Thursday, August 13, 2009
Clean up Doe Creek along the River
Why do people have to be so sorry and lazy that they dump trash along the roadsides and IN THEIR OWN YARDS? It is time for this community to stand up to ugly eyesores. Some of it is plain laziness as a result of welfare checks. No self esteem. Just throw out your trash in the yard and along the road. This is so SICK!!
Estill County's image
It takes a long time to change the image of a county. But it can happen. Laruel, Rockcastle, Rowan, and Powell have shed some of their Appalachian stereotypes thanks to growth. We need fresh blood in this county. We need to be a bedroom community for people in Richmond who are seeking cheaper land, less stress and less restrictions. It is time to clean up the image of the county.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
To the anonymous poster on the TOPIX board
ANONYMOUS POSTER'S COMMENTS:
I've been following this guy's rants for some time on the hargett89 blog as well as the estillboom blog. He makes some good arguments but it seems to me to be just an extension of topix. He doesn't say who he is, makes unfounded accusations (no data to support anything), and blasts anyone and everyone trying to do anything good for this town. Making this town better is a big puzzle and improving 89/82 is definitely one piece of it, but come on - is it the most important piece?
MY COMMENT:And who is the guy making this post on TOPIX? Huh? Go ahead and give us your name, serial number and all while you are at it. Privacy is very important. Issues are more important that personalities. Who has been falsely accused on this board? Please cut and paste any such comments. Name me one person blasted by name. Who is trying to do good for Irvine..me thinks very few as most live off welfare.
ANONYMOUS AGAIN:
For me that equates to - people like to eat chicken and chickens like to eat worms so people must like to eat worms. Like I said, he/she makes some good points, but spending a billion dollars to straighten 89 will not be the magic answer to our county's problems. I would place more trust in this person if "fixing 89 and 82" wasn't the only main ANSWER. There are a lot of posts on there about what so and so should do or call your legislators, but where are the ideas and call to action? I've worked with some of these groups having "social networking, cookouts, potlucks, and fun" as he or she says, and I can say with relative certainty that the author has never participated in any of those so-called "fun" activities or possibly anything else besides griping. If they had, they'd know it's more than lip service. People wanting to make things better have to organize. I am sick and tired of people putting down any attempts to change things for the better. That's why I put little stock in what I read there. That said, I will continue reading in hopes of new ideas being presented.
MY REPLY: One person can't solve problems alone. But little groups aren't the answer..some little clique where potlucks and socializing is the goal under the guise of helping Estill County. INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE ANSWER.I have seen these little cliques get together for awhile until some of the members fall out and the whole thing falls apart. If these people were raising heck in Frankfort, their efforts would be more profitable. WE NEED CLOSER REPRESENTATION in Frankfort. Guys from London and Jackson can't help us and won't help us.
The person who wrote the comments on TOPIX needs to not jump to conclusions and try to get behind the efforts of this site. Solutions on this site will reduce poverty and ignorance. We all love the poster on TOPIX and respect their opinions!
I've been following this guy's rants for some time on the hargett89 blog as well as the estillboom blog. He makes some good arguments but it seems to me to be just an extension of topix. He doesn't say who he is, makes unfounded accusations (no data to support anything), and blasts anyone and everyone trying to do anything good for this town. Making this town better is a big puzzle and improving 89/82 is definitely one piece of it, but come on - is it the most important piece?
MY COMMENT:And who is the guy making this post on TOPIX? Huh? Go ahead and give us your name, serial number and all while you are at it. Privacy is very important. Issues are more important that personalities. Who has been falsely accused on this board? Please cut and paste any such comments. Name me one person blasted by name. Who is trying to do good for Irvine..me thinks very few as most live off welfare.
ANONYMOUS AGAIN:
For me that equates to - people like to eat chicken and chickens like to eat worms so people must like to eat worms. Like I said, he/she makes some good points, but spending a billion dollars to straighten 89 will not be the magic answer to our county's problems. I would place more trust in this person if "fixing 89 and 82" wasn't the only main ANSWER. There are a lot of posts on there about what so and so should do or call your legislators, but where are the ideas and call to action? I've worked with some of these groups having "social networking, cookouts, potlucks, and fun" as he or she says, and I can say with relative certainty that the author has never participated in any of those so-called "fun" activities or possibly anything else besides griping. If they had, they'd know it's more than lip service. People wanting to make things better have to organize. I am sick and tired of people putting down any attempts to change things for the better. That's why I put little stock in what I read there. That said, I will continue reading in hopes of new ideas being presented.
MY REPLY: One person can't solve problems alone. But little groups aren't the answer..some little clique where potlucks and socializing is the goal under the guise of helping Estill County. INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE ANSWER.I have seen these little cliques get together for awhile until some of the members fall out and the whole thing falls apart. If these people were raising heck in Frankfort, their efforts would be more profitable. WE NEED CLOSER REPRESENTATION in Frankfort. Guys from London and Jackson can't help us and won't help us.
The person who wrote the comments on TOPIX needs to not jump to conclusions and try to get behind the efforts of this site. Solutions on this site will reduce poverty and ignorance. We all love the poster on TOPIX and respect their opinions!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My thoughts on the county elections in 2010
The PVA race will be hotly contested. The current occupant was put in the position by appointment as Ms. Barnes retired mid season.
Taylor has been judge-executive since 2002 and I doubt any judge has served 3 terms since Judge Noland. Stay tuned on this race. Darrell Johnson would have a good chance of an upset.
Sheriff Freeman has been on the job for a long time but a divided GOP primary keeps Freeman in power. And Freeman is a nice man who is approachable. GOP's best chance?
I personally believe a sheriff should be a former state police or certified in law enforcement. One of the problems that plagues our community is poor law enforcement. Poor because of a lack of man power and not because the current office isn't doing its job.
