Harlan County officials shared updates on environmental work, student support, and clean-up efforts during the April 21 fiscal court meeting.
Environmental programs and scholarships
David Howard presented the annual report for the Soil Conservation District. Over the past year, the district awarded 11 scholarships worth $750 to $1,000 each to local graduating seniors to encourage environmental education.
They also supported 86 students to attend programs at the Pine Mountain Settlement School.
An art and writing contest saw participation from around 350 students, with $1,100 given in prizes. One student, Selena Amroe, placed second at the state level in writing.
Grants and local projects
The district continued funding local agriculture and environmental work:
- $15,000 awarded through CAPE (tobacco settlement funds) to a local farm
- $20,000 state grant secured for an agriculture project
- Installation of four septic systems in the county
Abandoned mine work
Officials also gave updates on Abandoned Mine Land (AML) projects. Work is currently underway in Wallins, with future plans for sites in Baxter and near Pine Mountain. These projects aim to reduce risks like landslides and improve public safety.
Tree distribution for Earth Day
To celebrate Earth Day, the district distributed around 600 trees at a local Walmart, encouraging greener practices in the community.
Spring Clean-Up success
County-wide clean-up efforts have also made progress. According to officials:
- Districts 1–3 clean-up is complete
- Work is ongoing in District 4
- Large amounts of waste have been collected
Pericles “Lakis” Mavinidis thanked residents for their participation, highlighting how the effort helps reduce illegal dumping.
Paul Browning described the collected waste as “overwhelming,” comparing it to the size of a large parking lot, but praised crews for clearing it quickly.
