Mountain Kentucky

Seven coal mines open, creates over 250 jobs

Elizabeth Thompson and Appalachian News-Express — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:23:40 +0000

“Good news” for the Eastern Kentucky coal industry was announced Wednesday, with officials saying several new mines are opening in Pike County, bringing more than 250 jobs. According to a statement from the Pike County Judge Executives Wayne T. Rutherford’s office, High Ridge Mining, a Kentucky corporation owned by Bill Smith, of Raccoon, announced the opening of seven deep mines in Pike County.

Mountain Parkway lanes closed for summer repairs

Casey Castle and The Winchester Sun — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:26:02 +0000

Traffic is moving a bit slower on the Mountain Parkway and likely will for the remainder of the summer. One lane in each direction will be kept open during the construction of a bridge, but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways announced the closures will keep traffic slowed around the 10- and 11-mile markers on the Parkway. Read more...

Heavy Rains Easing for Now

Stu Johnson — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:30:21 +0000

Heavy rains shut down some roads in Southeast Kentucky earlier today. National Weather Service Meteorologist Sean Harley says some communities received as much as three inches of rain overnight. He says waters are expected to recede, easing the threat of more flooding today. “Not in the near term. We do expect some heavy rain again later in the week, so we will have to watch that real close,” said Harley.

Getting Eastern Kentucky Trails in Springtime Shape

Stu Johnson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:31:19 +0000

A group of nine young adults is blazing a trail through parts of eastern Kentucky. The Americorps team is improving trails in Letcher County and at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Kentucky Tourism Spokesman Gil Lawson says hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders will all benefit. “Most folks can put on a pair of either hiking shoes or tennis shoes and get out on a trail. Some people like to do things with bicycles and horses. But, we are fortunate in Kentucky that we have trails in a lot of places, not just one area. We’ve got trails in urban areas and rural areas,” said Lawson.

Attorney Plans Suit Against State for Failing to Make Coal Companies Clean Up

Louisville Public Media — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:35:58 +0000

A lawyer in Eastern Kentucky has announced his plans to file suit against the state’s Energy and Environment Cabinet for allegedly not enforcing its own orders. The suit stems from the cabinet’s 2008 finding that a coal company was responsible for destroying the water supply in a small Letcher County town.

Honoring Weather Related Communications

Stu Johnson, WEKU — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:38:55 +0000

Two Magoffin County officials are being honored for their response to a tornado event in southeast Kentucky almost a year ago. County Judge Executive Charles Hardin and Emergency Management Director Mike Wilson are recipients of the StormReady Community Hero Award. Wilson alerted Hardin of the impending tornado heading toward Salyersville. Jackson National Weather Service meteorologist Shawn Harley says the county judge made door to door visits along highway 460.

Whistleblower Faces State Penalty for Working in Unsafe Conditions he Reported

Erica Peterson and WFPL News — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:31:43 +0000

An eastern Kentucky coal miner who reported unsafe work conditions is now facing sanctions by the state. Mackie Bailey is a longtime roof bolting machine operator who worked at Manalapan Mining’s P-1 mine in Harlan County. For several weeks, Bailey says he and other miners had been working without a required safety device called the Automated Temporary Roof Support (ATRS), which is supposed to brace against the roof of the mine and protect miners from a potential roof collapse.

Night Comes to the Cumberlands, 2012

Charles Compton — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:18:45 +0000

In 1962, three books changed how America thought about the environment and poverty. There was Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” Michael Harrington’s “The Other America,” and, out of Kentucky was “Night Comes to the Cumberlands.” In it, Whitesburg author Harry Caudill linked Appalachia’s poverty to the dark side of coal mining.

'Mountain Santa' Marks 37 Years of Helping Others

Nola Sizemore and Harlan Daily Enterprise — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:02:33 +0000

Holidays are a time for giving and helping others. Marking 37 years of delivering toys and treats to Harlan County children, Mike “Mountain Santa” Howard says he is looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces with this year’s deliveries beginning on Dec. 15. “I begin my runs on Dec. 15 and finish on Dec. 24,” said Howard, 59, of Wallins. “Last year we gave away over 100 truck loads of toys, along with treats. I have people who come from Mississippi, North Carolina, Louisville and Knoxville, just to name a few, to help me deliver the toys.”

