MetroNews

A training course in West Virginia designed to better prepare U.S. military forces to navigate the terrain in other countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, will officially open Monday.
The site, which staff members with the West Virginia National Guard designed, is located at the Center for National Response in Standard.
It sits on an active coal mining site and was built in partnership with Tyler-Morgan Coal Company and Pardee Resources Group.

MetroNews 
Standard, Kanawha County

A new military training course in Kanawha County is just the first part of what will eventually be known as Fort West Virginia.

On Monday, officials from Washington, D.C. joined state representatives to help dedicate the Advanced Mobility Training Area which is located at the Center for National Response in Standard.
Prior to their deployments, soldiers from across the United States are now training on the new course which looks a lot like what they will face in Afghanistan.

"We've had soldiers just about from everywhere here training," First Sgt. Charles Withers from Mason County tells MetroNews.

He is part of the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group out of Kenova and helped lead the development of the course which covers more than 20 miles on an active mining site.

"The terrain here is mountainous, just like Eastern Afghanistan so training in the mountains adds a lot to it.  The only difference between here and Eastern Afghanistan is we have trees," he said.
The West Virginia National Guard is partnering with Tyler-Morgan Coal Company and Pardee Resources Group on the course which will continue to grow and change in the coming years as military missions warrant.

Fox Business News

Rep. Raul Labrador, (R-Idaho), on the EPA preventing Mike and Chantell Sackett from building a new home, claiming their property is a wetland

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE:PCX - News) today announced that its five mine rescue teams turned in outstanding results at the Southern West Virginia Mine Rescue Contest held recently in Beckley, West Virginia, including first place awards in eight of the nine events.  The competition included mine rescue, first aid, and pre-shift events.  Patriot's Federal #2 team won the Grand Champion award, while the Company's Southern Appalachia team won third place in this event.  In total, Patriot's teams won 70 percent of the awards given at the competition.
"We are very pleased with these results, particularly as we lead up to the National Mine Rescue Championships to be held next month.  Considering there were nearly 50 mine rescue teams from nine states that participated in this event, our teams achieved excellent results," noted Patriot President & Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Whiting.  "Maintaining top-tier mine rescue teams is a key component of our comprehensive safety program.  I congratulate all five of our mine rescue teams on their winning performances, and I thank our team members for their ongoing efforts to promote a safe workplace."

MCT REGIONAL NEWS
By Bill Archer
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Sept. 15--BRUSHFORK -- The entrance to the National Guard Armory in Brushfork was jammed with traffic as 237 vendors from 37 states, and three foreign countries opened their booths at the 19th biennial Bluefield Coal Show sponsored by the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce.