Interview with H. M. Bottom, September 26, 2006

Partial Transcript: This is Dale Johnson for Eastern Kentucky PRIDE Incorporated, uh, speaking with H. M. Bottom, um, the solid waste coordinator and the PRIDE coordinator for Russell County, Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Johnson begins the interview by introducing H. M. Bottom.

Partial Transcript: Were you born around here?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses a bit of his personal history, including his work history as Fire Chief and Utility Supervisor for Russell Springs and Solid Waste Coordinator for Russell County.

Keywords: Fire chiefs; Garbage; Jobs; Louisville (Ky.); Occupations; Recycling; Russell Springs (Ky.); Solid waste; Solid waste coordinators; Trash; Utility supervisors; Work

Subjects: Employment--Kentucky; Kentucky.; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Doesn't that make you sick to clean it up and two weeks later--

Segment Synopsis: Bottom describes how Russell County's environmental efforts are working and how the county is much cleaner since PRIDE has been involved. He discusses collecting white goods and the local recycling center.

Keywords: Audits; Cleanup; Dumping; Garbage; Illegal dumps; Litter (Trash); Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Recycling; Roadside litter; Russell Springs (Ky.); Solid waste; Solid waste coordinators; Volunteers; White goods

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Pollution.; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Russell County (Ky.); Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: I noticed that you seem to have had a lot of volunteers over the last ten years.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom describes the level of volunteer involvement in Russell County and why it is increasing. He discusses how the county is involving the school system and the dangers involved in roadside litter pickup for school groups.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Education; Garbage; Illegal dumps; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Schools; Solid waste; Volunteering

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Roadside litter; Russell County (Ky.); Volunteers; Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: And PRIDE, uh, helped build that building over there.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses what has been funded by PRIDE in Russell County and how pride has moved away from equipment grants.

Keywords: Equipment; Funding; Grants; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Surveillance cameras

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: A lot of--some counties have just a tremendous amount of dumps and some don't.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the number of dumps that have been cleaned up in Russell County and how much more the county has to do in regard to dump cleanup. He describes how Russell County has a low rate of recurrence.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Garbage; Illegal dumps; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Solid waste; Trash

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Roadside litter; Russell County (Ky.); Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: Um, now do you have county-wide cleanup?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses garbage collection in the county and various cities within the county. He describes the high level of participation from people in the county even without mandatory garbage pickup. He discusses how the county does not have problems with dumping except on private lots.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Garbage; Garbage collection; Illegal dumps; Jamestown (Ky.); Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Roadside litter; Russell Springs (Ky.); Solid waste; Trash collection

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Refuse collection; Russell County (Ky.); Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: Well I'm really impressed with the--with your county.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom describes the different groups that participate in cleanups in the county, including church groups, cheerleaders, and inmates from the county jail. He discusses how he has hired several inmates after they have finished their sentences.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Education; Garbage; Illegal dumps; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Schools; Solid waste; Volunteering

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Roadside litter; Russell County (Ky.); Volunteers; Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: Uh, I, I see a huge amount of tires.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the tire and white goods collection that the county does to help with solid waste. He describes the issues with buyback programs for white goods and why Russell County does not charge for donating white goods.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Garbage; Illegal dumps; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Roadside litter; Solid waste; Tires; White goods

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Refuse collection; Russell County (Ky.); Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: Uh, what, what am I missing?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the wastewater treatment methods of Russell County. He describes the regional water treatment plant and the work that has been done in regard to septic and sewer in the county. He describes the issues surrounding wastewater treatment in the area because of the moisture level of the soil.

Keywords: Jamestown (Ky.); Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Russell Springs (Ky.); Septic tanks; Sewers; Soil; Springs; Water treatment plants

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Plumbing.; Russell County (Ky.); Sewerage.; Wastewater treatment and reuse; Water quality.; Water treatment plants.

Partial Transcript: Wolf Creek Dam is a good example down there, if you've been hearing them talk about the leak in Wolf Creek Dam.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses Wolf Creek dam and the leak that was present at the time of the interview. He describes the money and effort that will go into repairing the dam.

