On Thursday, amid West Virginia’s 150^th Birthday Celebration, Alpha Natural Resources dedicated its “state-of-the-art” Running Right Leadership Academy facility, just adjacent to their office building in Julian.  West Virginia’s First Lady JoAnne Tomblin was on hand with Alpha Chairman and CEO, Kevin Crutchfield, MSHA Administrator Joe Main, safety officials from West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as a number of dignitaries from the three states.  The impressive dedication ceremony was followed with tours of the entire facility and its amenities.  This culminated nearly two years of planning and construction for the one-of-a-kind facility that has nearly 3.5 acres under roof.

As part of an increasing focus on northern West Virginia, Friends of Coal will team up with Cabela's in Wheeling for Friends of Coal "Miner Appreciation" Days at the Wheeling store on June 26-29.  We hope to also be joined by Friends of Coal from Ohio and Pennsylvania. See Cabela’s press release.

The event will be part of Cabela's "Hometown Heroes" program with employee discounts for those attending and special recognition extended to all Friends of Coal during the four-day event.

Friends of Coal will have a tent on site throughout the event to provide our people with a place to relax and visit with other Friends of Coal while learning more about our industry.

If you are an avid outdoorsman mark June 26-29th on your calendar to join Friends of Coal in Wheeling to enjoy food, discounts, displays, and Coach Nehlen (Friday) to help bring positive attention to our great people and the importance of our industry to the tri-state region and the entire country.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN WHEELING**** If you have any questions or need additional information, please give us a call at 304-342-4153.

Tim Miley, Democrat from Harrison County (48th Delegate District) was elected as Speaker of the WV House of Delegates to replace Rick Thompson (D-Wayne County), who was named Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Assistance last month.  Miley’s term as Speaker is for the remainder of the current 81st Legislature, which continues through this calendar year and next.   Tim was first elected to the House in 2004 and has served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the past five years.  He lives in Bridgeport, WV with his wife Susan and daughter Jordin.

Speaker Miley won by a margin of 53-44 against House Minority Leader Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha).  The vote followed party lines, except for Democratic Delegate Ryan Ferns (Ohio County-3rd District), who voted for Armstead, and, of course, Miley who voted for Armstead and vice versa. The Governor called the House of Delegates into Special Session Tuesday for the specific purpose of electing a Speaker.  Following the election, the House adjourned sine die as many members headed for Wheeling, where the monthly Legislative Interim Committee Meetings were held.

Also, on Tuesday, Governor Tomblin appointed retired banker, Tim Kinsey, to replace former Speaker of the House Rick Thompson as the Delegate from Wayne County’s 19th Delegate District.

At the June 20 Tug Valley Mining Institute (TVMI) dinner meeting five 2013 scholarship recipients were named.  The two top $6,000 scholarships were awarded to Austin Banks, Mingo Central High School and Gideon Workman, Belfry High School.  Three $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Sydney Chapman, Mingo Central High School, Casey France, Logan High School and Courtney Lester, Mingo Central High School.

Dr. Christopher Bise, WVU Professor and Robert E. Murray were guest speakers.

Over the last seventeen years, TVMI has awarded 99 (ninety-nine) students $228,250 in scholarship monies.  Applications are available in November and may be obtained from Marsha Williams at the First National Bank of Williamson or from TVMI board members.  The scholarships are open to students from Mingo, Logan, Wayne counties in WV and Pike & Martin counties in Kentucky.

The Portal is now available on line at: www.friendsofcoal.org and may be downloaded for easy viewing.  This 3^rd issue has more information regarding the Cabela’s event as well as a news release from the WV Development Office showing WV leading the nation in coal exports.

The Portal was sent to ALL Friends of Coal members via e-mail on Wednesday, June 19^th.