I ask the men and women who run for local offices to try to make Estill County a better place when they leave than when the were first elected.
The local officals represent us and they should earn our trust. And we the voters shouldn't tolerate any violation of our trust!
Taylor has been judge-executive since 2002 and I doubt any judge has served 3 terms since Judge Noland. Stay tuned on this race. Darrell Johnson would have a good chance of an upset.
Sheriff Freeman has been on the job for a long time but a divided GOP primary keeps Freeman in power. And Freeman is a nice man who is approachable. GOP's best chance?
I personally believe a sheriff should be a former state police or certified in law enforcement. One of the problems that plagues our community is poor law enforcement. Poor because of a lack of man power and not because the current office isn't doing its job.
I ask the men and women who run for local offices to try to make Estill County a better place when they leave than when the were first elected.
The local officals represent us and they should earn our trust. And we the voters shouldn't tolerate any violation of our trust!
Overcrowding at the Estill County Animal Shelter
The people at the shelter do a fine job. They need more space and more employees. I hate to hear about canines euthanized because they can't find a home. I wished the cost to spay and neuter a dog wasn't so expensive.
I am glad we have a local shelter. The shelter gets customers as far away as Wolfe County.
Stray dogs are a nuisance. And a threat to our safety.
I hate to see carcases of dead dogs along the road sides.
And shame on local people who drop off their dogs on someone's property. Anyone who disposes of their dogs on someone's property is a real scumbag.
I do wished the cost of spaying and neutering the dogs was cheaper. Maybe we wouldn't have so many stray dogs. And maybe people could AFFORD to adopt an animal.
I am glad we have a local shelter. The shelter gets customers as far away as Wolfe County.
Stray dogs are a nuisance. And a threat to our safety.
I hate to see carcases of dead dogs along the road sides.
And shame on local people who drop off their dogs on someone's property. Anyone who disposes of their dogs on someone's property is a real scumbag.
I do wished the cost of spaying and neutering the dogs was cheaper. Maybe we wouldn't have so many stray dogs. And maybe people could AFFORD to adopt an animal.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Estill youth should be proud of their community
Young people: "We have nothing to do in Irvine". "It is boring here". "Too many local people won't work and live off of drug dealing and welfare." "As soon as I graduate I am leaving Irvine/Estill County and NEVER coming back." "I don't feel safe here." "Too many rednecks here". "You could get shot if you go up Barnes Mountain or Pea Ridge". "The people in Estill County will steal you blind". "I hate this place". "Estill Countians don't like you if you aren't kin to them or have family here." "Estill COunty's businessmen are crooked selling drugs and stolen property". "Bootleggers and drug dealers will kill you if you mess with them".
You have all heard the above comments from many of the youth in Estill County. There isn't enough local pride and a desire to confront and deal with the challenges that face our community.
There are Estill Countians who live in Madison County communities such as College Hill, Poosey Ridge or Doylesvile who would be just as close to their jobs if they lived at Sub Station, Pea Ridge, South Irvine or Rice Station.
Too many Estill natives lack community pride. Thus the brain drain sometimes drives away our best local people! After all,people feel safe in a clean neighborhood free of trash, junk cars, run down trailers etc..
Somehow it is more prestigous to live in Bluegrass towns.
You have all heard the above comments from many of the youth in Estill County. There isn't enough local pride and a desire to confront and deal with the challenges that face our community.
There are Estill Countians who live in Madison County communities such as College Hill, Poosey Ridge or Doylesvile who would be just as close to their jobs if they lived at Sub Station, Pea Ridge, South Irvine or Rice Station.
Too many Estill natives lack community pride. Thus the brain drain sometimes drives away our best local people! After all,people feel safe in a clean neighborhood free of trash, junk cars, run down trailers etc..
Somehow it is more prestigous to live in Bluegrass towns.
2010 census of Estill County will show a population LOSS
Prediction: You heard it from me first. But Estill County will lose people for the first time in 50 years. Population estimates show a loss while neighboring counties (other than Lee) will show an increase in population. So why is this happening?
Here is my theory:
1. Large elderly population.
2. Poor roads to neighboring towns make it harder to commute to work and limit the through traffic that would benefit Estill County's economic growth.
3. Certain powerful local businessmen and landowners aren't open to selling property to out of town chain businesses.
4. Estill County's image: Drug busts, the one or two annual murders per year, trash along roadsides and in the yards and some people are afraid to live amongst lower income people.
Look for a population decline in 2010. And 2020 unless we get the proper infrastructure to compete with other towns!
Estill County needs to become a growing community where we keep our best and brightest. If we had more new blood and less brain drain, our community would benefit is so many ways.
Here is my theory:
1. Large elderly population.
2. Poor roads to neighboring towns make it harder to commute to work and limit the through traffic that would benefit Estill County's economic growth.
3. Certain powerful local businessmen and landowners aren't open to selling property to out of town chain businesses.
4. Estill County's image: Drug busts, the one or two annual murders per year, trash along roadsides and in the yards and some people are afraid to live amongst lower income people.
Look for a population decline in 2010. And 2020 unless we get the proper infrastructure to compete with other towns!
Estill County needs to become a growing community where we keep our best and brightest. If we had more new blood and less brain drain, our community would benefit is so many ways.
Estill County has beautiful scenery!
Estill County is blessed with some picturesque landscape. People from other communities are amazed at how attractive our county is and yet we often don't take care of our properties! We leave junk in the yards. We build cheap out buildings that soon fall down. We leave old junk cars in the yard. Why? Why are we so ignorant as a community? Many of our local people don't travel to other communities and see how neat and tidy our community could be if we only took more pride in our landscape. Are you sick of roadside garbage and garbage in people's yards? Preserve our local landscape! Make our community a neat and clean place so others visiting here won't leave with a sour taste in their mouths!
