Being a region in transition, it is inevitable that we will not always agree on what is the best way to move forward. At times, we have seen that we aren’t at odds with outsiders, elusive government officials, or big corporations, but we are at odds with ourselves. As residents invested in the future of the region, we each have a right to have our voice heard and our opinions considered when addressing the future economy and current need to make ends meet. How much is too much? How far is too far? When do we end up shooting ourselves in the foot? For the first story in this exploration, WMMT’s Benny Becker interviews the key players in the recent addition of the Russell Fork River to the American Rivers 10 Most Endangered listing by the group Appalachian Voices. It seems some citizens in Elkorn City, a town we recently featured on Mountain News & World Report, believe that the move could be detrimental to their efforts to maintain the current tourism boom they are seeing around the river and their hopes to increase it. When both partners at the table have a similar goal, but a different idea on how to get there, who is right? Does it matter?

Recently, Kentucky state politicians put forth two bills in the legislature that received support from the governor and the Kentucky Coal Association, that would have rolled back some of the safety regulations that had been put into place to protect miners after years of public push for such measures. In our second segment, Kelli Haywood seeks to find out if such cut backs will actually be of any benefit the jobs miners, the financial integrity of struggling coal companies, and the state budget, or will it put miners’ lives at undue risk.

And finally, from Appalshop Archive and the late Buck Maggard, we present an interview with “The Grandfather of Bluegrass” – Wade Mainer, who would have celebrated his 109th birthday on April 21st. From Buncombe County, North Carolina, Mainer’s innovative 2-finger banjo picking style is considered the precursor to the 3-finger playing style used in today’s bluegrass music. Mainer plays a few tunes with his wife Julia, discusses his favorite song, and his take on environmental stewardship.

It seems everything in our mountain home is in a state of transition. Change can be hard, but also good. It is a time to take the bull by the horns and stop beating the dead horse — to use some commonplace phrasing. This week on Mountain News & World Report, we are looking at a few of our Traditions in Transition. What traditions are worth putting time, money, and effort toward preserving? What time honored traditions might serve us as we transition into a new economy and which ones should we release in order to make room for new thoughts and ideas? WMMT’s Kelli Haywood begins this episode asking just those questions as she explores the efforts of the Letcher County Culture Hub in introducing squaredancing to a new generation and attempting to reinvigorate the tradition in that generation’s parents and grandparents. What she found might surprise you. Be sure to let us know what you think as well by commenting.

In our second story, Benny Becker attends the 4th Annual Appalachian Seed Swap and speaks with Joseph Simcox and Joyce Pinson who participate in the event. Simcox has traveled the world collecting and swapping seeds and along with Pinson believes that Appalachia can be a hub for the revival of small scale, sustainable agriculture. Not only does Simcox share some of the seeds of knowledge he’s collected from his world travels, but puts forward his idea for how Central Appalachia can use agriculture to transform our economy and reclaim our mined lands.

And, to end the show, we include the story of Brian Fields as interviewed by Malcolm J. Wilson of Humans of Central Appalachia. Fields works in retraining former miners for a variety of careers. He also comes from a long line of musicians and farmers. His story illustrates how it is just second nature at times to take on tradition as part of your own identity.

This is a mind bending edition of Mountain News & World Report, as we attempt to imagine the (im)possible – a real, just, economic transition for the mountains. In exploring what it means to have faith in our abilities to create something out of little to nothing, we discovered that this faith is the legacy of our mountain ancestors. Mountain people have been “making do” since time immemorial, not only to simply survive, but to thrive and find joy in the least obvious of places. For this episode, we begin in 1950s Knoxville, TN at the Fellowship House Summer-Day Camp, one of the first successful attempts at racially integrating activities for children. This effort was dreamed of by community members and brought to fruition by those same people. WMMT contributor Beth Bingman attended the camp as a child, and brings us this story.

In our second segment, we take a leap into the future with KVEC’s FIREShare podcast producers Willa Johnson and Tanya Turner as they bring us a report on The Holler. University of Pikeville professor Bruce Parsons details the efforts of The Holler – a website and physical space geared toward opening a dialogue about technology in the region while serving as a tool for those who want to learn to use technology more effectively and develop technological skills as a personal asset. Those working on The Holler believe ” using technology in this way shows that the people of Central Appalachia can utilize the same tools as those around the world and put it to use for our own purposes and betterment of our own communities.” As Parsons and other believe, projects like The Holler show that technology could be a real key to our future ability to stay, work, and live in the mountains.

