CEDAR has just completed their ninth year in southern West Virginia.  Over the nine-year period, CEDAR has provided 387 teachers with approximately $87,593 in grant money to utilize in their classroom teaching about the many benefits coal has to offer.   8,877 students have been involved in these coal study units in Mingo, Logan, Boone, McDowell, and Wyoming counties.

At the ninth Regional Coal Fair, 252 projects were on display from students in K-12 grades that demonstrated their understanding of how coal is formed, mined, and transported, as well as how the industry affects their daily lives.  Over the nine-year period, 2,343 projects have been represented at the regional level.  A total of $51,539 in cash prizes has been awarded to students for performance and $11,912 in cash prizes has been awarded to the school coal fair coordinators (teacher designated by school principal).  Exhibits were entered in seven categories:  Art, English/Literature, Math, Music, Science, Social Studies and Technology/Multi Media.  Each category is split into three grade levels (K-4), (5-8), and (9-12).  In addition to the cash prizes awarded, the students gained a hands-on education in coal and found pride in their strong coal heritage.

During the week of April 26 – April 30, approximately 800 visitors toured the projects at the Harless Community Center in Gilbert.  Bus tours were scheduled from the participating counties to tour the projects on display.  Two winning CEDAR students, William Poe and Dustin Adkins performed for Tug Valley Mining Institute attendees.  Tony Bumbico, Arch VP of Safety; John M Gallick, Alpha VP Safety & Health; and Rick Marlowe, Consol Director of Safety Awareness, addressed the Tug Valley Mining Institute meeting on Thursday night discussing safety, our industry’s top priority.

CEDAR of Southern West Virginia, Inc. is an all volunteer, not for profit corporation which began as a partnership between the Coal Industry, Business Community, and Educators, created with the purpose of improving the image of the coal industry

The Tug Valley Mining Institute’s monthly meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2010 and is to be their Scholarship dinner.  Bill Bissett of the Kentucky Coal Association will be the guest speaker with Hi-tech Construction sponsoring.  The meeting will be held at the Rivers Edge Restaurant in Williamson (formerly the Brass Tree).  Social hour will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. with dinner at 7.  To make reservations please contact Nathan Brown at 304.239.2300.

The Kanawha County Commission in conjunction with several sponsors and the WV Power has put together the following promotion for Coal Miner Appreciation Day at Appalachian Power Park: 

Coal Miner Appreciation Day at Appalachian Power Park will be the Memorial Day game on Monday, May 31; 1:05 pm start.  All coal miners (active & retired) and their immediate family will receive free admission to the game.

The free admission will include the Belly Buster package of all you can eat and drink.  Starting on that game, all Power players will wear a #29 patch on their uniform for the remainder of the season.  The WV Power will retire the #29 jersey.  An outfield billboard will be placed to memorialize the fallen miners.  Various fund raising activities for the fallen miners’ families will take place during and after the game.

The 7th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 16 – 18 at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley, WV.  Friday, July 16 will begin the Fair with the Cruise-In to uptown Beckley for the Renaissance Car Show and live entertainment by former American Idol contestant and Beckley native, Robbie Carrico.  Saturday will have the Live in Concert by The Charlie Daniels Band and Taylor Made, with special appearances by The Gold Knights Army Parachute Team and FOC spokesmen Coach Nehlen, Coach Pruett and BassMaster Jeremy Starks.  Tickets ($15.00 advance & $20.00 day of show) for the Concert will go on sale May 1st at select WV & VA Marquee Cinemas and the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA.

The 17th Annual West Virginia Coal Festival begins in Madison, WV on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 6 p.m. and will end at approximately 11 p.m. on June 19th.  Patriot Coal Corp. will be sponsoring the Mining Equipment Display which will be available during these times.