Look at the junky yards in places like Old Fox, Doe Creek, Stacy Lane, Pea Ridge, Pryse etc.. Why? Why isn't there some way that property owners could be fined for such eyesores?
We have some nice places including Picnic Hill, Sandhill, Wisemantown, Blackburn Road, etc.. We need more attractive communities where peoples from other places feel welcome to live and raise a family in Estill County.
Look at the junky yards in places like Old Fox, Doe Creek, Stacy Lane, Pea Ridge, Pryse etc.. Why? Why isn't there some way that property owners could be fined for such eyesores?
We have some nice places including Picnic Hill, Sandhill, Wisemantown, Blackburn Road, etc.. We need more attractive communities where peoples from other places feel welcome to live and raise a family in Estill County.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
populations of Irvine and other central KY towns 1950 and 2000
In my hand I have a copy of an encyclopedia "The World Book" published by Field Enterprises Educational Corporators Merchandise Mart Plaza Chicago 54 IL C-1959 where I will post some 1950 census figures.
I also have a 2009 Rand McNally atlas where I will post current population figures.
Look how far Irvine has fallen behind other towns in KY. What a shame!!
Irvine: 1950-3259 present 2714
Lancaster 1950-2402 present 4207
Lawrenceburg 1950-2369 present 9403
Stanford 1950-1861 present 3452
London-1950-3426 present 7787
Hodgenville 1950-1695 present 2788
Flemingsburg 1950-1502 present 3104
And get this...Stanton (neighboring town) 635 in 1950 AD but now has 3109 people! Get this guys, Stanton has over SIX times the population it had 5 or 6 decades ago while Irvine has lost about 300 people! Why don't we care? Is anyone even willing to talk about this? It says we in Irvine are doing something wrong or not doing something right!
Do we the people of Estill County want to continue this course? Folks, we expect OTHER PEOPLE to come in here and bring thousands of jobs and IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!We need the INFRASTRUCTURE. The Mountain Parkway helped Stanton grow and we need better roads in Estill County. We need to complain more and do what it takes to see this happen.
Estill County needs bright leadership and local people who get out and about. Visit other counties and see the good stuff that goes on there. Look at the tourism Powell County gets from the gorge area while the mountains in eastern Estill County don't draw any tourists!
I also have a 2009 Rand McNally atlas where I will post current population figures.
Look how far Irvine has fallen behind other towns in KY. What a shame!!
Irvine: 1950-3259 present 2714
Lancaster 1950-2402 present 4207
Lawrenceburg 1950-2369 present 9403
Stanford 1950-1861 present 3452
London-1950-3426 present 7787
Hodgenville 1950-1695 present 2788
Flemingsburg 1950-1502 present 3104
And get this...Stanton (neighboring town) 635 in 1950 AD but now has 3109 people! Get this guys, Stanton has over SIX times the population it had 5 or 6 decades ago while Irvine has lost about 300 people! Why don't we care? Is anyone even willing to talk about this? It says we in Irvine are doing something wrong or not doing something right!
Do we the people of Estill County want to continue this course? Folks, we expect OTHER PEOPLE to come in here and bring thousands of jobs and IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!We need the INFRASTRUCTURE. The Mountain Parkway helped Stanton grow and we need better roads in Estill County. We need to complain more and do what it takes to see this happen.
Estill County needs bright leadership and local people who get out and about. Visit other counties and see the good stuff that goes on there. Look at the tourism Powell County gets from the gorge area while the mountains in eastern Estill County don't draw any tourists!
Why doesn't Estill County, Irvine and Ravenna have population growth?
Estill County is relatively close to the Lexington-Bluegrass metropolitan area. So why no growth? Why doesn't more local people seek employment in neighboring counties? It doesn't matter if there is a shortage of good jobs here, why don't more people DRIVE A FEW MILES and find out the job opportunities in Madison, Clark, Fayette or Scott Counties?
Irvine-Ravenna should be bedroom towns for people who work in Richmond of Lexington yet like a slower pace of life with less restrictions and more space.
Why doesn't more people want to live in Estill County? And why do so many Estill Countians want to leave their community?
Let's clean up the county! Improve the infrastructure. Incarcerate the habitual criminals and stop the lock em up and turn em loose policy!
Create some good clean fun so our young people won't turn to drugs to relieve boredom and make extra cash.
I ask our local politicians and interested residents: Why are people leaving our community? Why doesn't anyone want to live in Irvine-Ravenna or rural Estill County? How can we attract better people into the community who will raise the local tax base and improve the local business community? How can we keep our best and brightest from moving to subdivisions in Richmond or Lexington?
Estill County is too close to the center of the state and shouldn't be seeing the stagnant growth and even decline. When will it stop? And why don't more local people care?
Irvine-Ravenna should be bedroom towns for people who work in Richmond of Lexington yet like a slower pace of life with less restrictions and more space.
Why doesn't more people want to live in Estill County? And why do so many Estill Countians want to leave their community?
Let's clean up the county! Improve the infrastructure. Incarcerate the habitual criminals and stop the lock em up and turn em loose policy!
Create some good clean fun so our young people won't turn to drugs to relieve boredom and make extra cash.
I ask our local politicians and interested residents: Why are people leaving our community? Why doesn't anyone want to live in Irvine-Ravenna or rural Estill County? How can we attract better people into the community who will raise the local tax base and improve the local business community? How can we keep our best and brightest from moving to subdivisions in Richmond or Lexington?
Estill County is too close to the center of the state and shouldn't be seeing the stagnant growth and even decline. When will it stop? And why don't more local people care?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
vacant buildings on Main Street
I am glad to see new businesses in the old Hardy Department store next to Dr. Patterson's office (old timers remember the buidling as the Riverview Hotel). Seems like several downtown buildings are vacant including the former location of Small CPA, Park's picture frames, Phillip Owen's office and building adjacent to the historical society.
