FOR LEE COUNTY CITIZENS ONLY:

Yesterday (August 31) was designated as International Overdose Awareness Day.  The Lee County Ambulance Service reported responding to 4 overdoses in the last 2 weeks.  Remember the fact that addiction and homelessness far too often go hand in hand.  Remember all who've lost their lives, their children and other family members who have lost their loved ones in your prayers, remember those who are still with us who are struggling with addictions who may or may not be homeless, their children and families, remember they are still citizens of this county deserving of as much support and attention as anyone else, and please take the time to read and respond to this petition.  

As most of you know, The Hope Station (homeless shelter) located on Hwy 11 between Beattyville and Booneville will close its doors this week.  There is no denying the shelter had issues, mostly related to foot traffic on the highway and trespassing, but there should also be no denying the value of the services the shelter provided.  Closing the shelter was not the only option, those in positions of power, instead of building on the good and working on the bad, simply took the easy way out.  They solved nothing, but accomplished a great deal in setting our community back about 4 years.  Hopefully their minds, as well as the minds of those who demanded its closing, are eased a bit by the lifting of such a heavy burden.  Hopefully they are at peace with their decision and can rest comfortably in their own beds every night.  I say that with no judgment towards them, I have my own demons to wrestle with for not trying to say or do something that maybe, just maybe, could have prevented the loss of this particular "community asset".

Setting aside the rest of my own personal thoughts and opinions and asking you to do the same.  This petition is not intended to dwell on the past and lay blame on anyone or anything related to the services the shelter provided, or to its closing, but to look forward to the future.  This petition is calling on OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE 2 ISSUES, TO MAKE THESE 2 ISSUES PRIORITIES, AND TO WORK TOWARDS VIABLE SOLUTIONS.

If you are a Beattyville/Lee County resident who acknowledges the existence of these issues and you are in favor of what is being asked of these officials, please sign on.  Let's not wait till cold weather sets in and ease our consciences with prayers for the homeless,  let's pray for them every single day and get some wheels in motion now.  

A simple YES or NO will suffice for signing this particular petition, we can voice all our grievances (for or against) later. 

Note:  the picture used above was downloaded from the internet for reference and a stark reminder, that there are in fact those in this county living in quite similar conditions.        

Great thanks for your time and attention.