Governor Steve Beshear kicked off his "Beshear About Kentucky" town hall meeting series at Virgie Middle School in Pike County Thursday night.

It gave people a chance to share their concerns with the state's top elected official.

Three topics came up over and over - education, the drug problem, and eastern Kentucky roads.

People told the governor they wanted these issues and others improved.

Governor Beshear promised to take their ideas to Frankfort.

Governor Steve Beshear and his wife Jane came to listen to Pike Countians, and people had plenty to say.

The governor brought his ideas of using coal to create energy and jobs and more adventure tourism to boost the local economy.

People cheered, but some had concerns.

“They can build it, but if they can't get here, then it's much more difficult,” Gypsy Cantrell, Steelworker’s Union.

Local Steelworker's Union Members and people from Elkhorn City want new roads.

They asked why road projects they say are needed are delayed.

“Members in my local, that they may not have jobs to go to, and they won't complete our roads here in eastern Kentucky that we need to be able to continue with our economic develop plans,” Cantrell said.

“We're going to listen to what they have to say. We're going to pay attention to what their concerns are,” Governor Beshear said.

Many others asked about education, school funding, and higher pay for teachers.

The governor said the budget was tight, and hurting schools.

First Lady Jane Beshear promised to help find new revenue and creative ways to help the situation.

Others said drugs were tearing the county apart and ruining lives, and more ways are needed to fight and treat the problem.

“When we listen, we learn, and then we can take that information and make Kentucky a better place to call home for everybody,” Governor Beshear said.

Governor Beshear promised that he wouldn't forget what he heard.

The governor also said legalizing casinos remains a possibility even though lawmakers rejected the idea earlier this year.

This was just the first of many town hall meetings Governor Beshear is holding around the state.

The next is in Somerset on Monday. He'll also be in Hazard next month.

Governor Beshear also announced that the city of Coal Run in Pike County will get more than $190,000 for a sidewalk project.