How about a courthouse annex? Move some of the less important offices out of the courthouse.
How about a courthouse annex? Move some of the less important offices out of the courthouse.
Irvine KY needs a WAL-MART
The Richmond store is too crowded. Estill County has enough people to support a Wal-Mart. Breathitt County has a Wal-Mart. A Wal-Mart store would keep more local people from shopping in Richmond. Think of the jobs that would be created!
Some whine about local businesses being hurt. This is not true because PEOPLE ARE ALREADY GOING TO RICHMOND TO SHOP! The job increases would outnumber any lost businesses. I wished some landowner along KY 52 would try and lobby for a local Wal Mart store in Irvine KY. Some local merchants hurt themselves by charging too much for their merchandise and displaying poor social skills to their customers!
No, not one business in Estill County would close if a Wal Mart came into town. But look at the jobs that would be created! I wished some of the local people didn't take such a negative attitude towards growth! Growth is good. Less poverty would be nice.
Some whine about local businesses being hurt. This is not true because PEOPLE ARE ALREADY GOING TO RICHMOND TO SHOP! The job increases would outnumber any lost businesses. I wished some landowner along KY 52 would try and lobby for a local Wal Mart store in Irvine KY. Some local merchants hurt themselves by charging too much for their merchandise and displaying poor social skills to their customers!
No, not one business in Estill County would close if a Wal Mart came into town. But look at the jobs that would be created! I wished some of the local people didn't take such a negative attitude towards growth! Growth is good. Less poverty would be nice.
Glad to see the new fire department under construction
Glad to see the new fire department on Mack-Chestnut Street under construction. Red tape delayed this project way too long. Fire protection is vital to the community in so many ways. Also glad to see the training center located off of Whispering Woods. Our volunteers do so much to make Estill County safe! I just wished Winston had a little fire station like Hargett and Cobhill. The growing communities off of Trotting Ridge need better fire protection.
I look forward to the completion of the fire station.
I look forward to the completion of the fire station.
potholes in the West Irvine Plaza access road
Have you noticed the huge potholes in the access road from the West Irvine Plaza access road just off of the Richmond Road. Some huge holes are lurking below your automobile in front of Pizza Hut and Wendy's! I don't know who owns the access road, but if you take this stretch at a fast speed, your car's alignment could be damaged!
Friday, May 22, 2009
To the Estill County Class of 2009
Dear graduates,
Thanks for your hard work and determination! May you have a bright future. Make good choices and enjoy the rewards of good choices. Never forget your hometown. Maybe you are among those who say there is "nothing to do" in Irvine KY. Do something for Irvine and Estill County Kentucky! If possible, try to stay here! Property is cheaper in Irvine than Richmond. Often our best and brightest leave this community while those who lack educational skills often remain in town. Estill County needs you to start businesses, participate in civic groups, buy and pay taxes here instead of elsewhere. It is cheaper to live in Estill County and commute to the Bluegrass than to live there with expensive rent or property!
While some people are forced to live on welfare assistance, welfare offers little hope for economic improvement. Resist the urge to give up and accept poverty and ignorance. You can live at home and attend college at Eastern Kentucky University.
Thanks for your hard work. I encourage you to make Irvine-Estill County home! Our community has so much potential if we would only work harder to make this dream possible.
Thanks for your hard work and determination! May you have a bright future. Make good choices and enjoy the rewards of good choices. Never forget your hometown. Maybe you are among those who say there is "nothing to do" in Irvine KY. Do something for Irvine and Estill County Kentucky! If possible, try to stay here! Property is cheaper in Irvine than Richmond. Often our best and brightest leave this community while those who lack educational skills often remain in town. Estill County needs you to start businesses, participate in civic groups, buy and pay taxes here instead of elsewhere. It is cheaper to live in Estill County and commute to the Bluegrass than to live there with expensive rent or property!
While some people are forced to live on welfare assistance, welfare offers little hope for economic improvement. Resist the urge to give up and accept poverty and ignorance. You can live at home and attend college at Eastern Kentucky University.
Thanks for your hard work. I encourage you to make Irvine-Estill County home! Our community has so much potential if we would only work harder to make this dream possible.
How about a lookout tower at the top of Sweet Lick Knob? Rockhouse Mt.?
How about a lookout tower and trail on top of one of Irvine's highest mountains? How about a walking trail? Imagine EKU students coming to Estill County for hiking opportunities? I wished local civic leaders could draw more OUT OF TOWN folks into Estill County!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Visit the Mountain Mushroom Festival: Last Saturday in April
The folks who organize this event put many hours of planning and hard work into organizing this event. I do wished some new activities could be planned. Remember the helicopter rides in the early 1990s? I wished there was a solid line of yard sales between Irvine and Ravenna plus the side streets between River Drive and Broadway.
Let's all clean up our properties as visitors arrive in our community to attend the mushroom festival!
The antique farm show at the fairgrounds is neat. And the rock show at the Old Estill County Middle School (now Central Office) Building.
I am glad we have a festival in our town. How about a few more activities? I encourage the committee to allow new members to join. The more people involved in planning decisions means more activies for all people. Arts and crafts are nice but how about some antiques? How about allowing booths along Chestnut and Mack Streets?
How about billboards on the Mountain Parkways advertising this event? How about tourist brochures in Richmond motels? And tourist brochures at all rest areas in KY? How about having some firworks along the river? Boat rides? Train rides from Irvine and Ravenna? Have the railroad festival in Ravenna at the same time?
Let's all clean up our properties as visitors arrive in our community to attend the mushroom festival!
The antique farm show at the fairgrounds is neat. And the rock show at the Old Estill County Middle School (now Central Office) Building.
