Eastern Kentucky town seeks 'new beginning' through prayer

OLIVE HILL, Ky. (AP) - Officials and residents in a small eastern Kentucky town are praying for "a new beginning" in an effort to heal the area of the scourge of drugs.

More than 200 Olive Hill residents gathered recently for a prayer meeting at the National Guard Armory. The crowd included younger and older residents who came together to improve their community.

The meeting this month, called A New Beginning, came after the town's former mayor was arrested in November on a charge of trafficking drugs near an elementary school.

Councilwoman Angela Johnson, who advertised the meeting on her Facebook page, told The Independent that newly appointed Mayor Kenny Fankell had the idea for the meeting.

Limestone Apostolic Church member Jim Short says he is hoping for a divine change.

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