Hard news
A few days in the eastern Kentucky coal fields
A few days in the eastern Kentucky coal fields
Five miners killed in explosionSunday, May 21, 2006
Five miners were killed after the Clover Fork mine exploded early Saturday morning and one more was injured. Five miners were killed and one was injured early Saturday morning after an explosion within a Holmes Mill mine.
The bodies of Amon Brock, 51, of Closplint, Jimmy B. Lee, 33, of Wallins, Roy Middleton, 35, of Evarts, George William Petra, 49, of Kenvir, and Paris Thomas Jr., 53, of Evarts, were found inside the mine.
Paul Ledford, of Dayhoit, was the only miner of the six inside the mine who survived. He was taken to Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, Va., where he was treated and released. According to members of Ledford's family, he suffered burns to the body and face.
The six miners were reportedly just beginning a new shift at the mine and were the only miners inside the mine at the time the incident occurred around 1 a.m. Shortly after the incident occurred, families who arrived at the Kentucky Darby mining property entrance were told to congregate at the Cloverfork Missionary Baptist Church, only a quarter of mile from the mine.
No information was given to family members at that time, but they were assured they would be told any information as soon as it was available.
Not much later at 8:45 a.m., representatives from the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet and the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing arrived at the church.
“We have three victims,” said MSHA's Dan Johnson. “We have not identified them yet. We are searching for two more, but we have not found them. There was a mine explosion. As soon as we find out more we'll come and tell you. Right now this is still a rescue mission.”
Several of the family members broke down, but nobody knew if their loved one was one of the three victims or the status of the missing two.
An hour later, they were given a second update - two more bodies were found. The families returned to their homes.
Three of the five miners likely survived the initial blast but died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi said Sunday based on preliminary autopsy results. The other two miners died from multiple blunt force trauma and heat injuries, probably because they were closer to the blast.
Middleton, Petra and Thomas survived the blast but were suffocated by the poisoned air, Bianchi said.
Bianchi said officials may be able to determine how long the three miners lived before they succumbed, but that would depend on their toxicology reports. He did not give a timetable on when those reports would be completed.
According to Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who arrived on the scene and talked to members of the press, the explosion occurred approximately 5,000 feet within the mine.
Miners who were standing outside the mine were knocked off their feet by the force of the explosion. Oil cans sitting outside the mine were ruptured by flying rock. Soot and ash covered buildings and equipment.
Fletcher said the explosion occurred near an area sealed off to prevent the escape of methane gas, and mine officials suspected gas may have been leaking from the area and was ignited by a spark.
According to Jeff Ledford, a disabled miner who is Paul Ledford's brother, Paul Ledford was working with two of the other miners at the mine face when the explosion occurred.
“One of them was using a torch and cutting something off the tailpiece,” he said, explaining that the tailpiece was a part of the mine belt near the older, sealed off section of the mine.
“He felt something vibrating through his body,” he said, “like when there's a roof fall ... it felt like that.”
According to Jeff Ledford, Paul began to lead the other two miners toward the mine entrance by finding an electrical supply line and following it out, but the two other miners couldn't breathe through the smoke and turned back.
Paul Ledford continued forward with a self-contained self rescuer (SCSR) breathing apparatus, which is designed to supply oxygen for one hour. He said Paul Ledford's air supply only lasted five minutes, and eventually he passed out for over two hours.
He said that his brother regained consciousness at one point and crawled 30 or 40 more feet before passing out a second time. A third time he made it another 40 feet.
“Then he seen some lights down below him,” he said. Ledford turned his light off and then back on. Rescuers saw him and evacuated him from the mine on a mantrip. The two men who turned back were among the five miners later found dead.
Jeff Ledford said he and Paul had already lost a brother, David Ledford, in a 1996 mining accident.
“If they had the right breathing equipment (Saturday), I know at least three of them might have come out,” Jeff Ledford said. “In my opinion, they should give them the right equipment to work with in the first place. Every mine around here, they try to cover up like everything's all right.”
Ledford's account is similar to the account of Randal McCloy Jr, the lone survivor of the Sago Mine disaster, who said in a letter to the victims' families that at least four of his crew's breathing devices had failed.
According to a report by the Associated Press, investigators will determine whether the breathing devices were functional.
According to Fletcher, the mine has had three serious accidents and eight closure orders since opening in May 2001. Also, he said the mine has had eight non-compliance orders over the past year, the latest of which was issued in April.
Other news agencies have reported that the mine has been issued over 250 citations since 2001.
The mine was opened and operated by Ralph Napier Sr.
Fletcher said that an investigation into the incident will begin Monday, after repairs are made to the mine's ventilation system and breathable air is restored within the mine.
Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi said the bodies will be sent to the state medical examiners office on Sunday.
The families of the victims were all notified within hours of the incident. Eight hours after the incident, family members had already returned home.
When a roof fall killed Brandon Wilder and Russell Cole last year in Stillhouse Mine No. 1 near Cumberland, family members of Cole complained that they hadn't been given any information from the mining company, state or federal officials until two days after the incident. At that point, the family blocked the road and held up signs in demonstration. Later, mine officials from Black Mountain Resources came down to answer questions and inform them of the rescue efforts ongoing in the mine.
