Communities, Welcome to Montgomery Creek, Kentucky
“I just don’t think that this should be happening in the United States.” – McKinley Sumner, resident of Montgomery Creek, KY
Friday, October 19th, 2007
In order to make sure mining operations stayed off of his property, McKinley Sumner had the boundaries surveyed and marked with bright orange markers. When mining began near his property, not only did the markers disappear, but also the big, old tree used to indicate the property line. One lawyer says it would now be hard to prosecute the company for trespassing on his property, because there is no property there any more. It’s just a straight drop-off now.
According to Sumner, “Back in August, I was out in the yard one day and I heard this awful commotion. It didn’t sound right to me, so I decided to go to the top of the mountain. I put on my boots to keep the copperheads and rattlesnakes away and headed up. When I got back there, I saw this monster bulldozer. At about the time I got to the top, a truck pulled up. I went up to the person in the truck who was apparently the foreman, and asked him if he realized they were on private property.
“He said, ‘No, I don’t think so.”
“I responded by saying, ‘Yes, I do think so!’ I talked to him for a minute and then I started on down the ridge to see what all they had done.
“I am 74 years old, and I hike up to the ridgeline three times a week to make sure the company is not trying to come on my property again. I just want them to know that I’m still here and I’m watching. I just don’t think that this should be happening in the United States.”
Click here to learn more about Montgomery Creek and the communities that live nearby.
Summary and photo courtesy of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.