Keywords: Army Corps of Engineers; Dam leaks; Dams; Lake Cumberland (Ky.); Leaks; Russell County (Ky.); Waterways; Wolf Creek Dam

Subjects: Cumberland, Lake (Ky.); Environmental protection; Environmentalism; United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

Partial Transcript: I would imagine you've got some good tourism coming in here--

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the tourism in Russell County due to Lake Cumberland and why it was slow the year of the interview.

Keywords: Dams; Gasoline; Lake Cumberland (Ky.); Man made lakes; Water quality; Waterways

Subjects: Cumberland, Lake (Ky.); Russell County (Ky.); Tourism.

Partial Transcript: How i--how is the water quality of the lake?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the water quality of Lake Cumberland, as well as history surrounding the creation of the lake by the Army Corps of Engineers. He also discusses the waterway cleanups that concentrated on the lake.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dams; Lake Cumberland (Ky.); Man made lakes; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Waterways

Subjects: Cumberland, Lake (Ky.); Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Pollution.; Russell County (Ky.); Water quality.

Partial Transcript: But, uh, uh, delta Rockhouse, Rockhouse Bottom and down to Creelsboro--see, Creelsboro was the seat, the county seat at one time.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the history of the area, specifically focusing on Creelsboro and how it has changed over time. He also discusses how Jesse and Frank James were said to have robbed a bank in Creelsboro.

Keywords: Cemeteries; Frank James; Graves; History; James, Frank; James, Jesse; Jesse James; Man-made lakes; Reservoirs

Subjects: Creelsboro (Ky.); James, Jesse, 1847-1882; Kentucky--History; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, and you was talking about the young people, 'cause there were farms at Creelsboro at one time.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses how property prices have increased dramatically in Creelsboro since the creation of Lake Cumberland.

Keywords: Cemeteries; Creelsboro (Ky.); Farms; Graves; History; Lake Cumberland (Ky.); Man-made lakes; Property prices; Real estate; Reservoirs

Subjects: Cumberland, Lake (Ky.); Real property.; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Oh, I know what I was thinking of.

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses a hotel located in Russell Springs that burned down. He discusses the history of Russell Springs and the mineral water well that was located there. He also describes events that would occur in the area.

Keywords: Events; Mineral water; Molasses; Motels; Parties; Property; Quilting; Water wells; Wells

Subjects: Hotels.; Russell County (Ky.); Russell Springs (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I can see where--

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses how PRIDE has helped to change attitudes about littering. He discusses the efforts by his constituents to turn in those who are littering and the help he receives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in enforcing laws about dumping and litter.

Keywords: Cleanup; Dumping; Enforcement; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Garbage; Illegal dumps; Lake Cumberland (Ky.); Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Russell Springs (Ky.); Solid waste; Tourism; Waterways

Subjects: Cumberland, Lake (Ky.); Environmental law.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Roadside litter; Russell County (Ky.); Waste disposal sites

Partial Transcript: So you've been here--you've been the--you started as emergency coordinator in ninety-two?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the beginning of his time as solid waste coordinator and what he thinks will happen in the future. He also describes the qualities of a good solid waste coordinator.

Keywords: Elections; Garbage; Judges; Russell Springs (Ky.); Solid waste; Solid waste coordinators; Trash

Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.); Refuse and refuse disposal.; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Is there anything you'd like to see PRIDE doing that they're not?

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses what he thinks PRIDE should do moving forward and he describes how the community celebrates the cleanups that occur in the area.

Keywords: Cleanup; Community; Dumping; Environmental cleanup; Events; Illegal dumps; Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE); Picnics

Subjects: Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Litter (Trash); Pollution.; Refuse and refuse disposal.; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: We're, we're having a--I live out in Letcher County way out by Virginia...

Segment Synopsis: Bottom discusses the elections in Letcher County and Russell County, specifically describing the state of the magistrates in Russell County.

Keywords: Judges; Letcher County (Ky.); Magistrates; Russell County (Ky.); Solid waste

Subjects: Elections.; Politics and government; Russell County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, um, I really--

Segment Synopsis: Johnson concludes the interview with Bottom as they discuss a friend of Bottom's.