When asked about the two incidents in comparison, Fletcher said that he met with the Cole family after the accident and asked, “what could we do better?” Communication was an important issue that came from that meeting and new policies were put into effect to make that a priority, he said.
“There's no reason we can't talk with the families and let them know as much as possible,” he said.
Fletcher commended the work of mine rescue officials, which included those from MSHA, OMSL, a private rescue crew from Lone Mountain Processing and the Harlan County Rescue Squad.
“They saved the life of one man,” said Fletcher.
A new law was passed during the last general assembly that would require state inspectors to visit every coal mine in Kentucky at least three times a year and provides job protection to whistleblowers. The law also requires caches of SCSRs as well as lifelines to help miners find their way out.
During a press conference in Frankfort, Fletcher said there was a possibility that the new law would have helped, but the new law does not go into effect until July 12 in order to allow mines to comply.
Dan Mosley, Harlan County's 911 coordinator, said “As a county, and those with loved ones in the mines, all we can hope for is initiatives to be put in place by the governor and federal officials to make these mines safer.”
He said with the boom in coal production, the possibility of accidents was bound to increase.
This increase claimed the life of a good friend of Mosley's, Jimmy Lee, who he said “was a wonderful man.”
By the afternoon, the normally quiet Holmes Mill area was flooded with reporters and affiliates from nearly every regional and well-known national news organization including CNN, Fox News, NBC and ABC.
Families who had lost a husband, father, brother or son only a few hours earlier took calls and visits from nearly a dozen reporters who searched for information about the five men killed.
Mosley, a former reporter himself, said this was the “most tragic event in Harlan County in my lifetime.”
Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop said it was an “extremely sad day for Harlan County, Kentucky, and the coal mining industry.”
“Our citizens choose to mine coal because it's how they support their families,” he said. “These brave men who perished today put their lives on the line every time they walked into a coal mine. They're heroes ... nothing less than heroes.”
Five miners were killed after the Clover Fork mine exploded early Saturday morning and one more was injured. Five miners were killed and one was injured early Saturday morning after an explosion within a Holmes Mill mine.
The bodies of Amon Brock, 51, of Closplint, Jimmy B. Lee, 33, of Wallins, Roy Middleton, 35, of Evarts, George William Petra, 49, of Kenvir, and Paris Thomas Jr., 53, of Evarts, were found inside the mine.
Paul Ledford, of Dayhoit, was the only miner of the six inside the mine who survived. He was taken to Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, Va., where he was treated and released. According to members of Ledford's family, he suffered burns to the body and face.
The six miners were reportedly just beginning a new shift at the mine and were the only miners inside the mine at the time the incident occurred around 1 a.m. Shortly after the incident occurred, families who arrived at the Kentucky Darby mining property entrance were told to congregate at the Cloverfork Missionary Baptist Church, only a quarter of mile from the mine.
No information was given to family members at that time, but they were assured they would be told any information as soon as it was available.
Not much later at 8:45 a.m., representatives from the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet and the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing arrived at the church.
“We have three victims,” said MSHA's Dan Johnson. “We have not identified them yet. We are searching for two more, but we have not found them. There was a mine explosion. As soon as we find out more we'll come and tell you. Right now this is still a rescue mission.”
Several of the family members broke down, but nobody knew if their loved one was one of the three victims or the status of the missing two.
An hour later, they were given a second update - two more bodies were found. The families returned to their homes.
Three of the five miners likely survived the initial blast but died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi said Sunday based on preliminary autopsy results. The other two miners died from multiple blunt force trauma and heat injuries, probably because they were closer to the blast.
Middleton, Petra and Thomas survived the blast but were suffocated by the poisoned air, Bianchi said.
Bianchi said officials may be able to determine how long the three miners lived before they succumbed, but that would depend on their toxicology reports. He did not give a timetable on when those reports would be completed.
According to Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who arrived on the scene and talked to members of the press, the explosion occurred approximately 5,000 feet within the mine.
Miners who were standing outside the mine were knocked off their feet by the force of the explosion. Oil cans sitting outside the mine were ruptured by flying rock. Soot and ash covered buildings and equipment.
Fletcher said the explosion occurred near an area sealed off to prevent the escape of methane gas, and mine officials suspected gas may have been leaking from the area and was ignited by a spark.
According to Jeff Ledford, a disabled miner who is Paul Ledford's brother, Paul Ledford was working with two of the other miners at the mine face when the explosion occurred.
“One of them was using a torch and cutting something off the tailpiece,” he said, explaining that the tailpiece was a part of the mine belt near the older, sealed off section of the mine.
“He felt something vibrating through his body,” he said, “like when there's a roof fall ... it felt like that.”
According to Jeff Ledford, Paul began to lead the other two miners toward the mine entrance by finding an electrical supply line and following it out, but the two other miners couldn't breathe through the smoke and turned back.
Paul Ledford continued forward with a self-contained self rescuer (SCSR) breathing apparatus, which is designed to supply oxygen for one hour. He said Paul Ledford's air supply only lasted five minutes, and eventually he passed out for over two hours.
He said that his brother regained consciousness at one point and crawled 30 or 40 more feet before passing out a second time. A third time he made it another 40 feet.