I am glad we have a festival in our town. How about a few more activities? I encourage the committee to allow new members to join. The more people involved in planning decisions means more activies for all people. Arts and crafts are nice but how about some antiques? How about allowing booths along Chestnut and Mack Streets?
How about billboards on the Mountain Parkways advertising this event? How about tourist brochures in Richmond motels? And tourist brochures at all rest areas in KY? How about having some firworks along the river? Boat rides? Train rides from Irvine and Ravenna? Have the railroad festival in Ravenna at the same time?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
buried utility lines in downtown Irvine would be more attractive
Don't you love those leaning utility poles in downtown Irvine next to the bridge! I know it would be expensive to bury the cables. But if people in Lafayette Estates on Trotting Ridge have buried cables, how about a fund for people to donate to making downtown Irvine a more attractive place. And recently, the Main Street has become more attractive with new paint on buildings, clock and street lamps. I always hated the pole next to the old Rowland Drug Store on Main Street...How many times do I remember our car door slamming into this hideous pole!
Park at Lock 12, Old Pike Ravenna a GOOD IDEA!
I have heard about the plan to restore the old lock houses and build a park and restaurant on the premises. What a neat idea. Estill County needs the facilities to bring out of town people into our town!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Improve Estill County's infrastructure and growth will occur
I am glad to see local people trying to recruit new jobs to Estill County. But until the infrastructure is improved, current efforts won't achieve very much.A group of people can have a potluck and enjoy themselves but that won't bring industry into Estill County. We need the roads, sewage system improvements, wireless internet, improved cell phone service etc. Until we improve the infrastructure, we won't see much growth and progress in Irvine, Ravenna and Estill County.
To Estill Countians who don't want their community to grow
Growth is good. Growth eliminates poverty and low self esteem. There is no reason for our community to be so backward when we could have the places to shop and work that other Central KY towns enjoy!
Those who oppose growth live in a level of ignorance and can't see beyond their ignorance. And some personally profit from poverty and ignorance.
Let's welcome in businesses. Welcome new people and fresh blood. Property owners, research out of town businesses who might want to relocate here. Let's get this place moving again. In the years between the first and second World Wars, Irvine and Ravenna were BOOM TOWNS! It is time to get the Twin Cities moving again. We have sorry roads that lead to neighboring towns which restricts our growth. DEMAND ACTION. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Even if you are doing well, realize that our community needs more young and middle aged people that can expend their energies to making this place a better place to live. NOW IS THE TIME TO ARISE OUT OF OUR SLEEP!!
Those who oppose growth live in a level of ignorance and can't see beyond their ignorance. And some personally profit from poverty and ignorance.
Let's welcome in businesses. Welcome new people and fresh blood. Property owners, research out of town businesses who might want to relocate here. Let's get this place moving again. In the years between the first and second World Wars, Irvine and Ravenna were BOOM TOWNS! It is time to get the Twin Cities moving again. We have sorry roads that lead to neighboring towns which restricts our growth. DEMAND ACTION. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Even if you are doing well, realize that our community needs more young and middle aged people that can expend their energies to making this place a better place to live. NOW IS THE TIME TO ARISE OUT OF OUR SLEEP!!
Free wireless internet in Irvine or Estill County?
I am not sure about the local McDonalds on Richmond Road. I read a list of places in KY where you could get free wireless internet and Estill County/Irvine wasn't on the list. Why? Why can't we get into the 21st century?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Estill's dying business community
Irvine needs young enterpreneurs with the capital and business acumen to provide the goods, services and jobs that Estill Countians need.We need to do a better job keeping the Estill County High School graduates from leaving our town for other towns. The brain drain from our community is absurd. Think of the Estill Countians living in neighboring counties and paying their taxes and shopping there instead of here. Something is wrong.
Estill County needs growth. We need young people with the vision and determination to stay here and make this place better! Stop the migration to Richmond, Lexington, Georgetown and elsewhere. We need to keep our better and brighter ones from leaving town.
Many of the businessmen in Irvine are elderly and slowly dying out. If they can't provide services, then we need out of town people who will invest businesses in our town. I fear that many enterpreneurs have lost confidence in the Estill County market. We have a large work force and people from neighboring towns would help fill up the jobs if needed.
We need some Future Business Leaders who want to stay here and make Estill COunty better instead of leaving for greener pasture.
I don't understand why some locals want to get out of Estill County when they can live here and work in the Bluegrass towns. I think the image and prestige of the county is one reason people leave here.
Estill County needs growth. We need young people with the vision and determination to stay here and make this place better! Stop the migration to Richmond, Lexington, Georgetown and elsewhere. We need to keep our better and brighter ones from leaving town.
Many of the businessmen in Irvine are elderly and slowly dying out. If they can't provide services, then we need out of town people who will invest businesses in our town. I fear that many enterpreneurs have lost confidence in the Estill County market. We have a large work force and people from neighboring towns would help fill up the jobs if needed.
We need some Future Business Leaders who want to stay here and make Estill COunty better instead of leaving for greener pasture.
I don't understand why some locals want to get out of Estill County when they can live here and work in the Bluegrass towns. I think the image and prestige of the county is one reason people leave here.
Additional parking lot needed on Court Street
Lewis Funeral Home and the Irvine post office could use additional parking. Lewis Funeral home should move the building where they have the caskets and create additional parking. Or the city could buy some space near the intersection of Court Street and Church Street for additional parking. How about Lewis Funeral Home buy the Gumm's resturant building and locate their caskets there while they tear down the old white building behind the funeral home? Just some suggestions.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Green and red buildings in Downtown Irvine KY
Do you think the red and green buildings side by side clash with each other? Would be nice if both buildings were red or both buildings were green. What do you think?
