With the January 28 filing deadline now only eight days away, the field is filling for the May 8 West Virginia primary election. In the presidential race only GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney has filed along with two lesser-known candidates.
Senator Joe Manchin has filed to run for a full six year term. Manchin’s opponent in last year’s special election, John R. Raese has also filed, setting up a rematch.
The 2011 edition of Coal Facts is now available at the offices of the West Virginia Coal Association. The annual publication features an overview of key coal production, employment, distribution, consumption and tax data for both West Virginia and the nation. It also features pieces on reclamation and restoration of former mine land, post-mine land use, overviews of the history of coal in our state and the permitting process. Copies will be in the mail shortly and can be picked up at the WV Coal Association offices in Charleston.
Faces of Coal has released a new video “At a Loss for Words” that shows the damage being done to the region’s economy by the EPA’s on-going war on coal. The video features Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky, State Senator Art Kirkendoll of Logan and several working coal miners and community leaders discussing the threat posed by the EPA’s regulatory onslaught. The video can be viewed at the FACES website at http://www.facesofcoal.org/
Clarence Frederick "Fred" Shewey, 95, of Gainesville, FL, formerly of Kermit, passed away January 16, 2012, at home of complications due to kidney disease.
Fred was an influential community and business leader in the Tug Valley region of West Virginia for many years. He was a major force in the state's natural resource industries, beginning in oil and gas and evolving into lumber and coal. He was one of the founders of Dash Coal Company, which grew into International Industries, Inc. He worked daily with his dear friend and business partner, James H. "Buck" Harless. In addition, he was owner and president of Grey Eagle Construction Company, Inc.
Please note the change of date for the monthly KVMI Meeting initially set for February 2 has now been moved to Thursday, February 9 to avoid conflict with the WV Mining Symposium.