“Then he seen some lights down below him,” he said. Ledford turned his light off and then back on. Rescuers saw him and evacuated him from the mine on a mantrip. The two men who turned back were among the five miners later found dead.
Jeff Ledford said he and Paul had already lost a brother, David Ledford, in a 1996 mining accident.
“If they had the right breathing equipment (Saturday), I know at least three of them might have come out,” Jeff Ledford said. “In my opinion, they should give them the right equipment to work with in the first place. Every mine around here, they try to cover up like everything's all right.”
Ledford's account is similar to the account of Randal McCloy Jr, the lone survivor of the Sago Mine disaster, who said in a letter to the victims' families that at least four of his crew's breathing devices had failed.
According to a report by the Associated Press, investigators will determine whether the breathing devices were functional.
According to Fletcher, the mine has had three serious accidents and eight closure orders since opening in May 2001. Also, he said the mine has had eight non-compliance orders over the past year, the latest of which was issued in April.
Other news agencies have reported that the mine has been issued over 250 citations since 2001.
The mine was opened and operated by Ralph Napier Sr.
Fletcher said that an investigation into the incident will begin Monday, after repairs are made to the mine's ventilation system and breathable air is restored within the mine.
Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi said the bodies will be sent to the state medical examiners office on Sunday.
The families of the victims were all notified within hours of the incident. Eight hours after the incident, family members had already returned home.
When a roof fall killed Brandon Wilder and Russell Cole last year in Stillhouse Mine No. 1 near Cumberland, family members of Cole complained that they hadn't been given any information from the mining company, state or federal officials until two days after the incident. At that point, the family blocked the road and held up signs in demonstration. Later, mine officials from Black Mountain Resources came down to answer questions and inform them of the rescue efforts ongoing in the mine.
When asked about the two incidents in comparison, Fletcher said that he met with the Cole family after the accident and asked, “what could we do better?” Communication was an important issue that came from that meeting and new policies were put into effect to make that a priority, he said.
“There's no reason we can't talk with the families and let them know as much as possible,” he said.
Fletcher commended the work of mine rescue officials, which included those from MSHA, OMSL, a private rescue crew from Lone Mountain Processing and the Harlan County Rescue Squad.
“They saved the life of one man,” said Fletcher.
A new law was passed during the last general assembly that would require state inspectors to visit every coal mine in Kentucky at least three times a year and provides job protection to whistleblowers. The law also requires caches of SCSRs as well as lifelines to help miners find their way out.
During a press conference in Frankfort, Fletcher said there was a possibility that the new law would have helped, but the new law does not go into effect until July 12 in order to allow mines to comply.
Dan Mosley, Harlan County's 911 coordinator, said “As a county, and those with loved ones in the mines, all we can hope for is initiatives to be put in place by the governor and federal officials to make these mines safer.”
He said with the boom in coal production, the possibility of accidents was bound to increase.
This increase claimed the life of a good friend of Mosley's, Jimmy Lee, who he said “was a wonderful man.”
By the afternoon, the normally quiet Holmes Mill area was flooded with reporters and affiliates from nearly every regional and well-known national news organization including CNN, Fox News, NBC and ABC.
Families who had lost a husband, father, brother or son only a few hours earlier took calls and visits from nearly a dozen reporters who searched for information about the five men killed.
Mosley, a former reporter himself, said this was the “most tragic event in Harlan County in my lifetime.”
Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop said it was an “extremely sad day for Harlan County, Kentucky, and the coal mining industry.”
“Our citizens choose to mine coal because it's how they support their families,” he said. “These brave men who perished today put their lives on the line every time they walked into a coal mine. They're heroes ... nothing less than heroes.”
Governor Ernie Fletcher discussed Saturday's mine explosion with MSHA, EPPC and county officials.
Methane gas leak suspected in mine disaster
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Investigations into the cause of the mine explosion that killed five men on Saturday will begin this week after repairs to the mine's ventilation system are made.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Saturday that the repairs would be made on Sunday, but according to Chuck Wolfe, spokesperson for the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, a division of the Environmental Public Protection Cabinet, crews were still working around the clock to restore the flow of air through the mine shafts before investigations could begin.
Wolfe conducted a press conference at the Cloverfork Missionary Baptist Church on Monday where he explained that the agency had only been in the mine to take samples of methane gas levels.
According to a preliminary autopsy report, three of the victims died of the poisonous air, but Wolfe said he could not comment on whether those victims were wearing self-contained self rescuers (SCSR) or if those had failed.
According to Jeff Ledford, brother of the lone survivor of the incident, Paul Ledford, Paul's oxygen had failed after approximately five minutes. The units are designed to supply oxygen for one hour.
Ledford conducted an interview with state investigators on Monday.
Immediately afterwards, Wolfe said OMSL was issued a notice to all miners to check the levels on their SCRSs in accordance to their training. Mine safety analysts will also be visiting each Kentucky mine to emphasize proper use of the devices, under direction of OMSL.
Fletcher also issued an order for all underground mines to test daily for methane and oxygen levels at non-conventional mine seals. According to Wolfe, the seal that was suspected of leaking at Darby Mine 1 was one of these non-conventional seals.
Such testing is already required by the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration before each shift and has been in effect since June of 1996.
