The WVU College of Engineering is starting its own mine rescue team. Immediate Past-President Travis Hartsog said the team is looking for donations of new or used equipment, communication gear, parts and repair tools for air packs and other items as they prepare to begin competition next spring.

“We have fourteen members right now,” Hartsog said, “and we want to start competing by the beginning of next year. We are looking for everything from donations of equipment to advice, just about anything to help us meet our goal and be the best team we can be.”

EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE

Early voting for the May 8th primary election begins April 25^th and concludes May 5^th. For more information contact yourCounty Clerk’s office or the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.

Most of all … exercise your rights and VOTE!

For more information about these and other deadlines, check out the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Election webpage at http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/VoterRegistrationCalendar.aspx.

A little more than a month remains to submit story ideas or get ad space for the annual WV Coal Association/Friends of Coal State Journal insert.

We are in the process of developing an editorial plan for this publication. We are very interested in photos and story ideas from our membership.  We would very much like to build several member profiles into the publication. If you have a story idea, would like to submit something for consideration or would like to reserve advertising space, please check out the following editorial calendar

Deadline for materials:

• ·May 25 (This is for all articles, photos, graphs, cover, etc)
• ·Ad Space Deadline: June 1. (Please contact sales at the State Journal)
• ·Deadline for ads: June 8 (Coordinate through the State Journal)
• ·Layout/Changes/Approval Process: June 8-15 (Last minute changes)
• ·Publication Prints: July 23
• ·Publication Distributed: July 27

It is a great opportunity to get the message out that coal is and will remain the economic bedrock of the state’s economy. This past year’s edition included production, employment, coal severance data, membership profiles, editorial features and other key information.

This year’s publication will be a bit different from those in the past. It will be a 48-page, glossy magazine format similar to our Coal Facts publication.

The WV Coal Mining Institute, the WVCA and the Central Appalachian Section of SME will be held at the Stonewall Jackson Resort May 3-5, 2012.

Registration information was sent out previously via e-mail with detailed information. If you did not receive please let us know and it will be resent.

The West Virginia Eleventh Annual CEDAR Golf Classic will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at the Twisted Gun Golf Course in Wharncliffe, West Virginia. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with golf beginning at 10 a.m. promptly. Contact Bud Clapp atbud.clapp@nscorp.com for more information.