Hopkins County Update – Antismoking Extremists Use Students!
Hopkins Co. Students Continue Push For Smoking Ban
Nov 9, 2006
Marianne Lyles
Marianne Lyles
There’s a new push for a smoking ban in Western Kentucky and this time students are leading the way.
Students in Hopkins County Central High School have taken their education to the next level. They presented research on a smoking ban to the fiscal court… in the school auditorium.
Student Ashton Rhodes says, “It’s pretty cool. It makes you feel like you’ve worked towards something, and you’ve accomplished a goal.”
Last month, the students, while in a government class, expressed their desire for a county-wide smoking ban.
Student Michael Seiber says, “A lot of them questioned our research, but we never presented our research. So after we did, they saw we were actually taking out time.”
Students conducted a poll and collected signatures on a petition. More than 1,100 are backing their push for a smoking ban, but of the couple hundred in the auditorium Thursday, there were some in disagreement.
Student Taylor Hall says, “We had one lady talking about how she had rights and gave her feedback, but people have different opinions.”
Fiscal court members listened to those opinions and looked over the students’ research. Students didn’t leave with a definite answer as to what will happen next because some of the people on the court won’t be here after January 1st since they weren’t re-elected.
The county judge, who will also be out of office, says she still wants the court to keep the ban in mind.
Hopkins County Judge Patricia Hawkins says, “Perhaps have a committee meeting to see if there’s a desire from a majority of the court members.”
The students say they’ll be there every step of the way, and they will pass the torch to next semester’s government class to continue this push.