Wolfe explained that a conventional seal was made of concrete blocks, but seals like the one at Darby Mine 1 were made of a Styrofoam-like blocks called “omega blocks.”
Investigators said on Saturday they suspected that methane gas leaked from one of the sealed-off areas and possibly ignited by a spark.
“Mines leak methane all the time, and the trick is to control it,” Wolfe explained. Seals are put in place to prevent the mixture of methane gas and oxygen, a flammable combination.
Wolfe said he hoped investigators would be able to enter the mine this week to conduct “as thorough and accurate an investigation as humanly possible.”
The state's investigation will be separate from an investigation by the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration, but he said they would run on “parallel tracks.”
“Everything they will find will be inventoried and charted. They will make a complete diagram of the accident scene.”
State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, called Monday for an interim legislative committee to conduct hearings in the coalfields to hear from miners and their families to find ways state government can help make coal mining safer.
Yonts sent a letter to legislative leaders asking for the public hearings to gather information that can be used to draft mine safety legislation.
The Kentucky law requires additional air packs along escape routes in all underground coal mines. Yonts said the Harlan County mine tragedy may spur legislators to implement even stronger laws to ensure the safety of miners.
A U.S. Senate panel last week approved a bill that would require miners to have at least two hours of oxygen available instead of one as required under the current policy. It also would require mine operators to store extra oxygen packs along escape routes.
MSHA recently issued a temporary rule requiring coal operators to give miners extra oxygen, but miners and their advocates have been pressing Congress for a permanent fix.
Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, said mining companies have placed so many orders for additional air packs that it could take manufacturers two years to fill the demand.
A fund for the miners' families has been opened at The Bank of Harlan. Local businesses are asked to make contributions to the cost of funerals. Funds will be distributed by the Rev. Donnie Harrison and the Rev. Mike Blaire.
Contributions can be made to: The Bank of Harlan, PO Box 919 Attn: Pam Kelly, 201 E. Central Street, Harlan, KY 40831.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Investigations into the cause of the mine explosion that killed five men on Saturday will begin this week after repairs to the mine's ventilation system are made.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Saturday that the repairs would be made on Sunday, but according to Chuck Wolfe, spokesperson for the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, a division of the Environmental Public Protection Cabinet, crews were still working around the clock to restore the flow of air through the mine shafts before investigations could begin.
Wolfe conducted a press conference at the Cloverfork Missionary Baptist Church on Monday where he explained that the agency had only been in the mine to take samples of methane gas levels.
According to a preliminary autopsy report, three of the victims died of the poisonous air, but Wolfe said he could not comment on whether those victims were wearing self-contained self rescuers (SCSR) or if those had failed.
According to Jeff Ledford, brother of the lone survivor of the incident, Paul Ledford, Paul's oxygen had failed after approximately five minutes. The units are designed to supply oxygen for one hour.
Ledford conducted an interview with state investigators on Monday.
Immediately afterwards, Wolfe said OMSL was issued a notice to all miners to check the levels on their SCRSs in accordance to their training. Mine safety analysts will also be visiting each Kentucky mine to emphasize proper use of the devices, under direction of OMSL.
Fletcher also issued an order for all underground mines to test daily for methane and oxygen levels at non-conventional mine seals. According to Wolfe, the seal that was suspected of leaking at Darby Mine 1 was one of these non-conventional seals.
Such testing is already required by the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration before each shift and has been in effect since June of 1996.
Wolfe explained that a conventional seal was made of concrete blocks, but seals like the one at Darby Mine 1 were made of a Styrofoam-like blocks called “omega blocks.”
Investigators said on Saturday they suspected that methane gas leaked from one of the sealed-off areas and possibly ignited by a spark.
“Mines leak methane all the time, and the trick is to control it,” Wolfe explained. Seals are put in place to prevent the mixture of methane gas and oxygen, a flammable combination.
Wolfe said he hoped investigators would be able to enter the mine this week to conduct “as thorough and accurate an investigation as humanly possible.”
The state's investigation will be separate from an investigation by the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration, but he said they would run on “parallel tracks.”
“Everything they will find will be inventoried and charted. They will make a complete diagram of the accident scene.”
State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, called Monday for an interim legislative committee to conduct hearings in the coalfields to hear from miners and their families to find ways state government can help make coal mining safer.
Yonts sent a letter to legislative leaders asking for the public hearings to gather information that can be used to draft mine safety legislation.
The Kentucky law requires additional air packs along escape routes in all underground coal mines. Yonts said the Harlan County mine tragedy may spur legislators to implement even stronger laws to ensure the safety of miners.
A U.S. Senate panel last week approved a bill that would require miners to have at least two hours of oxygen available instead of one as required under the current policy. It also would require mine operators to store extra oxygen packs along escape routes.
MSHA recently issued a temporary rule requiring coal operators to give miners extra oxygen, but miners and their advocates have been pressing Congress for a permanent fix.
Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, said mining companies have placed so many orders for additional air packs that it could take manufacturers two years to fill the demand.
A fund for the miners' families has been opened at The Bank of Harlan. Local businesses are asked to make contributions to the cost of funerals. Funds will be distributed by the Rev. Donnie Harrison and the Rev. Mike Blaire.