Dear Judge, Fiscal Court and State Highway Department
Estill County has scenic landscape that has been ruined by trash in people's yards, along the roadsides and something needs to be done about it. What can be done about this situation? Why does it exist? How much can local officials do to pressure property owners to keep their community clean and beautiful?
The entrances into Irvine, including the Winchester and Richmond Road introduce visitors to eyesores that need to be cleaned up! Would property owners allow volunteers to help get rid of the unsightly out buildings, abandoned cars, fast food refuse, old tires, burned out trailors, remains of an old saw mill etc.
Coming from the Madison County line at Drowning Creek, the old sawmill on the Horn property should be torn down. The old trailor near the location should be moved. The flea market near the Riddell plaza could see some repairs in their shelters. The trailor near Clear Creek Road and the house adjacent to the location (with the abandoned cars) could be cleaned up. And the recycling center at Rice Station near the Emanuel Baptist church could construct a fence to hide the growing refrigerators, washing machines and other scrap metal visible from the main road. The car lot near the Trotting Ridge Road where small engines are sold is a bit tacky but acceptable I guess.
Coming from Hargett...The foundation of the old Jesse VanCleve/3 way country store should be torn down. Several trailors along this road are tacky and downright disgusting. The deteriorating apartment houses near the Cundiff Road (close to White Oak) could use new siding and a cleanup on the outside of the apartments. And the old mobile units from the high school could be moved off of the main road.
Residents entering Irvine from KY 52 East or KY 89 South, see some real eyesores. It is hard to tell people to clean up their property. I know it is a free country. I wished the local media would put some of the photos of these junky places in an editorial.
Let's make the Richmond and Winchester roads more attractive. Let newcomers to Irvine leave impressed with the natural scenery. Surely property owners would comply with reasonable suggestions.
The entrances into Irvine, including the Winchester and Richmond Road introduce visitors to eyesores that need to be cleaned up! Would property owners allow volunteers to help get rid of the unsightly out buildings, abandoned cars, fast food refuse, old tires, burned out trailors, remains of an old saw mill etc.
Coming from the Madison County line at Drowning Creek, the old sawmill on the Horn property should be torn down. The old trailor near the location should be moved. The flea market near the Riddell plaza could see some repairs in their shelters. The trailor near Clear Creek Road and the house adjacent to the location (with the abandoned cars) could be cleaned up. And the recycling center at Rice Station near the Emanuel Baptist church could construct a fence to hide the growing refrigerators, washing machines and other scrap metal visible from the main road. The car lot near the Trotting Ridge Road where small engines are sold is a bit tacky but acceptable I guess.
Coming from Hargett...The foundation of the old Jesse VanCleve/3 way country store should be torn down. Several trailors along this road are tacky and downright disgusting. The deteriorating apartment houses near the Cundiff Road (close to White Oak) could use new siding and a cleanup on the outside of the apartments. And the old mobile units from the high school could be moved off of the main road.
Residents entering Irvine from KY 52 East or KY 89 South, see some real eyesores. It is hard to tell people to clean up their property. I know it is a free country. I wished the local media would put some of the photos of these junky places in an editorial.
Let's make the Richmond and Winchester roads more attractive. Let newcomers to Irvine leave impressed with the natural scenery. Surely property owners would comply with reasonable suggestions.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Why isn't Estill County a CERTIFIED CLEAN COUNTY?
Why do we in Estill County turn our backs to the trash along the roads and in people's yards? Why oh why? Why aren't we a certified clean county. You go into some counties and see a WELCOME TO....CERTIFIED CLEAN COUNTY.
As I stated in another thread, the trash along our roads and in our yards is disgusting. I guess I am upset that there seems to be a culture of trash. People accept the notion that it is OK to toss refuse out your car window.
Nice people volunteer to clean up the mess at times. There needs to be an awareness to the problem.
Until we fix our image problem, we will continue to lag behind other communities. I don't think lagging behind is a good thing. It is time to lead. Time for Estill County to set the tone for growth and development.
As I stated in another thread, the trash along our roads and in our yards is disgusting. I guess I am upset that there seems to be a culture of trash. People accept the notion that it is OK to toss refuse out your car window.
Nice people volunteer to clean up the mess at times. There needs to be an awareness to the problem.
Until we fix our image problem, we will continue to lag behind other communities. I don't think lagging behind is a good thing. It is time to lead. Time for Estill County to set the tone for growth and development.
Other communities have forced junky property owners to clean up!
From the Pensacola FL newspaper:
Mobile Co. cleans up
junky yards
Last Edited: Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008, 11:44 AM CDT
Created On: Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008, 11:42 AM CDT
Liz Nelson
MOBILE COUNTY - A kinder, gentler enforcement program seems to be working in Mobile County.
Officers enforcing the Mobile County Junk Control Ordinance are getting compliance from 88 percent of violators, according to statistics for the first five months of the program.
"The majority of these people are law-abiding and didn?t know that there was a law to clean up their property," said County Commissioner Mike Dean. "They will comply because they don?t want to do anything wrong."
Since passage of the junk control ordinance May 1, the county?s Environmental Patrol Officers issued 562 warnings to Mobile County residents who were in violation of the law.
Rather than setting the machine of bureaucracy into motion, however, the officers worked closely with these residents to get the clean-up accomplished.
Given 14 days to clean up their properties, those residents making a real effort at compliance were extended the necessary time to finish the job. The result: 88 percent cleaned up after receiving the initial warning.
"We don?t need a heavy hand," said Stephen Nodine, Mobile County Commission president. "Obviously, we can make this work through good communication and a reasonable approach."
For the 12 percent who failed to heed the warning, though, there was a price to pay. A citation was issued and these property owners had 14 days to either appeal the citation or pay the $150 fine.
