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CHARLESTON – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin officially delivered the first batch of the new state-issued Friends of Coal license plates during a May 6 presentation in Charleston. The plate, the first in the state’s history to be any color other than white, is black with white lettering and a white Friends of Coal logo on the left side. Tomblin unveiled the plate during the joint spring meeting of the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Mining Institute.
“I hope these plates will be an ambassador of the state and of the state’s coal industry,” Tomblin said, adding that he hopes it makes people from other states take a moment to think about the importance of the coal industry and the hard work that goes into keeping America’s lights burning.
Warren Hylton, of Patience Coal and one of the founders of Friends of Coal, was presented with the first plate. Also receiving plates were former Marshall University Head Football Coach Bobby Pruett and former West Virginia University Head Football Coach Don Nehlen, WVCA Chairman Gary White and Association President Bill Raney among others.
“This is a fitting tribute to our working coal miners,” Raney said, “and to every one of those 63,000 West Virginians who work in the state’s coal industry. “
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The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles unveiled a brand new license plate Friday. The Friends of Coal now have a plate of their very own.
Acting Gov, Earl Ray Tomblin was on hand at the West Virginia Coal Association's annual spring meeting in Charleston to unveil the plate. He says it's a great way to promote the coal industry.
"I think that we need to get our message out. One of the ways to do that is to have what I call a moving or mobile billboard,” Tomblin said.
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Charleston – Four of the true pioneers of the state’s coal industry were inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame during ceremonies during a ceremony May 6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.
Those being inducted were: former Pocahontas Land Company President Robert “Bob” Raines; the late Johnson C. McKinley, a pioneer of the northern coalfields region of West Virginia; Purnal “Judge” McWhorter of McWhorter & Associates, LLC, formerly of Phillips Machine Services, and the late J. Robert Fletcher, of J.H. Fletcher& Co.
“This is the highest honor our industry can bestow,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “This award is given to people who devote a lifetime of service to our industry and our state. I am so proud to be able to say I know these gentlemen and count them as friends. They are gentlemen in every sense of the word. They embody the very best of our industry. Their lives of hard work, commitment to excellence and commitment to the state and its people truly light the way for the rest of us to follow.”
The Coal Hall of Fame was established in 1993 and is jointly sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association, the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute and the West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association. The first class was inducted in 1998.
The Mineral Resources Building of the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in Morgantown is home to the Coal Hall of Fame.
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ST. LOUIS, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) announced that it received the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative award, presented today by the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources during annual Arbor Day events. The award was presented for the reclamation of a former surface mine in western Ohio County, near the communities of Rockport and Echols.
"In this project, the entire area was reclaimed into fish and wildlife post-mining land use. Substantial amounts of native and western grasses were incorporated into the re-vegetation plans, and over 200,000 trees and shrubs were planted to establish wildlife food and shelter areas," stated Patriot Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Charles A. Ebetino, Jr. "The reclaimed area is used by hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts, and has also been visited by academic groups to observe and study the success of native grasses, reforestation and the repopulation of wildlife species. By thoughtfully incorporating grasses and wildlife that are native to this area, we have furthered our Company's mission to be a good steward of the land in the communities where we operate."
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By Jim Ross
High prices in coal used to make steel is the driving force behind recent company mergers and acquisitions.
The market for metallurgical coal used to make steel may not be as big as the market for coal used in power plants, but it's where the money is going.
Interest in metallurgical, or met, coal, which has seen significant price increases in recent months, was the driving force behind three large mergers in the American coal industry in recent months, including this week's announcement by St. Louis-based Arch Coal that is buying Scott Depot-based International Coal Group,or ICG. But West Virginia has seen renewed interest in met coal for several years as foreign steel producers have brought met coal reserves and mines.
"We have had a lot of inquiries from foreign buyers - China, Europe, India - that are wanting to buy producers of coal," said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Company.
For more, click herehttp://statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=98834
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Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will issue the first Friends of Coal official license plates at our annual joint meeting with the Coal Mining Institute, May 6 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston. The announcement and presentation will take place at 10:00 a.m.
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Arch to Become Second Largest U.S. Metallurgical Coal Producer
ST. LOUIS and SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va., May 2, 2011 -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) ("Arch" or "the company") and International Coal Group, Inc. (NYSE:ICO) ("ICG") today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Arch will acquire all of the outstanding shares of ICG for $14.60 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.4 billion. The combined company will be the second largest U.S. metallurgical coal supplier and a top-five overall global coal producer and marketer. Arch will have a balanced metallurgical ("met") and thermal coal portfolio with unparalleled operational diversification in every major U.S. supply basin and the No. 1 or No. 2 position in each of its three core operating regions.
"The acquisition of ICG is a significant strategic step that strengthens Arch's position as a world-class, global coal franchise positioned for growth," said Steven F. Leer, Arch's chairman and chief executive officer. "This transaction will greatly expand our participation in global met markets; provide a powerful platform for future organic met coal production growth; enhance and further diversify our met and thermal coal product slate; extend our operating portfolio into every major U.S. coal-producing basin; and solidify our position as one of the industry's lowest cost producers."
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With the smashing of a champagne bottle against its bow, a lingering baritone blast from its horn and a chorus of cheers from a festive crowd, the Motor Vessel Pennsylvania became the MV O. Nelson Jones in a ceremony Friday in its homeport of Port Amherst, southeast of Charleston.
The newly christened 164-foot towboat was named to honor Jones, the president of the 30-boat Amherst Madison fleet, who died last July at age 52 after a long battle with cancer.
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BIRCH RIVER – Approximately 100 students from area elementary and high schools, as well as West Virginia University joined the staff of the ICG Eastern Mining Complex in Webster County Thursday for the company’s 5th annual Arbor Day Celebration.
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