Contributions can be made to: The Bank of Harlan, PO Box 919 Attn: Pam Kelly, 201 E. Central Street, Harlan, KY 40831.
Search continues for miner
August 22, 2005
State, federal and company workers continued efforts Friday to retrieve the body of Russell Cole, a Black Mountain Resources employee suspected to be dead after a roof collapsed Wednesday at Stillhouse Mine 1 in Cloverlick.
The body of Brandon Wilder was discovered a few hours after the accident, but Cole was still missing as of presstime on Saturday morning.
Black Mountain Resources vice president Ron Keegan came down from the mine property to speak to family and friends of Cole around 2:30 p.m. Friday, telling them that recovery operations were under way and progress was being made to find Cole's body.
It was the first time Cole's wife, Claudia, had official word about her husband, more than 40 hours after the tragic accident late Wednesday night killed Brandon Wilder and covered Cole.
Keegan's words were too little, too late for most of the family.
"They've been totally disrespectful to our family," said Letcher County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Franks Jr., who is Cole's nephew. "This is the first time that somebody has came down and told us what they're doing. You can't help but feel like they're trying to cover up something."
The family gathered Wednesday night after word got out about the accident, but they were not allowed onto the property or told anything about Cole. Claudia Cole came back the next morning and stood in the sun for over four hours by the guard shack at the foot of the mountain, again never hearing anything.
The family returned again that night and waited until 3 a.m. Friday, only hearing from state officials that progress was being made.
The next time they returned in full force Friday at 11 a.m., holding up signs asking Black Mountain to stop running coal, accusing them of negligence and greed.
"Stop Hauling Coal. Help find Russell Cole," "Please take the time to find my daddy. Stop Hauling" and "My dad means more than money" were among over a dozen posterboard messages.
"He's up here busting his (butt) for these people and they won't show any courtesy for him," said family friend Zack Collier.
"I'm just appalled at the way that the coal company has conducted themselves in this. They've refused to stop coal production and run with total disregard to the family, chilling in the night trying to get information," said Kenny Johnson, former deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals. Johnson is a cousin of Claudia Cole's and was chosen as a spokesperson for the family.
With three recent closure orders issued by the Kentucky Department of Mine Safety and Licensing only a few months ago, Johnson said he believes the family has a case against Black Mountain Resources.
He said he had obtained lawyer Tony Oppegard, former general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals, to represent the family and expected a suit to be filed by Monday.
Presley Trucking employees stopped hauling and said they wouldn't start again until Monday, according to Cole's family.
Over 60 people stood outside all day Friday, at first enduring 90-degree heat and then hiding from heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
"We're not leaving this place until they bring him to us," said Carolyn Dinsmore, Cole's sister-in-law.
Tri-City Funeral Home set up a large tent on the side of the road at the company's entrance. Some of the group of people huddled closely together underneath. Franks dug a ditch around it to keep the small river of water coming down from the mountain away from the tent. Others remained in their vehicles.
Although there has probably never been a more tragic moment for them, Cole's family and friends' spirits seemed to improve as they reminisced about Cole and, finally, received frequent updates on the recovery team's progress.
"He was a genuine, loving, caring person," said Dinsmore. "If this was a different situation ... he would be the first person up there to try to help them out."
State, federal and company workers continued efforts Friday to retrieve the body of Russell Cole, a Black Mountain Resources employee suspected to be dead after a roof collapsed Wednesday at Stillhouse Mine 1 in Cloverlick.
The body of Brandon Wilder was discovered a few hours after the accident, but Cole was still missing as of presstime on Saturday morning.
Black Mountain Resources vice president Ron Keegan came down from the mine property to speak to family and friends of Cole around 2:30 p.m. Friday, telling them that recovery operations were under way and progress was being made to find Cole's body.
It was the first time Cole's wife, Claudia, had official word about her husband, more than 40 hours after the tragic accident late Wednesday night killed Brandon Wilder and covered Cole.
Keegan's words were too little, too late for most of the family.
"They've been totally disrespectful to our family," said Letcher County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Franks Jr., who is Cole's nephew. "This is the first time that somebody has came down and told us what they're doing. You can't help but feel like they're trying to cover up something."
The family gathered Wednesday night after word got out about the accident, but they were not allowed onto the property or told anything about Cole. Claudia Cole came back the next morning and stood in the sun for over four hours by the guard shack at the foot of the mountain, again never hearing anything.
The family returned again that night and waited until 3 a.m. Friday, only hearing from state officials that progress was being made.
The next time they returned in full force Friday at 11 a.m., holding up signs asking Black Mountain to stop running coal, accusing them of negligence and greed.
"Stop Hauling Coal. Help find Russell Cole," "Please take the time to find my daddy. Stop Hauling" and "My dad means more than money" were among over a dozen posterboard messages.
"He's up here busting his (butt) for these people and they won't show any courtesy for him," said family friend Zack Collier.
"I'm just appalled at the way that the coal company has conducted themselves in this. They've refused to stop coal production and run with total disregard to the family, chilling in the night trying to get information," said Kenny Johnson, former deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals. Johnson is a cousin of Claudia Cole's and was chosen as a spokesperson for the family.