During the five-month period, there were 21 property owners issued citations. Of those cited, 14 appealed their cases to the Board of Review. The Board had the choice to sustain the citation and impose a fine, or dismiss the citation if the property owner cleaned up. At this stage, too, there was accommodation for good faith efforts to clean up, or if there were extenuating circumstances, such as ill health. Of the 14 appeals, the Board dismissed 10 of them and four were sustained.
Only seven property owners cited for violations, some with multiple citations, refused to clean up their properties or pay the fine in the last five months. They will be sued in civil court for collection of the fines and for court costs.
***
Why can't this happen in Estill County Kentucky? Why do we have to put up with the junky yards? Why don't more people complain? Let's put a stop to these eyesores!!!!
Mobile Co. cleans up
junky yards
Last Edited: Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008, 11:44 AM CDT
Created On: Tuesday, 28 Oct 2008, 11:42 AM CDT
Liz Nelson
MOBILE COUNTY - A kinder, gentler enforcement program seems to be working in Mobile County.
Officers enforcing the Mobile County Junk Control Ordinance are getting compliance from 88 percent of violators, according to statistics for the first five months of the program.
"The majority of these people are law-abiding and didn?t know that there was a law to clean up their property," said County Commissioner Mike Dean. "They will comply because they don?t want to do anything wrong."
Since passage of the junk control ordinance May 1, the county?s Environmental Patrol Officers issued 562 warnings to Mobile County residents who were in violation of the law.
Rather than setting the machine of bureaucracy into motion, however, the officers worked closely with these residents to get the clean-up accomplished.
Given 14 days to clean up their properties, those residents making a real effort at compliance were extended the necessary time to finish the job. The result: 88 percent cleaned up after receiving the initial warning.
"We don?t need a heavy hand," said Stephen Nodine, Mobile County Commission president. "Obviously, we can make this work through good communication and a reasonable approach."
For the 12 percent who failed to heed the warning, though, there was a price to pay. A citation was issued and these property owners had 14 days to either appeal the citation or pay the $150 fine.
During the five-month period, there were 21 property owners issued citations. Of those cited, 14 appealed their cases to the Board of Review. The Board had the choice to sustain the citation and impose a fine, or dismiss the citation if the property owner cleaned up. At this stage, too, there was accommodation for good faith efforts to clean up, or if there were extenuating circumstances, such as ill health. Of the 14 appeals, the Board dismissed 10 of them and four were sustained.
Only seven property owners cited for violations, some with multiple citations, refused to clean up their properties or pay the fine in the last five months. They will be sued in civil court for collection of the fines and for court costs.
***
Why can't this happen in Estill County Kentucky? Why do we have to put up with the junky yards? Why don't more people complain? Let's put a stop to these eyesores!!!!
Courthouse hours
Our local people have to work out of town for the most part. Let's keep the main offices of the court house open longer. Those considering running for office need to think about this.
The county clerk's office needs to open and close later.
Estill Countians should keep their property clean
I know some of the problems come from tenants who don't own their property. But it is time that local action is taken on some of these junky properties. Piles of junk in the yard maked the whole community look bad.
Out of town businessmen who might want to expand business into the community could quickly develop a negative image of the county based on a few people who seem to enjoy trashy yards full of litter and junk.
The reputations of Stacy Lane, Barnes Mt., Old Fox, Substation, among others suffer from these junky residents!
There needs to be an effort to make property owners more aware of the need to keep their properties more attractive.
It is sad that some people lack pride in their community. Satisfied to live in ignorance, needless poverty, and low self esteem.
Decades of welfare dependency have taken their toll on our lower income population.
It is time for a CLEAN UP Estill County campaign like we had in the early 1990s when people heaped up the trash in front of their yards to be picked up by sanitation companies.
I took a recent trip through Lee, Breathitt, Perry, Knott, Letcher, Wolfe and Powell Counties. And I am ashamed to say that the Winchester and Richmond roads had more junky property than any of the roads leading through those counties. Actually the Miller's Creek Road is more attractive now that some old houses have been torn down. Cow Creek has seen some new homes to the east of Ravenna. But the Richmond and Winchester Roads are full of eyesores. Why won't somebody do something? I am pleading with everyone to make these entrances more atractive.
Folks, enough is enough. We need local people to become less apathetic and take action. The junky yards are sickening. Our community can do better. We have some nice homes and property in our community but a few eyesores makes everyone else look bad. Let's clean up Estill County and the Richmond Road in particular.
Out of town businessmen who might want to expand business into the community could quickly develop a negative image of the county based on a few people who seem to enjoy trashy yards full of litter and junk.
The reputations of Stacy Lane, Barnes Mt., Old Fox, Substation, among others suffer from these junky residents!
There needs to be an effort to make property owners more aware of the need to keep their properties more attractive.
It is sad that some people lack pride in their community. Satisfied to live in ignorance, needless poverty, and low self esteem.
Decades of welfare dependency have taken their toll on our lower income population.
It is time for a CLEAN UP Estill County campaign like we had in the early 1990s when people heaped up the trash in front of their yards to be picked up by sanitation companies.
I took a recent trip through Lee, Breathitt, Perry, Knott, Letcher, Wolfe and Powell Counties. And I am ashamed to say that the Winchester and Richmond roads had more junky property than any of the roads leading through those counties. Actually the Miller's Creek Road is more attractive now that some old houses have been torn down. Cow Creek has seen some new homes to the east of Ravenna. But the Richmond and Winchester Roads are full of eyesores. Why won't somebody do something? I am pleading with everyone to make these entrances more atractive.
Folks, enough is enough. We need local people to become less apathetic and take action. The junky yards are sickening. Our community can do better. We have some nice homes and property in our community but a few eyesores makes everyone else look bad. Let's clean up Estill County and the Richmond Road in particular.