Finally, we feature the launch of the newest player in the coined “Silicon Holler,” – Mountain Tech Media (MTM) in Whitesburg, Kentucky. MTM is a diversified technology and media services company that prides itself on being a “creative cooperative” by encouraging the professionals working for MTM to own the company they are helping to build. Companies like MTM hope to be the future employers of these tech savvy mountain folks. We are actively working together to make the impossible possible. It is innovation in action. A true mind expansion from the depths of the deepest night to the light of what will be tomorrow.

This edition of Mountain News & World Report brings us the complicated legacy that coal is leaving in the mountains of southeastern, Kentucky. While on one hand we are proud to be miners and the children of miners, and we are grateful for the good paying jobs the industry has brought to the region, on the other hand, we are left wondering what now. In this time when the coal industry is in decline, we are reminded that the changes brought about by over a century mining coal aren’t easily adjusted. The first segment of this episode shares the story of Phillip Johnson and his family whose land has been strip-mined without their consent in recent years not unlike what was seen in the days of the Broadform Deed. While use of the broadform deed ended in 1988 through popular vote, the Johnsons found that there continues to be means by which a company can mine for minerals underneath the ground of a landowner who has not agreed to mining. Not only can they, but they can do so perfectly legally in Kentucky. WMMT contributor, Parker Hobson, brings us the story in collaboration with Tarence Ray of Appalachian Voices who has provided the photo of the Johnson property for this post. You can read Ray’s article and see more photographs at this link.

Then, we revisit coverage from WMMT’s Rich Kirby in 2010 of the dedication of a permanent marker in remembrance of the Scotia Mine Disaster. March 9, 2016 marked the 40th anniversary of two mine explosions in Letcher Co., Kentucky. Dr. Greg Wagner gave an informative and thought-provoking commemorative speech revealing the complexities and sorrows these tragedies leave behind. And, finally, we have the story of Jeremy Brock of Evarts, Kentucky in our ongoing feature with Humans of Central Appalachia. Brock is an underground miner, father, and competition barbecuer. Like all of us, he’s wondering what happens when the mining jobs are all gone. Will his passion for barbecue be enough to carry him and his family through?

In this episode of Mountain News & World Report, we go a little deeper with two very important news stories that point to the fact that our way of life in the Kentucky mountains is changing drastically and it all boils down to money, or the lack thereof. We begin this broadcast with a story from WMMT reporter Benny Becker. He looks at how the current state of the economy is affecting the senior citizens of Letcher County, Kentucky. Shrinking income from coal severance taxes have led to budget shortages, and just recently, that led to a big reduction in services for seniors when all of the senior citizens centers across the county closed doors and the Meals on Wheels program discontinued. For us here at WMMT, that raised a question– Are we letting the economy change how we take care of our elders?

And finally, Kelli Haywood reports on the February 12th visit of Governor Matt Bevin to Hazard where he addressed the concerns of economy that we are facing in coalfields Kentucky. Bevin addressed a substantial crowd at Hazard Community and Technical College, but did he bring along any hope? What could our future look like in these mountains and in Kentucky in general? Bevin speaks to the decline in coal production, education, technology, prisons, and the strength of will among eastern Kentuckians.

•Can Hindman, Kentucky overcome a sense of despair to work together to create new economic opportunity and revive their town? (In Part II of the Hindman series, Kelli Haywood speaks to representatives of the Hindman Settlement School, Appalachian Artisan Center, and community artist Sean Starowitz.)

•High speed internet is already bringing new jobs— and the FCC Chairman— to Eastern Kentucky (New WMMT Reporter Benny Becker Brings the Story)

•The RECLAIM Act Explained! – (As introduced in the House by Congressman Hal Rogers on Feb. 3)

•Hindman awakens new opportunity to revitalize the economy through a rich cultural heritage in arts and music

•Humans of Central Appalachia (Doug Naselroad – Master Lutheiry in Residence at the Bolen Woodworking Studio in Hindman,KY)

•“White Highways” written and read by James Still from Appalshop Archive