With three recent closure orders issued by the Kentucky Department of Mine Safety and Licensing only a few months ago, Johnson said he believes the family has a case against Black Mountain Resources.
He said he had obtained lawyer Tony Oppegard, former general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals, to represent the family and expected a suit to be filed by Monday.
Presley Trucking employees stopped hauling and said they wouldn't start again until Monday, according to Cole's family.
Over 60 people stood outside all day Friday, at first enduring 90-degree heat and then hiding from heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
"We're not leaving this place until they bring him to us," said Carolyn Dinsmore, Cole's sister-in-law.
Tri-City Funeral Home set up a large tent on the side of the road at the company's entrance. Some of the group of people huddled closely together underneath. Franks dug a ditch around it to keep the small river of water coming down from the mountain away from the tent. Others remained in their vehicles.
Although there has probably never been a more tragic moment for them, Cole's family and friends' spirits seemed to improve as they reminisced about Cole and, finally, received frequent updates on the recovery team's progress.
"He was a genuine, loving, caring person," said Dinsmore. "If this was a different situation ... he would be the first person up there to try to help them out."
A pair of coal trucks motored down KY 72. The maintenance of coal haul roads is one of the most costly coal-related expenditures in the Kentucky state budget highlighted in a report by the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development that claims the coal industry is more of a cost to the state than a benefit.
Organization contends coal costs state more than industry contributes. Local officials skeptical of report.
June 27, 2009
The results of a newly released study regarding the impact of the coal industry on the state's budget are being looked at with skepticism by local and state officials who live in the coal region.
According to the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED), Kentucky spent $115 million more in 2006 on the coal industry and its employees than the taxes collected from them. The study indicates that the coal industry was responsible for revenue totaling nearly $528 million, but the total expenditures came to more than $642.
Maintenance on the state's coal haul road system was credited for an expense of nearly $239 million, the largest budget expenditure. While the study indicates that tax revenues generated from workers directly employed in the coal industry garnered $10 million more than the cost of services provided to them by the state, MACED says employees in supporting industries made lower wages and used more services, contributing to a net loss of $73 million.
Tax incentives and foregone revenues specific to the coal industry amounted to an expense of $84 million, according to MACED.
More than $31 million was reportedly spent by state offices supporting the coal industry, including the Office of Energy Policy, the Cabinet for Environmental and Public Protection, Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, as well as on education and workforce development programs.
MACED's study calls for the state to examine taxes and subsidies on the coal industry, as well as to pursue "economic diversification," a notion echoed in a Friday Lexington-Herald Leader editorial suggesting an increase in the coal severance tax and calling coal a "parasite on the state budget."
"Blatantly false," according to state Sen. Brandon Smith, who represents the coal counties of Bell, Leslie, Perry and Harlan. "At first glance, you can tell there's something wrong."
Smith says the study fails to consider all the facts - for instance, the rate Kentuckians pay for electricity per kilowatt-hour in comparison to Western states.
"They're not even close to what we are paying," said Smith. "That just strips away any credibility they may have and exposes them as just some whacko group there trying to form with all these other groups out here that want to shut down coal. They don't realize the implications of what they are doing."
MACED lists several state departments as funding partners, including the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children, Division of Energy, Division of Water, Governor's Office of Energy Policy, River Area of Development District and the Kentucky River Authority, as well as many educational foundations.
Smith criticized the state's support of the group, saying the "current administration does not have a firm grasp the "current administration does not have a firm grasp on what coal is and what coal does," and added that he was concerned with the way the state's policy was aligning with national policy in regards to the coal industry.
"As a senator, I don't plan to let them do that," said Smith. "I feel like everybody in my camp is looking for alternative energy services, yet being responsible in doing so and being very thoughtful on how to solve the crisis."
Environmental activist Carl Shoupe, a former coal miner, says the study puts something in paper that "you can see with your own eyes," and politicians still speaking in support of the study are protecting their own jobs.
"These politicians just want people to keep working their asses off here to earn that coal severance money that they can spend to buy people's votes," said Shoupe, who confessed to having strong feelings on the issue. "These coals companies have got these poor miners so that their minds are so warped that they'll vote for anyone who will tell them they'll keep their jobs the next day - not the next year, the next day."
But regardless of the debate regarding the state budget, local leaders point out the Harlan County itself cannot survive without the coal industry.
"The fact of the matter is, we're not going to find jobs in this county anytime in the near future that are nearly as high-paying as what the coal industry provides," said Dan Mosley, president of the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce. "It would be nice if we had something to fall back on, but unfortunately, if you're not in the medical field, education, government ... if you want to make a living, you're working in the coal mines. People in the area have made a good living, in the coal mining industry, and it's something every citizen should stand up to protect."
Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop says he is skeptical of MACED's report and said someone should "study this over for authenticity and bring some balance to the discussion."
"The bottom line: If coal left Harlan, we would be in terrible shape," said Grieshop. "This year, there will be close to $23 million sent to the state form this county (in) coal severance money."
The complete report by MACED is available online at www.maced.org/coal.
Local Politics
Covering disfunctional government
Covering disfunctional government
Racism charges highlight spicy city council debate
April 15, 2009
A month-long dispute over a barbecue stand operating out of a trailer on Main Street in Cumberland erupted into accusations of racism during Tuesday night's council meeting after council members insisted the trailer had to go.
