Anyone here from Pikeville? (Louisville, Morehead: fit in, house, theatre)

[lost grandfather]

I would like to ask for help in finding my paternal grandfathers family. I am searching for anyone from Pikeville related toor who knew a gentleman named Moses Paragon. He fathered a child during the war in Europe, my mother Andree Kuss who's married name is now Day. My name is Christopher, I'm 37 yrs old have 3 children and would love to finally meet all of my lost relatives. I have two brothers and two neices. This message goes out to anyone who can help us unite our families. We are presently living in Barrie Ontario Canada. I can be reached at christopher.day@hotmail.com. Your help in this matter is appreciated.

[jc1227]

First of all, to all of the people that consider this a part of third world country have never been to Pikeville, or was just blind when you were visiting. As in any town in any part of this country there are places that are runned down, and people who do not have an education. I can proudly say I moved away, put myself through college, and graduated and came back to Pikeville. I make great money here and I didn't have to move back. We may behind others in development, but it is due to the attitudes like some of those who posted on this subject. People don't run around with no teeth, no shoes, dirty, and pregnant here. We may not have a "mall" here, but I never knew a mall was the one thing someone had to have to not be considered a third world country. Next time you all are in town you might want to check out the Expo Center, Pikeville College and the School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Cut Thru, Pikeville Medical Center, the Coca Cola Plant, the Pepsi Plant, the Kelloggs Plant, ACS, Big Sandy Community and Technical College, the Breaks, the Bowles Addition, Cedar Creek, Quail Ridge, the majority of our high schools.. should I go on. There are many factories and companies that have seen what a prosperous and growing county this and are willing to place their money and business here. If everyone can let go of the sterotype that Eastern Kentucky receives our boundaries are limitless.

[Miss Blue]

Thanks for your defense of Pike County. I hate it when so many people out there, sometimes including our own, who have nothing good to say about the beauty of the area and the warm, friendly people here, and the progress we are making in the drug war, poverty, and unemployment. American idol was the last show this week to make us all look dumb. I just wish someone would come in and film the good things about us.

[highliner]

Insofar as the last time I was in my childhood home of Pikeville, it was about 8 months ago. I shall stand by my assessments.

[highliner]

My father laughed out loud when he read that Coke's big parking lot for products made in Lexington was called a "plant", and then reminded me of his favorite assertion that "Pikeville is a wonderful place to be from- and I do mean far from!" He also pointed out that Mossy Bottom industrial park just cannot retain occupants. Is Benson still there? What about the furniture manufacturer who said that the workforce quality was worse than in East Los Angeles, and he was relocating back there, in spite of the 50% increase in production costs so associated with the move. Oh and I am so proud of the quack medicine place, designed to teach people how to con money out of desperate, hurting, dying, cancer patients and their families. Did I forget the great big ditch, no no , not the one backing up sewage from Thompson creek into downtown along Scott Avenue- I mean the other one-the one forwarding sewage towards Prestonsburg. Boy oh boy am I filled with pride over that accomplishment! Finally, the much vaunted Kellogg's plant isn't even located in Pikeville, although it is in Pike county. And so on, and so on,etc. Save your breath. Finis!!

[desiree253]

Dude.. you seem to have a whole lot of pent up rage going on. No one is saying you personally have to like Eastern Kentucky.. but in the same breath.. some of us find it refreshing there.... isn't that okay too? The thing I like so much about Kentucky are the friendly people. No matter what your financial status....... Many poor people are not poor because they are lazy, just due to circumstance... You like bigger, more industrial places... cool. You check out the size of Lexingtons jails? How about the crime index in that area..? What about the homeless people downtown?... and speaking of drugs... are you serious in thinking Central Kentucky isn't as depressingly drug riddled as the rest of the U.S.? Drugs are bad everywhere... they have been for decades... Pikeville I'm sure is no exception when it comes to drugs.. it's about the same as whole neighborhoods in larger cities. Per capita.. there most likely (although I'm not a statistical expert) are as many drug users and dealers percentage-wise in the larger cities and small towns alike.

Just my .02 cents. Glad you like Central Kentucky though. It's a great state.

[highliner]

You live in the hills of Rowan County, don't you? I don't believe I've attacked it, just the overblown descriptions of Pikeville. Although, I do wish someone would build a truckstop in Morehead- my civilian employer serves Guardian there. I really do like the lay of the land near there, however.

[michele36]

I live near Pikeville,, Pike county is a beautiful place.. we used to have a litter problem, but that has been cleaned up!!!!! Garbage is picked up twice a week in the city and one a week in the county..
I am suprised how negatively people speak of Pikeville.. I don't agree that this is a horrible place.. Our big problem is a lack of jobs.. and Pike county is becoming overly crowded..the cost of housing is going up.. that is the biggest problems in pikeville.. but the people here are good..
I am planning on leaving Pikeville because of the lack of jobs, and because I will be looking for an area that is more like Pike county was when I was growing up.. it is hard to purchase any acreage here now.. what used to be wide open spaces is becoming crowded.. home that used to come with 3-4 acres now comes with a 100x100 lot.. I don't care for that..
Family history goes a long way here.. I don't like the fact that finding a job is all in who you know??? I want to find better oportunities for my children..
but eastern kentucky is a great place to get an education, the crime you hear of is domestic, and there is a drug problem.. but thanks to operation unite and other efforts.. I don't think it is as bad, as it was a few years ago..
I watch my kids carefully, we don't use drugs, so we don't see that problem.. so I mean, if you have a good job oportunity here.. you will most likely like it here.
Bottom line.... Every place has its good and bad... you have to pick what is important to you... I have been told that Louisville and Lexington are bad for drive by shootings.. robberies.. I don't see that here, I am 36...lived here my whole life..

[michele36]

Originally Posted by tenesseetarheel

Please, whatever you do, do not move to Pikeville. I lived in Prestonsburg for a year. It was THE longest and most depressing time of my life. When my husband and I wanted to go out for dinner, there was an Applebees. That was the closest thing to a "real" restaurant they have. One tiny mall, that doesn't even deserved to be called a mall. If I never go back there I'll be better off. Never move to a place where your 14 year old dog has more teeth than the majority of the people there.

well first off.. Apple bee's is in Pikeville... and people here are educated, they do care for their teeth..this is very rude to say of people... its true that the area does not have a mall, that is not the peoples fault..
These are small towns.. people have came here and robbed this place of its natural resources and eastern kentuckians are really oppressed people who are kind hearted and often taken advantage of, I don't blame the people.. most of them are from families that have lived here for generations.. this is the only life they know.... I blame the politicians... Ever ask your self why there is no mall in eastern kentucky... the people would benefit... but would anyone else???? I know I travel to Huntington, Kingsport, Lexington to shop... I was born in Pikeville.. I have a college education.. so be careful of stereotyping the people here..

[michele36]

Originally Posted by highliner

Funny, I counted seven stories! Did somebody lop off the remaining four? Pikeville, as it is now, stinks so badly, that it even makes Buckner look better by comparison!

That building also houses court rooms.. and other offices, all of it is not used to house criminals.... its a nice building... you ever been there???