A New Path for Adventure Tourism

Stu Johnson, WEKU — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:14:45 +0000

Kentucky’s adventure tourism effort is traveling down a new trail. Ground was broken Tuesday on the Dawkins Line project in eastern Kentucky. The trail, which runs along a former railroad line, is expected to attract hikers, horseback riders, and cyclists. It’s a 36 mile trek that travels through Johnson, Magoffin, and Breathitt counties. Work is underway for the first phase of the project. It spans 18 miles from Hagerhill in Johnson County to Royalton in Magoffin County.

62 Year Mountain Ministry Ends for Catholic Missionary

Charles Compton, WEKU — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:14:23 +0000

The Roman Catholic missionary who founded the Christian Appalachian Project died overnight. Since World War Two, Monsignor Ralph Beiting served the people of eastern Kentucky through a series of social service programs. WEKU’s Charles Compton, who knew the Catholic priest, has this appreciation.

Coal Rally Set for in Southeast Kentucky

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:12:17 +0000

A rally in support of coal is scheduled for this weekend in southeast Kentucky. It stemmed from a Facebook post, but now Bell County resident and business owner Joe Harris says he expects more than 20,000 people to line a county road Saturday in support of coal.

Beers Sales Provide over $22,000 to Corbin

Dean Manning, Corbin/Whitley News Journal — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:20:26 +0000

The first month of sales of packaged beer in Corbin has generated more than $22,000 in tax revenue for the city. Corbin Alcoholic Beverage Control Officer Bruce Rains said the 12 vendors who have received licenses to sell packaged beer, made payments to the city totaling $22,435.64. The city's alcohol ordinance calls for a four percent tax on the sale of beer. That means the vendors took in a combined $560,891 from the sale of beer in June.

Pike Air Service Remains in Holding Pattern

Russ Cassady, Appalachian News-Express — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:01:36 +0000

A proposal to apply for $1 million in multi-county coal severance funding in order to continue a project to establish commercial air service in Pike County will remain in a holding pattern for now. The Pike Fiscal Court, in its regular meeting on Tuesday, again declined to act on the proposal, for which a court resolution supporting the possible allocation of $1 million is required, despite the pleas of a consultant who is working on the project that this may be the last chance.

Safety Agency Cites Coal Company in Death of Miner

Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:52:42 +0000

A personnel carrier involved in a fatal coal-mining accident in Letcher County had been altered so it no longer had an original safety feature, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. The agency cited the coal company in relation to the modification, and for using the carrier in a way that was dangerous. A mine foreman, Jerry E. Britton, 47, died in the Nov. 7 accident, which happened at the Hubble Mining Company LLC Mine No. 9, an underground mine about three miles west of Eolia.

Safety Agency Fines Harlan Coal Company

Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:43:46 +0000

Federal mine-safety regulators want to fine a Harlan County coal company nearly $600,000 for alleged safety violations that led to the death of a miner last year. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the fine for Manalapan Mining Co. Inc. on Thursday. The fine is a proposed penalty because the company is contesting the citations that led to the fine.

Pike Judge-Executive Unveils Plans for Natural Gas Station

Chris Anderson, The Appalachian News-Express — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:39:02 +0000

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford’s office has announced that it is working toward establishing the region’s first natural gas filling station along U.S. 119 in Pike County. The announcement comes after Rutherford recently announced the county was requesting funding for the project and comes after Ford Motor Co. and General Motors announced in March they were investing in compressed natural gas, or CNG, technology.

Major Coal Company Files for Bankruptcy

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:56:07 +0000

A major coal company with mines in Appalachia and Western Kentucky has filed for bankruptcy. In a news release, Patriot Coal said it was undertaking the move to facilitate restructuring. "The coal industry is undergoing a major transformation and Patriot's existing capital structure prevents it from making the necessary adjustments to achieve long-term success," said Patriot Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Irl F. Engelhardt. "Our objective is to use the reorganization process to address important issues in an orderly way and make the Company stronger and more competitive."

Black-Lung Rule Loopholes Leave Miners Vulnerable

NPR: Howard Berkes — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:45:00 +0000

Part two of a two-part series.

Thousands of coal miners continued to suffer and die from black lung during the 40 years that tough new limits on exposure to coal dust were supposed to provide protection.

Control of the mine dust was plagued by weak enforcement by regulators and loopholes exploited by mining companies, according to a joint investigation by NPR and the Center for Public Integrity (CPI).

As Mine Protections End, Black Lung Cases Surge

NPR: Howard Berkes — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:13:00 +0000

Part one of a two-part series.

