BEREA — “Climb this mountain while it’s still here.”
That could have been the theme of Berea College’s annual Mountain Day.
Since the 1870s, Berea College students have been given a day off from classes every October to hike up Indian Fort Mountain, view the fall colors and enjoy games that trace their origins to the highlands of Scotland.
While the day always has included an educational element, a forceful environmental lesson was taught this year.
As hikers reached the first of several switchbacks along the trail to the Pinnacle, they found a sign with an ominous message.
“If the Pinnacle was a mountain top removal site, you wouldn’t be walking here.”
Other messages, some with photographs, were posted at strategic points along the trail.
“In the United States, 100 tons of coal is extracted every two seconds,” another posting read.
Near the top of the ridge leading toward the East Pinnacle, a large color photograph showed a mountain stripped to its bedrock core. It looked more like a terraced section of the Grand Canyon that the lush green mountains surrounding it or those visible from the Pinnacle.
“Already more than 800 square miles of the southern Appalachian landscape has been destroyed by strip mining,” the photo’s caption read.
At the foot of the mountain where an early afternoon lunch was served, an exhibit by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth listed disturbing statistics for two eastern Kentucky mountain counties.
In Pike County, some 65,000 acres of land has been strip mined. Red streaks on a map of the county showed where coal had been extracted by blasting and digging away the surface.
Surface mining today often means exploding the tops off of mountains and then extracting the coal that is exposed, the exhibit stated.
Yellow symbols represented 14 sludge dams holding back the wastes generated by mining.
From 1980 to 2005, Pike County’s population declined from 81,100 to 66,750. While coal production increased from 25 million to 28.3 million tons per year during the period, coal-related employment dropped from 8,850 to 4,800.
In Floyd County, the population decline was slight compared with Pike’s, 48,800 to 42,300, but the job loss was much more dramatic. The 3,600 coal-related jobs in 1980 had dwindled to 650 by 2005.
The day was not all about sobering reminders of environmental crisis, however.
Musical performances were scheduled throughout the day, most of it in the Christian “praise” style.
The college step team demonstrated some lively foot work as they performed on a large checkerboard dance floor.
Students were invited to try their hands at traditional mountain crafts in exhibits set up between the parking lot and Indian Fort Theater. They could weave a plaid cloth, sew panels on a quilt, turn wood on a lathe, string twine for the seat of a stool, bind straw for a broom or mold clay to be fired in a kiln.
Several game sets to play corn hole proved to be more popular than horse shoes.
Students also could paint a mini-pumpkin, get their faces painted or be decorated with a temporary henna tattoo.
The more athletic students could show their strength in the log loss, reminiscent of the Scottish tabor toss, or in the crosscut sawing competition.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
Homepage
Related Photos
-
From left, Berea College students Jainaba Phatey of The Gambia in West Africa, Tinekia Pedigo of Clay County, Tenn., and Kevin George of Buffalo, N.Y., admire the view from the top of Indian Fort Mountain as the college observed Mountain on Wednesday.
‘Climb the mountain while it’s still here’
- Local News
-
-
Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
-
Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
- Sports
-
Central senior wrestlers Ryan Mosher and Darrell Wooton pose for a picture Wednesday in Richmond.
-
Seniors Wooton and Mosher have played key role in building the wrestling program at Madison Central
Asked to describe what it was like to be a member of Madison Central’s first-ever wrestling team, Ryan Mosher had a short, simple answer.
-
OVC HOOPS: Transfer point guards have made big impact this year for Colonels
The point of attack on the basketball court at Eastern Kentucky University begins with a pair of junior transfers.
-
KIAC HOOPS: Berea tops Asbury
Berea College picked up a narrow victory on the road Tuesday night,, beating Asbury University 73-71.
-
Seniors Wooton and Mosher have played key role in building the wrestling program at Madison Central
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
Is MSG (monosodium glutamate) harmful?
Monsodium gluatamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer often added to Chinese food, soups, processed meats and canned vegetables. The use of MSG remains controversial despite a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement that it is safe. Because of this, the FDA requires that whenever MSG is added, that it be listed on the label.
- Common-sense job hunting
- It’s a love thing
-
- Viewpoints
-
-
Education a focus in Senate this week
FRANKFORT — The Senate passed several bills this week. Of these bills, three education bills are of particular importance.
- Redistricting ruling offers collateral benefits for voters and taxpayers
- In defense of southern-fried Paula Deen
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