Eyesores in Estill County
The recycling center on the Richmond Road. The burned out trailors on the Richmond Road near Clear Creek. Some of our local people don't value the beauty of the county. It is time these people were asked to clean up their property. We all have t drive down the road and look at such messes! It is time there is a local effort to make the Richmond Road more attractive. Put some fancy signs near Drowing Creek..WELCOME TO ESTILL COUNTY.
Those old mobile units along the Winchester Road near White Oak Road should be moved somewhere else. Hopefully the new road (if it is ever built) will force these worn out structures to be moved elsewhere.
The local newspapers could take some pictures and post some stories about the problem. The recycling center could put up a fence so people didn't have to look at the washing machines, refrigerators and other junk in full view of the Richmond Road. Again Estill Countians aren't very good about complaining. Too apathetic. Some never get out of the county and see a well kept community. It is disgusting.
Again it is time that the main roads into Estill County are clean. Clean up or at least conceal the junk. What is the difference-a dump over a hill side or a garbage dump in someone's yard?
It is time that pressure is put on property owners to clean up their property or maybe someone else will have to come in and clean up the property! Enoug is enough!!
Those old mobile units along the Winchester Road near White Oak Road should be moved somewhere else. Hopefully the new road (if it is ever built) will force these worn out structures to be moved elsewhere.
The local newspapers could take some pictures and post some stories about the problem. The recycling center could put up a fence so people didn't have to look at the washing machines, refrigerators and other junk in full view of the Richmond Road. Again Estill Countians aren't very good about complaining. Too apathetic. Some never get out of the county and see a well kept community. It is disgusting.
Again it is time that the main roads into Estill County are clean. Clean up or at least conceal the junk. What is the difference-a dump over a hill side or a garbage dump in someone's yard?
It is time that pressure is put on property owners to clean up their property or maybe someone else will have to come in and clean up the property! Enoug is enough!!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Motor sports in Clay City..why not Irvine?
Why can't we have dragstrip racing, go cart racing or something interesting for our young? Other little towns have more to offer. Speedways at Clay City or Mt. Vernon. Local business leaders and property owners seem to be blind to the recreational needs of our county. And if someone tried to build such a facility, the petitions would fly around and the local media would take the side of the opponents. It never fails.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Nothing for the young people in Estill County
Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, young people complained about nothing to do in Estill County. Fast forward the date to 2009 and young people are STILL complaining about nothing to do here. Some talk about doing something in the future but nothing happens.
Will our young people be complaining about nothing to do in 2050? Probably unless we as a community take steps to remedy the problem.
The new park at Dry Ridge will be nice but it isn't very centrally located. You could buy a houseboat and spend the nights under the Irvine bridge. Or you could cruise down River Drive or Richmond Road. Or sit in the McDonald's parking lot in the summers and watch shirtless men enter and exit the Stop and Shop grocery. Or you could swim in Miller's Creek or Station Camp Creek.
The sign about the proposed youth center near the Estill County high school rotted down. Talks of skating rinks, bowling alleys etc. are nothing more than talk.
Property owners lack the information about out of town facilities that might be interested in building a recreational center here and local people lack the interest or capital to do so. We need more community people with the vision thing to bring in the out of town facilities. A few local businessmen want to own and control this community and it is high time they lose their power and influence.
This is my town and your town. Messrs Gross, Meade, Henry,Isaacs, Riddell, Ballard, Noland, are residents like you and I!!
It is time that we really do something for our young people. REACH OUT TO OUT OF TOWN BUSINESSES with the capital to construct something nice for our young people.
Will our young people be complaining about nothing to do in 2050? Probably unless we as a community take steps to remedy the problem.
The new park at Dry Ridge will be nice but it isn't very centrally located. You could buy a houseboat and spend the nights under the Irvine bridge. Or you could cruise down River Drive or Richmond Road. Or sit in the McDonald's parking lot in the summers and watch shirtless men enter and exit the Stop and Shop grocery. Or you could swim in Miller's Creek or Station Camp Creek.
The sign about the proposed youth center near the Estill County high school rotted down. Talks of skating rinks, bowling alleys etc. are nothing more than talk.
Property owners lack the information about out of town facilities that might be interested in building a recreational center here and local people lack the interest or capital to do so. We need more community people with the vision thing to bring in the out of town facilities. A few local businessmen want to own and control this community and it is high time they lose their power and influence.
This is my town and your town. Messrs Gross, Meade, Henry,Isaacs, Riddell, Ballard, Noland, are residents like you and I!!
It is time that we really do something for our young people. REACH OUT TO OUT OF TOWN BUSINESSES with the capital to construct something nice for our young people.
Recycling center along Richmond Rd. at Rice Station needs a fence
Junk seems to be collecting at the local recycling center along Richmond Road. A fence around the eyesore would be nice. Most out of town residents enter the community via KY 52 from Richmond. I do wished some of the property owners along the road would be considerate enough to make their properties more attractive. Burned out trailers, remains of a sawmill that operated in the 1980s (near Dexter Horn's truck sales), and other eyesores make the drive from Richmond to Irvine less attractive.
Friday, January 2, 2009
West Irvine plaza needs a facelift
With Save A Lot out of the West Irvine plaza, the shopping center will really show its age. The building could use a more ornate awning. Just as the old Maloney/Hecks/Take 10/LA Joe building has changed its looks, the West Irvine plaza could be occupied with the addition of a fancier facade.
Does Appco own the lot at River Drive & Kirkland Avenue in Irvine?
Appco has fuel stations in Beattyville and Stanton. They have a website on the internet. I was told that Appco owns the old Fuel Zone/Fast Lane lot on the corner of River Drive and Kirkland Avenue. The vacant lot is an eyesore. River Drive could sure use a food mart. Melvin Wiseman's Somerset station is the only place to buy gasoline on River Drive. You cannot buy groceries on River Drive any more.
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