"Little Giant" food cart owner Emma Gist attended the meeting after she said she was informed by the city's zoning and planning commission chair Don Sisney that she would have to "pick it up and move" because the business is in a flood zone.
The business was brought up during the council's March meeting by council member Eugene Stagnolia, who said he had received complaints of a food establishment running out of a trailer on Main Street and said he believed it was in violation of the city's zoning ordinance.
Since the last meeting, it was discovered that the business had not obtained a flood plain permit or a building permit, but on Feb. 9 had obtained a privilege license for $50 to operate in the city until June 30.
Furthermore, Gist said that she had spent more than $6,000 to tap onto the city's water and sewage systems in order to comply to health regulations. The business operates in the parking lot of the former Day & Jones Funeral Home, a building Gist is renting and is working toward moving the business into.
"I just want to know how we can get it resolved," Gist told the council. She explained that she was not aware that she needed to get a flood plain permit or building permit for her business.
"If you had come and ask each time you did those things, we could have informed you that you were sitting there illegally now," said Stagnolia, referring to when Gist purchased her privilege license and tapped onto the ctiy's utilities. "The city has an ordinance against a business operating on Main Street in a trailer."
However, Benham City Council member George Massey, a member of Gist's family, insisted that city officials should have informed Gist sooner.
"You all drive by there every day. You knew, you knew what this young lady was doing," said Massey. "You all didn't have the decency to come over there and talk to her then. Why do you keep stepping on her now?"
Tension escalated as several members of the audience continued to argue on Gist's behalf, prompting several requests by Stagnolia for the mayor to bring the meeting to order. Mayor Loretta Cornett banged her gavel on the desk and threatened to have one man escorted out of the meeting by police.
After asking Massey at one point to "shut up," Stagnolia found himself in a debate.
"First of all... eh I won't say it ... come down here and try to tell us how to run our city," Stagnolia commented to the council.
"Right," added Cornett.
"If this had been brought to us, George to begin with..." said council member Norma Bowyer.
'This is a small town," said Massey, apparently implying council members knew about the business.
'Every day I got a complaint or two on the phone about that place up there," said Stagnolia.
"What's wrong with it? Something wrong with the food?" asked Massey.
"Nothing I say is going to convince you George," said Stagnolia.
"No, what's the complaint?" asked Massey.
"First of all, there's other people that have restaurants in this town that are paying a big privilege license."
"Oh, now we're getting to it," said Massey. 'This is all about the other businesses."
"How do you sell people privilege licenses and send your employees up there to tell them what to do to get the place legal and (let) them spend $10,000, and then ask them to move it the next month," asked Ron Halcomb, a friend of Gist. "How can you do people like that?"
"We didn't," said Stagnolia.
"Yeah, you did," said Halcolmb. "Mark Lewis was spent up there from this city."
"OK. I'm not going to ask another time. If I do, you will be police escorted out," Cornett said to Holcomb.
Picking up Gist's soon-to-expire privilege license, Cornett displayed it to the council and audience before calling an end to the discussion.
"OK Emma, right here is your license. For your business of profession of "barbecue season," she read from the license. "Would you like to see it? Is there anyone here that would like to see it?"
"Nothing but racism," said Massey as he and others who had come from the restaurant walked out of the meeting.
Predominantly black, the group stood outside city hall for more than a half hour as the meeting continued while Massey's shouting could still be heard inside. Several others remained inside but left after a suggestion by council member Yvonne Gilliam that seemed to fuel the argument.
"Does Benham and Lynch have an ordinance. Can she move it up there?" asked Gilliam. "Can they do this in Benham or Lynch?"
"They can move it to Benham I guess, or Lynch" answered Stagnolia. "I don't know what they've (the cities) got."
Gist said those comments were racist and said she was going to seek legal advice on the matter.
Coalition questions use of money
February 11, 2009
It was destined to come up.
The elephant in the room during Monday's meeting of the adventure tourism coalition, as one member tagged it, was the aptly titled "adventure tourism money," $316,000 of coal severance funds earmarked for adventure tourism in Harlan County.
A previous commitment by the Harlan County Fiscal Court to spend $120,000 of the funds for operational costs of the Benham School House Inn has drawn criticism since the decision was made by the fiscal court in October.
During Monday's meeting, Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop defended the fiscal court's action but promised coalition members that the fiscal court would remove itself from future adventure tourism decisions.
Members of the 45-member coalition, which was formed by the fiscal court and the Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority to create a "master plan" for adventure tourism, questioned Grieshop during Monday's meeting about the decision and the future of the fiscal court's involvement in adventure tourism.
Harlan County Ridge Runner Jerry White, one of several ATV club members who sit on the coalition, was one of several who questioned whether the money was spent appropriately.
"We've needed a bulldozer on the mountain," said White, referring to Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area. "Now, we've got out and we've voted to spend adventure tourism money on something that don't have anything to do with adventure tourism, yet we can't buy a simple bulldozer to put on the park and maintain the trails."
"That's why all this is happening now," said White, referring the somewhat debated fee system recently approved. "You don't take care of what you already got. It don't make sense to me."
