[Wildcatk23]

Ashley Judd’s comments regarding mountain top removal continue to stir controversy here in Eastern Kentucky. We have received hundreds of comments on our website and Facebook pages.

I received this open letter to Ashley Judd. It was written by Janette Jude, a sixth grade language arts teacher from Inez Middle School in Martin County.

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Dear Ms. Judd,

I recently listened to your luncheon speech on press.org and I must say I was appalled by your words. The areas to which you referred, specifically Martin County, is my home. I have lived here my entire life. I’ve chosen to stay here, although this hillbilly is educated and could go anywhere. Unlike you, I not only have roots in eastern Kentucky, I have elected to grow and blossom in my beautiful state. My purpose in writing to you is twofold; first, I want to provide facts about the areas to which you referred, and secondly, I want you to understand how your disdain and promotion of the banning of mountain-top removal infringes on the employment and income of residents of eastern Kentucky. You obviously have heard one side of the story regarding mountain-top removal. I am here to inform you of the other side.

Coal mining is an important industry to legitimate Kentuckians. It directly provides over 17,000 jobs to our state. The average annual salary for those jobs is $58,000. This doesn’t include jobs that are indirectly related to coal mining. Revenue from the mining industry has provided millions of dollars to not only our area, but to areas such as Lexington and Louisville. Coal tax dollars have actually benefitted central Kentucky almost as much as eastern Kentucky. Many people from our area who prosper directly or indirectly from coal spend money in larger areas of Kentucky, such as Ashland, Lexington, and Louisville. Many people from our area vacation in Tennessee, which incidentally brings revenue to your home state.

In my county, and others, coal revenue has provided a community center. Our community center offers entertainment, the opportunity for health improvement, and education to people in our area. Without the generosity of the coal industry, this would not have been possible. The coal industry has also donated money, time, the use of equipment, and various other things to our school systems........

Read the rest here.....

http://www.wkyt.com/blogs/neilsnotebook/97320479.html