The 20th Biennial Bluefield Coal Show was held this week at the Brushfork Armory in Bluefield. The event featured the latest in mining technology, but this year it also included presentations by state and national coal leaders as the industry faces some of its most difficult challenges ever.

Featured among the speakers was West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney, who spoke about “pushing forward” through these difficult times. Raney said that despite the current problems he sees a bright future for the mining industry, both here in West Virginia and around the nation as the nation returns to its most dependable and affordable energy resource.

The Friends of Coal and Consol Energy are prominent sponsors of this year’s West Virginia National Hunting & Fishing Days Celebration, taking place September 28-29, 2013 at Stonewall Resort State Park, near Weston.

Recognized as our state’s main celebration of West Virginia’s outdoor and sporting heritage, we encourage all Friends of Coal to come out, bring their family and enjoy two days of outdoor activities and demonstrations by some of the world’s top outdoorsmen and women.

The Friends of Coal has partnered with the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia as a major sponsor for 2013.  Friends of Coal materials and signage will be visible at B.A.S.S events, to include the upcoming Northern Qualifier tournament to be held Oct. 5-6 on the Mon River at Prickett’s Fort near Fairmont.

The annual Rocket Boys Festival will be held Oct. 4-6 in Beckley. The event celebrates the lives of the four original “Rocket Boys” whose story was told in the award-winning movie, “October Sky.” This year’s event will begin October 4 with a screening of the film at 9 am in the Governor Hulett C. Smith Theatre at Tamarack. Later that day Rocket Boy Homer Hickam, whose book was turned into the movie, will host a writer’s workshop at the facility. At 7:30 a concert featuring Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys will be held at the Woodrow Wilson Auditorium in Beckley.  Friends of Coal Spokesmen, Coach Don Nehlen and Coach Bobby Pruett will also participate in this year’s event.

The Friends of Coal and Consol Energy are prominent sponsors of this year’s West Virginia National Hunting & Fishing Days Celebration, taking place September 28-29, 2013 at Stonewall Resort State Park, near Weston.

Recognized as our state’s main celebration of West Virginia’s outdoor and sporting heritage, we encourage all Friends of Coal to come out, bring their family and enjoy two days of outdoor activities and demonstrations by some of the world’s top outdoorsmen and women.