Surface Mine Reclamation

The second most common form of surface mine reclamation is the restoration of the land for hay, pasture or agricultural use. The D & D Ranch operates on reclaimed land at the Pine Branch Coal mine near Chavies, Ky. Researcher Tammy Horn is raising bees on reclaimed land in Leslie County to determine the viability of large scale commercial bee operations operating on reclaimed mine land throughout Eastern Ky. Photos by Charles Bertram

Reforestation of the Mines

One of the biggest concerns of surface mining is how to restore the land once the mining is complete. The older practice of reclaiming the land using grasses has give way to reforestation efforts and other more environmentally favorable methods. This is the first in a series of stories on the many issues involved with surface mine reclamation. Photographs by Charles Bertram

Red House in Red House

The people of Red House have made their town impossible to forget. Coming from the outskirts, the Red House Baptist Church is only a harbinger of things to come. Next up Red House Road, Red House United Methodist Church, then Red House Red House Records and Recording Studio, the Red House Country Store, then Red House Automotive. Drive slow and on the eastern side of the road, opposite the railroad tracks, you’ll see the actual red house the town was named for. Can’t miss it, it’s the biggest and reddest thing in town. Words by Amy Wilson/Photographs by Charles Bertram

Raining in Rain

The map said Rain would be right where Knox and Whitley counties bump up near Goldens Creek. There’s a community there, all right, and it was raining, dogs if not cats, but nobody within a good mile or so had ever, ever heard of the town called by that name. Which didn’t mean the townsfolks had nothing to say. At the Peace Grocery #2, men who had lived around these parts forever sat on an old church pew, looked out on the green lush landscape around them and ruminated on the dilemma of the never-heard-of-town-name, so much rain this year, the president of the United States having a beer this week with strangers and why they can’t get rid of their wives. Except that, of course, Clarence Peace, also known as “Hunk”, never has had one. Photos by Charles Bertram/Words by Amy Wilson

Jumbo, Ky

As Raymond Lewis tells it, this was all virgin timber and wilderness when Morgan Smith claimed 1,400 acres and began logging through here. He got himself a sawmill and some animal help in there to speed the work. When the time came to name the Lincoln County town, the name of the animal seemed to fit the mood nicely.
The animal was an elephant. His name was Jumbo.
Jumbo words by Amy Wilson with Jumbo photographs by Charles Bertram

Tags: Charles Bertram, Jumbo, Ky, slideshow

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