Ideas for economic growth in Estill County

1. Estill County needs better roads to neighboring towns such as Beattyville, Winchester and Clay City. Through traffic means tourism and small business growth. Fast food resturants employ people. Imagine a new food mart on the Winchester Road close to the high school, middle school, landfill and industrial park.
2. Local people need to change their attitude about growth and development. Growth is good. More people need to travel outside the county's border and see opportunities in our own backyard.
3. Eastern and Southern Estill County need better cell phone service. This is the information age and one needs to have internet access, cell phone service and cable to compete in this global economy.
4. Estill County needs a fully operating tourism department that advertises in travel guides found in welcome centers and rest areas along I 75, 71,64 and at state parks. Look at the Fitchburg Furnace and Cottage Furnace..why aren't these attractions being advertised? How about a state resort park with a museum, hotel complex etc.?
5. We need neighborhood watches in rural communities. By the time the police arrive, the damage has occured. Better local communication might keep someone from having to take the law in their own hands. Rural communities need to see a visible law enforcement. How about the constables? They could also help go after druggies.
6. We need an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.
7. Irvine and Ravenna need a taxi service given high gas prices and elderly residents who aren't able to drive to Richmond or Lexington.
8. Students at Estill County High School need to be able to take courses that are offered in larger high schools even such courses are online.
9. Estill County's business community could become more vibrant if more young people had proper training. Small businesses create jobs. Too many politicians dream about some large factory coming to Irvine employing hundreds of people..folks it isn't going to happen. Get over it.
10. Irvine needs a Wal Mart. Contrary to the popular opinion, Wal Mart would create more jobs than mom and pop stores which have pretty much vanished. We need the jobs here and the Richmond store is too crowded. Jackson, Barbourville, Stanford, Manchester, and other towns have Wal Marts.
11. Stop the JOB KILLERS who want their little town to be little and backward. Local projects that have been killed in recent years include an air port on Trotting Ridge, industrial park at Winston, prison at Stacy Lane, steam factory at Calloways's crossing near the Southeast Coal company's old facility...just to name a few. I am not endorsing all of the above proposals. It is the ANTI-CHANGE attitude that burns me up.
12. While some people in Estill County need public assistance, too many are satisfied to live off of welfare. We don't need half of the people in Estill County on welfare checks. Some of the women at Save A Lot at the first of the month are capable of making a living. High rates of public assistance don't help the image of the community.
13. Clean up the county. Stop throwing trash out your window of your car. Clean up the roadsides in front of your home. Tear down unsightly out buildings. Keep your yard mowed. Stacy Lane, Pea Ridge and Millers Creek could use a good cleaning every now and then.
14. Stop the flight of wealthy elderly people from the county. A guarded elderly apartment complex is needed. Assisted living for those who try to postpone going to the nursing home.
15. Irvine needs a cinema. Or get the old Mac Theater back in operation.
16. Irvine needs an entertainment complex where a politician or entertainer could perform. Maybe something like Hazard's Forum.
17. We need our legislators in Frankfort to come from Estill COunty. Mr. Edmonds is from Breathitt County and Mr. Jenson is from Laurel. Time to end the gerrymandering of state house seats.
18. River Drive needs a food mart. Let's hope Appco will put one where the old Fuel Zone food mart stood at the junction of River Drive and Kirkland Avenue.