Editor:

The Bell County Historical Society appreciates the coverage given by the Daily News to the just completed project to provide fourth grade students throughout the county with the means to learn about our local history and heritage.

The project was a workbook with each page having a one- or two-paragraph description to introduce a facet of our history with a drawing, puzzle or a maze to reinforce the lesson. It was developed by educators to teach at the proper level for those students during the year that Kentucky history is taught. Art classes in the Middlesboro and Pineville schools and Southeast Community College provided the artwork.

Funding for the project was provided by the State Historical Society from funds donated by taxpayers when filing individual tax returns. Tax return forms provide space for the taxpayer to donate a portion of refunds to the Local History Trust Fund. Grants, such as ours, are made from the fund through a competitive process.

Small volunteer organizations such as ours are challenged to raise adequate money to exist, much less to undertake community service projects such as this. It is only through the Kentucky Local History Fund that we can help our schools and our students. Please consider donating to the fund when you file your Kentucky income tax return.

Robert W. Vaughn, president

Bell County Historical Society