The Middlesboro, Ky. City Council passed a sweeping smoking ban at its meeting on Tuesday night, giving the city its first such ban and effectively banning all smoking in public places.

While the ordinance has not been posted on the city’s website, MiddlesboroDailyNews.com reports that fines for violators start at $25 for the first offense before escalating to $100 for the second and $250 for the third and each subsequent offense. The article reports that the proposal did draw opposition from several local business owners as well as one of the council members.

The ban will go into effect 90 days after its publication in the city’s newspaper.

It was proposed by a group of elementary school students who are participating in a program called Destination Imagination, which describes itself as “a non-profit, volunteer-led, cause-driven organization. We inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders.”

Middlesboro is located in the southeastern corner of the state and home to just over 10,000 people.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.