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May 30, 2015

WVCA Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton was the recipient of The State Journal’s annual Who’s Who in West Virginia Business Awards at a ceremony held May 28. 

“The winners of our Who's Who in West Virginia Business award year after year are the kind of people who make a difference in their communities and the state by giving back to their neighbors,” said Bray Cary of West Virginia Media, parent company of The State Journal. “They may take over a family business or start one from scratch, but they remain true to their beliefs and they lead by example.”

The first class of winners was named in 1993. In the 22 years since, we have honored more than 200 entrepreneurs, educators and other professionals who come from every nook and cranny of the Mountain State.

“It is an honor to be given this award,” Hamilton said. “And it is an honor to be in the company of the others who have been recognized over the past 22 years. I would like to thank The State Journal and the other recipients. I would also like to thank the hard working men and women of the coal industry – past and present – who it is my honor to represent.”

Joining Hamilton as this year’s winners were: 

Winners

·         Stephen Christian: Berkeley County Development Authority

·         Maurice Cooley: Marshall University

·         John Ebert: J.W. Ebert Corp.

·         Mike Ferns Sr.: A&B Kia

·         Marten Jenkins: Natural Capital Investment Fund

·         Ed King: King's Tire Service

·         George Manahan: The Manahan Group

·         Steve McGowan: Steptoe & Johnson

·         Marc Meachum: Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce

·         Janet Neathawk: S.J. Neathawk Lumber Co.

·         Jose "Zito" Sartarelli: WVU College of Business and Economics

·         Scott Winwood: First Choice America

 Tom Jones, West Virginia United Health System was named the winner of this year’s Lorenelle White Lifetime Achievement Award – named after the late-Lorenelle White, who led the State Journal to become one of the state’s leading publications.

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May 30, 2015

West Virginia’s Congressional delegation, U. S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, along with Rep. David McKinley and representatives of Congressman Evan Jenkins (Mike Chirico) and Congressman Alex Mooney (Fred Joseph) and WV State Senate President Bill Cole met Friday with the members of the board of directors and government affairs committee of the West Virginia Coal Association. Each of the guests were briefed on the current, critical status of the state’s coal industry and the ongoing downturn brought on by the actions of the Obama Administration and its agencies.

Using 2008 as the benchmark year (before Obama), considerable discussion centered on the dramatic declines in production, employment and the number of operating mines in West Virginia. 

“We wanted to be sure our delegation understands the terrific damage that is and has been done by this federal Administration, their policies and the actions of their agencies, particularly EPA. The effects will be long-lasting,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association.

Our Congressional members were united in saying they are concerned about the reliability and stability of the electric grid in the wake of myriad EPA actions and the forced implementation of the CPP.  And they are also concerned about the cost to ratepayers and the overall cost to the economy.

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May 30, 2015

Coal production in the U.S. continued to fall this past week. Production for the week ending May 28 was fully 15.7% below last year’s levels, according to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA).

Read more …

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May 30, 2015

The WV Coal Forum, in conjunction with multiple local, regional and national partners, will host a series of five meeting across the state throughout the remainder of the year highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing West Virginia’s coal and energy sectors.  The series of educational and informational events will bring attention to the impact of U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, state and federal environmental regulations and strategies for confronting these critical issues head on.

            Tentative Meeting Dates:

            Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – Charleston, WV – 8:30 a.m. to Noon – Embassy Suites

            Thursday, July 23 – Bluefield, WV – 9 a.m. to Noon – Quality Hotel & Conference Center

            Tuesday, August 18 – Wheeling, WV – 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Oglebay Resort & Conference Center

            TENTATIVE – Wednesday, September 23 – Summersville, WV – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Summersville Armory

            TENTATIVE – Wednesday, October 28 – Morgantown, WV – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Waterfront Place Hotel and Conference Center

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May 30, 2015

At the May 21 Tug Valley Mining Institute’s dinner meeting, six 2015 scholarship recipients were named.  Two $6,000 scholarships were awarded to Erika Coleman and Caroline Hatfield, both of Belfry High School.  Four $750 scholarships were awarded to Benjamin Fitch & Aaron Tackett of Sheldon Clark, and Adriana Fleming of Logan High School and Olivia Ooten of Tug Valley.  Congratulations to these students.

Gary White, past WVCA President and Board Member and Interim President of Marshall University was the speaker and discussed the new Engineering Facility at Marshall, which was partly funded by donations from several mining related firms, including J. H. Fletcher and Art Weisberg, founder of State Electric.