knows what goes on in this area, they just choose their points in time to make fun or it or try to act big and bad and "help" us.

I've been here for quite some time now and I don't think it's just in this part of the state that people are given the stereotype of not having shoes, water, etc.. It's part of being from KY that we are given that stereotype as a "hillbilly". Just be proud to know that you are who you are and I don't know about you but I am proud to be from KY. If someone wants to call me a "hillbilly", then let them do it. I know in my mind who I am and am very proud to be from the bluegrass state. We have been and always will be given that stereotype and I don't think if they had a special on 20/20 of all the rich people in the state and all the success that it would change some people's minds on what people from KY are like. It's called ignorance. And those ignorant people will always look at KY people as hillbillies. That's just who they are. You know and I know what we all are and I for one am proud to be a Wildcat!! Go Big Blue!

[beasy_bo]

my lil brother played football with him and i do believe that his best choice would be to move out of eastern kentucky completely. alot of people judge him off the field just because of his family and love him when he has them pads on. I'm sure matney try to help him and give him a place to live he has does this with multiple kids especially from sheldon clark. even when i was a toddler he tried to adopt me out of foster care. but for shawn i kind of know how he feels except i didn't have a truck when you finally get out of there what lil support you did have is all gone and its harder especially when you have to keep up with all your college grades. if i was him i would take up some of them offers in florida move the **** out!:moon:

[CoachB]

A colleague told me today that 20/20 would have a follow-up story this Friday. Has anyone else heard this?

[allseasonfan]

A colleague told me today that 20/20 would have a follow-up story this Friday. Has anyone else heard this?

I heard it was Friday night!

[DevilsWin]

I've been here for quite some time now and I don't think it's just in this part of the state that people are given the stereotype of not having shoes, water, etc.. It's part of being from KY that we are given that stereotype as a "hillbilly". Just be proud to know that you are who you are and I don't know about you but I am proud to be from KY. If someone wants to call me a "hillbilly", then let them do it. I know in my mind who I am and am very proud to be from the bluegrass state. We have been and always will be given that stereotype and I don't think if they had a special on 20/20 of all the rich people in the state and all the success that it would change some people's minds on what people from KY are like. It's called ignorance. And those ignorant people will always look at KY people as hillbillies. That's just who they are. You know and I know what we all are and I for one am proud to be a Wildcat!! Go Big Blue!

I'm proud to be a hillbilly! The word "Hillbilly" to some, is demeaning. I'm not one of those people.

[jetpilot]

Too many opportunities for failure that close to home. Going to Pikeville was a bad decision unless that was his only offer.

Accepting a free college eduction was not a bad decision. Not taking advantage of the opportunity was.

[ek_baller]

Accepting a free college eduction was not a bad decision. Not taking advantage of the opportunity was.

When your not taught to know any better this is what you get. But there always comes a time in life when you know right from wrong and when you choose the wrong path at that point, YOU are the one to blame!:rockon:

[DevilsWin]

Accepting a free college eduction was not a bad decision. Not taking advantage of the opportunity was.

I think that Pikeville Pride may be clouding your vision.

Read what I said again, then think.

[jetpilot]

I think that Pikeville Pride may be clouding your vision.

Read what I said again, then think.

You think wrong. Pikeville pride has nothing to do with it. I read what you said and it will never make any sense no matter how many times I read it.

[sc06cheer]

So it hurt your feelings?

boo hoo

If you're sick of hearing outsiders say "Do you have shoes" instead of getting angry why don't you give them an education. A good answer would be " Yes we have shoes, but some folks still can't afford nice shoes".

What's wrong with the truth?

Well, someone's a little rude. I never said it hurt my feelings, I'm just sick and tired of people saying that others aren't trying to do things. Who are you to say that I'm not living my life to help others, I may not be a school teacher or something like that, but I do stand behind my church kids that I teach sunday school to, and I do support them. And I'll support anyone else, so how about you watch the words you say unless you actually KNOW the person you're saying them to. I don't get angry, I laugh at them and say, "no we don't, I borrowed the ones I have on now from a friend." SOME of it is the truth, but how about the other half of the truth that I for one know Harlan County is trying to make with all these problems.

So how about you boo hoo on back somewhere else (:

[sc06cheer]

I've been here for quite some time now and I don't think it's just in this part of the state that people are given the stereotype of not having shoes, water, etc.. It's part of being from KY that we are given that stereotype as a "hillbilly". Just be proud to know that you are who you are and I don't know about you but I am proud to be from KY. If someone wants to call me a "hillbilly", then let them do it. I know in my mind who I am and am very proud to be from the bluegrass state. We have been and always will be given that stereotype and I don't think if they had a special on 20/20 of all the rich people in the state and all the success that it would change some people's minds on what people from KY are like. It's called ignorance. And those ignorant people will always look at KY people as hillbillies. That's just who they are. You know and I know what we all are and I for one am proud to be a Wildcat!! Go Big Blue!

I'm most definitely proud to be from where I'm from. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, I've experienced other places, and there is no place like Harlan County, period. My whole thing is, that I know Harlan County for one is doing things to try and make things better for the children in our community, and I wanted to know where those stories were. Since they didn't bother coming by Harlan Independent which has been in the top 10 high schools since 2006, or go check the new high school and all the classes and new programs being offered there... that was my whole point. But I can definitely tell you I am NOT ashamed to be from here, and never will be. Glad to know you feel the same!

[sc06cheer]

A colleague told me today that 20/20 would have a follow-up story this Friday. Has anyone else heard this?

Yes, it will be on at 10PM Friday. According to the Lexington Herald they went to Lexington and EKU though, and followups with the families in the show. What's actually going to be showed, is a different story.