On Tuesday, students from Middlesboro High School made a commitment and pledged to be drug free as part of the movement with Crater of Hope to see an end to drug abuse in the community.

Students from the high school solidified their pledge by putting their thumb prints on the wall mural on 19th Street.

Middlesboro Police Chief Tom Busic closed the roadway at the New China Buffett alley to 19th street from 8:30 a.m. until about 2 p.m. to allow the students to make their pledges.

“Crater of Hope, Inc. has received funds from Operation Unite to repaint a mural on 18th Street,” organizer Jeannie Redmond Allen said. “The new mural will include all students in the Middlesboro School system with a special mark on the mural along with a pledge not to do drugs.”

Allen explained that Middlesboro Main Street is not affiliated with the revitalization project as previously reported and said the previous mural was great but served its time.

“We did receive permission from the Ladies Auxiliary, who funded the original mural, and the mayor to paint over it,” she said. “The mural will be titled “Growing Hope in the Crater.”

Allen said they are working with all local schools on the drug prevention event so every student will be able to participate.