CHARLESTON -- The Friends of Coal is continuing its outreach efforts in print, broadcast and web media, as well as maintaining a presence at various events in the state:

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• Work is beginning on the Friends of Coal’s annual insert section in The State Journal. The section will go to print sometime in late-July.  If you have story ideas please contact us at304.342.4153.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors

WASHINGTON, DC -- On March 8, 2011, MSHA published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting additional comment on the proposed rule addressing Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors.

MSHA has identified 27 specific areas for which we are seeking additional comment. The notice were available for viewing on March 7, 2011 at the Office of the Federal Register, Public Inspection Desk:http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx.

The proposed rule was published on October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64412) and is available on MSHA’s website. All comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Eastern Daylight Saving time on May 2, 2011.

CHARLESTON -- Due to a scheduling conflict, the 14th Annual CEDAR Golf Scramble has been rescheduled. The scramble will now be held Tuesday, May 17. 2011 at the Raven Rock Golf Course in Jenkins, Kentucky. The event will begin with registration at 10:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at noon.

The scramble will feature a four-person scramble format.

Entry fees are $75 per person or $300 per team.

A reception will begin at 5 p.m. at the Pikeville College Gym in Pikeville, Kentucky.

If you want to play or want to enter a team, visit our website at www.cedarswv.com for a form. Send the completed forms along with the appropriate fees to P. O. Box 2152, Pikeville, KY 41502. Registrations are due by Monday, May 2, 2011.

WILLIAMSON -- The Tug Valley Mining Institute has scheduled the following guest speakers for meetings this Spring.

• April 21, 2011 TVMI Dinner meeting (CEDAR meeting), Harless Community Center, Gilbert, WV. Guest speaker Kurt Kost, Alpha Natural Resources President. Sponsor, Service Pump Sponsor
• May 26, 2011 TVMI Dinner meeting (Scholarship meeting) – Mountaineer Hotel, Williamson, WV. Guest speaker Stephen J. Kopp, Marshall University President.

BECKLEY -- The Friends of Coal along with many other generous sponsors are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Friends of Coal Auto Fair beginning on July 15th and ending on July 17th, 2011.

The event will be held at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley, WV and serves as a major fund raising event for the YMCA of Southern West Virginia. Because of all your help in the past, the YMCA was able to offer approximately 1000 free memberships to children in 2010. In addition to the free memberships, the YMCA of Southern West Virginia utilizes the funds raised by this event for supplies and upkeep of existing facilities which accommodated over 100,000 children last year.

This year’s event features hundreds of show cars along with concerts on both Friday and Saturday night. The Saturday night concert will feature both Little Big Town and Josh Turner. The Friday night concert will feature local groups and looks to be very entertaining.

Your assistance is greatly needed in support of this great community event that provides needed funds to the YMCA of Southern West Virginia. If you are interested in being a sponsor please contact Jay Rist at 304 252-0715.

ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDES: Saturday night concert featuring Little Big Town and Josh Turner