It wasn't supposed to happen to coal miners in Mark McCowan's generation. It wasn't supposed to strike so early and so hard.

Pike County Miner Killed in Accident

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:36:51 +0000

A Pike County miner has died following an accident at the McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation's Mine No. 23 in Kimper. From the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing: Preliminary reports indicate 33-year-old Farley Sargent was laying track when a rib roll occurred. A rib roll is when a portion of the coal pillar wall falls into the corridor.

Judge Rules on Mine Whistleblower Case

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:56:56 +0000

An Eastern Kentucky coal miner can return to work after a judge ruled he was unfairly fired from his job. The decision affirms the rights of coal miners to report unsafe working conditions without fear of retribution. Charles Scott Howard was injured while working at a mine operated by Cumberland River Coal Company in Eastern Kentucky. The complaint alleges that even after he was cleared by doctors to return to work, the coal company took extreme steps to keep him from working.

Four Mines to Close in Eastern Kentucky

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:30:07 +0000

One of the nation’s largest coal companies has announced it will be closing several mines and preparation plants in Eastern Kentucky.Alpha Natural Resources will stop mining coal at four mines in Martin and Pike counties and idle two preparation plants. The company has enough jobs at other locations to reassign 286 employees, but about 150 will lose their jobs.

Government Files Lawsuit Against Coal Operators

Erica Peterson, Kentucky Public Radio — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:13:01 +0000

The federal government has filed a lawsuit against seven Eastern Kentucky coal companies, alleging the companies discharged waste into nearby valleys and streams without a permit. Coal companies need to obtain permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers before mining in order to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Miniseries 'Hatfields and McCoys' Draws Huge Audience

Mary Meehan, Lexington Herald-Leader — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:23:13 +0000

If Virginia is for lovers, then Pike County is for feuding. The History channel miniseries about the infamous Kentucky and West Virginia families has drawn huge viewership, propelling the Eastern Kentucky county into the pop-culture ether and pushing a historical tome by a Lexington publisher to the top of the sales charts.

Boone's Steps Revisited

Stu Johnson, WEKU — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:42:54 +0000

Kentuckians can see a bit of what pioneer Daniel Boone saw when he crossed into Kentucky in 1775. The Fort Boonesborough Foundation is sponsoring two tours this summer. A one day tour on August 21^stbegins and ends at Fort Boonesborough and includes a trip to Levi Jackson State Park. Foundation Secretary Elizabeth Chalfant says they’ll also offer two-day tours in July and September. Those trips also begin in Madison County.

Tornado Disaster Assistance Signed

Kentucky Press News Service — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:09:15 +0000

This spring’s devastating storms and tornadoes thrashed Kentucky communities, marking the 11th federally declared disaster in the state since 2008. To support ongoing recovery efforts, Gov. Steve Beshear Friday ceremonially signed legislation to help Kentuckians when they are victims of natural disasters. Several members of the General Assembly joined the governor for the ceremony in West Liberty, where the central business district was devastated by the March 2 tornado outbreak that heavily damaged several other communities and killed 24 Kentuckians.

25th East Kentucky Leadership Event

Stu Johnson, WEKU — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:13:06 +0000

For a quarter of a century, Eastern Kentuckians have gathered to discuss progress in their region. Today and Tomorrow (Friday), they gather in Prestonsburg. This year’s East Kentucky Leadership Conference will compare the economies of two Appalachian states. East Kentucky Leadership Foundation Director Bill Weinberg says studies show 70 percent of east Kentucky’s counties are distressed while only four percent are distressed in Appalachian Virginia. The longtime east Kentucky activist says Virginia might have better education and infrastructure, but, in some ways, the differences are minimal.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare Sues State

Devin Katayama, Kentucky Public Radio — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:13:44 +0000

Eastern Kentucky’s largest healthcare provider is suing the state and two major managed care operators (MCO) for failing to manage the new privatized Medicaid system. Appalachian Regional Healthcare, which provides a majority of the healthcare services to eastern Kentucky (locations noted on map), may soon lack adequate protection against high medical costs.

A Month Later, Kentucky Counties Struggle

Greg Kocher, Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:47:37 +0000

It was only a month ago that an outbreak of tornadoes barreled through Kentucky and killed 24 people. Only a month, but sometimes, for Laurel County Judge-Executive David Westerfield, it seems as if more like six months have passed. So much has happened on the way to recovery, and so much more remains to be done, Westerfield said.