ABC spent some time Friday patting itself on the back for helping bring positive changes to the sections of eastern Kentucky featured in last week’s “A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains.”

The “20/20” follow-up report said the Inez girl in one of the segments received the Hannah Montana boots that she mentioned wanting last week, and a dentist was providing dental work for her mom.

It was good to hear that former Johnson Central football star Shawn Grim had accepted an offer from Union College to resume his football career and receive an education.

Since the program aired last week, Grim had received scholarship offers from Union College, University of the Cumberlands, University of Louisville and Pikeville College, according to a story in the Ashland Daily Independent.

The part of the follow-up show I liked best was the interview with Gov. Steve Beshear, who said that stimulus funds would be approved to help the region with water projects and new roads.

I was in Frankfort earlier in the week with several members of the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce transportation committee to talk with legislators about road priorities for our county, which I’m convinced has the greatest needs and has been the longest ignored in Kentucky.

I’ve been disappointed before and could be again, but I was especially optimistic after we talked with House Majority Leader Greg Stumbo, who offered several ideas for moving projects forward.

State representatives Rick Nelson and Fitz Steele also seemed to be very interested and sincere in getting Harlan County projects on the six-year road plan, and state Sen. Brandon Smith is in a position to help his home district and seemed determined to do so in this legislative session.

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As several people have pointed out, a big part of the problem in our region goes back to the fact that so many people choose to live on welfare instead of getting a job.

I’m not sure how you fix the problem of laziness and lack of pride.

The saddest part is the children who can’t help the fact that their parents are useless. Taking them out of the loop could help, if that’s possible, so that the money that should meet the children’s basic needs aren’t used for pills or booze.

Encouraging some of our repeat criminals to find a new home, outside Harlan County, or go to jail for a long, long time has been my suggestion for several years, if there’s some legal way to make it work.

This would be a case of addition by subtraction.

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In order to turn around our situation, Harlan Countians must help themselves and break through the years of inaction and ineffective leadership. There’s been some momentum in that direction, but it’s still more talk than anything else.

Harlan and Cumberland officials have talked about removing blighted buildings to make the downtown areas more attractive. The test will be whether city officials can follow through when they start getting complaints from those affected by the change.

I’m also waiting on some true leadership in the Tri-Cities, where they need to quit talking about working together and start doing it. Until some of the young people in the area step up, nothing will change, because too many of those calling the shots these days and over the past 30 years or so aren’t concerned about the future. They are living in the past.

Impeachment isn’t the answer in Cumberland. Merger is the only answer to stop the wasteful duplication of services the residents paying taxes cannot afford.

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Continuing to improve education in southeastern Kentucky is a must if the next generation is going to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

Harlan High School has ranked among state leaders in several areas over the past decade or so and has the banners to prove it.

Harlan County High School is making tremendous progress in its first year, winning the district Governor’s Cup competition earlier this month.

It’s good to see students and school officials across the county are taking academics seriously and are working hard for success.