As 2010 draws to a close, do you remember hearing any good news from the mainstream media about climate? Like maybe a headline proclaiming "Record Low 2009 and 2010 Cyclonic Activity Reported: Global Warming Theorists Perplexed"? Or "NASA Studies Report Oceans Entering New Cooling Phase: Alarmists Fear Climate Science Budgets in Peril"? Or even anything bad that isn't blamed on anthropogenic (man-made) global warming--of course other than what is attributed to George W. Bush? (Conveniently, the term "AGW" covers both.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Joe Rahall met recently with officials from Mingo County to discuss local projects and the future of coal mining.

Terry Salmons and Mike Whitt with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority (MCRA) were among those who traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with the Congressman. The group talked about airport and highway infrastructure initiatives, including a unique public/private partnership brokered by MCRA with CONSOL Energy to construct a five-mile section of the King Coal Highway (KCH).

MetroNews
Williamson, Mingo County

Mingo County students will move into a brand new high school with all the bells and whistles come next Fall.

Gilbert, Birch, Matewan and Williamson High Schools and the Mingo County Career Center will all become Mingo Central High School.

Assistant Mingo County Superintendent Robert Bobbera says it's a fantastic facility.  "It's state of the art.  We're looking at an increase in programs, more so than what we can offer in our individual schools," he says.

Coal operators, environmentalists ponder rebranding

By Taylor Kuykendall Register-Herald Reporter The Register-Herald Mon Dec 27, 2010, 12:03 AM EST

BECKLEY — Coal operators and environmentalists have been pondering the value of a name since the revelation that the coal industry may push for “rebranding” surface mining as “mountaintop development” instead of “mountaintop removal.”

The process of blasting the top of a mountain to obtain its underground coal reserves instead of digging a mine has been a much easier target for environmentalists since it has become known as mountaintop removal. However, coal industry executives say the term “mountaintop development” would paint a more accurate picture of the practice.

LOGAN – The Friends of Coal would like to thank the Father George Kostas; Pastor Mitchell Bias; John Roberts, executive director of the Mountain Mission, Debrina Williams of the Logan Chamber of Commerce and everyone else involved in last night’s interfaith service to honor those who work in our nation’s coal mines.

Our coal mining family has suffered loss and faced uncertainty this past year. We have faced an almost constant assault by an administration that puts political agendas ahead of people. Our families have been subjected to months of worry and fear – fear for their jobs, fear that they might lose their homes and their way of life.

We want to thank Father Kostas, Rev. Bias and everyone who came to the service last night. Your words gave us comfort. Your support gave us hope and lifted our hearts during this Holy Season.