On that same point, Grieshop defended the decision to use the money to rescue the inn, which he said is owned by the county.
"As the judge-executive of this county, I am responsible for all of our properties," said Grieshop. "If the Benham Inn had been shut down on Nov. 1, there would be no Benham Inn three weeks later. We own it, and it's a multimillion-dollar building. It was going to be destroyed. I would not want that to happen. Do we keep on throwing money to it in the future? I don't know."
As for the earmarking of the money specifically for adventure tourism, Grieshop defended the action, stating that conversations he had with state officials indicated the county could use the coal severance dollars at its own discretion.
But the opinions voiced by coalition members indicated the decision led them to desire less county government involvement in adventure tourism decisions.
"When (Kentucky) passed the lottery we said it was going to solve all our education issues, and we seen what happened next. The General Assembly got a hold of it and they said, 'Ooh, this is a nice pile of money to play with,'" stated Brad Abraham. "On a smaller scale ... we saw the same problem with all the tourism money that comes into the (recreation) board and the magistrates said, 'Ooh, look at all this money we can play with.'"
With a recent decision by the board to charge a permit fee to visitors of Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area expected to raise $300,000 annually for law enforcement, trail maintenance and further development, members of the coalition wanted a direct answer as to who would be in charge of overseeing the money and how it was spent -- the recreation board, which is currently negotiating a long-term lease with the landowners, or the fiscal court, which holds the existing lease which is set to expire in June.
Grieshop said that authority would belong to the board.
"You're saying this is the final authority? You're not going to micromanage things?" asked Libby Alexander, strategic planning facilitator from Saturn Consulting. "They are going to have their own budget? They are going to lead this county's adventure tourism?"
"That's the plan. That's right. That's what the fiscal courts wants at this moment in time is to move in that direction," said Grieshop.
"Do we need to get that in writing?" joked White.
February 11, 2009
It was destined to come up.
The elephant in the room during Monday's meeting of the adventure tourism coalition, as one member tagged it, was the aptly titled "adventure tourism money," $316,000 of coal severance funds earmarked for adventure tourism in Harlan County.
A previous commitment by the Harlan County Fiscal Court to spend $120,000 of the funds for operational costs of the Benham School House Inn has drawn criticism since the decision was made by the fiscal court in October.
During Monday's meeting, Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop defended the fiscal court's action but promised coalition members that the fiscal court would remove itself from future adventure tourism decisions.
Members of the 45-member coalition, which was formed by the fiscal court and the Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority to create a "master plan" for adventure tourism, questioned Grieshop during Monday's meeting about the decision and the future of the fiscal court's involvement in adventure tourism.
Harlan County Ridge Runner Jerry White, one of several ATV club members who sit on the coalition, was one of several who questioned whether the money was spent appropriately.
"We've needed a bulldozer on the mountain," said White, referring to Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area. "Now, we've got out and we've voted to spend adventure tourism money on something that don't have anything to do with adventure tourism, yet we can't buy a simple bulldozer to put on the park and maintain the trails."
"That's why all this is happening now," said White, referring the somewhat debated fee system recently approved. "You don't take care of what you already got. It don't make sense to me."
On that same point, Grieshop defended the decision to use the money to rescue the inn, which he said is owned by the county.
"As the judge-executive of this county, I am responsible for all of our properties," said Grieshop. "If the Benham Inn had been shut down on Nov. 1, there would be no Benham Inn three weeks later. We own it, and it's a multimillion-dollar building. It was going to be destroyed. I would not want that to happen. Do we keep on throwing money to it in the future? I don't know."
As for the earmarking of the money specifically for adventure tourism, Grieshop defended the action, stating that conversations he had with state officials indicated the county could use the coal severance dollars at its own discretion.
But the opinions voiced by coalition members indicated the decision led them to desire less county government involvement in adventure tourism decisions.
"When (Kentucky) passed the lottery we said it was going to solve all our education issues, and we seen what happened next. The General Assembly got a hold of it and they said, 'Ooh, this is a nice pile of money to play with,'" stated Brad Abraham. "On a smaller scale ... we saw the same problem with all the tourism money that comes into the (recreation) board and the magistrates said, 'Ooh, look at all this money we can play with.'"
With a recent decision by the board to charge a permit fee to visitors of Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area expected to raise $300,000 annually for law enforcement, trail maintenance and further development, members of the coalition wanted a direct answer as to who would be in charge of overseeing the money and how it was spent -- the recreation board, which is currently negotiating a long-term lease with the landowners, or the fiscal court, which holds the existing lease which is set to expire in June.
Grieshop said that authority would belong to the board.
"You're saying this is the final authority? You're not going to micromanage things?" asked Libby Alexander, strategic planning facilitator from Saturn Consulting. "They are going to have their own budget? They are going to lead this county's adventure tourism?"
"That's the plan. That's right. That's what the fiscal courts wants at this moment in time is to move in that direction," said Grieshop.
"Do we need to get that in writing?" joked White.
Press Releases
Pushing the positive
Students from Chicago assist in river cleanup
August 14, 2010
More than 70 teens from St. JohnFisher and Most Holy Reedemer, two Catholic parishes from SouthsideChicago, wrapped up a week of hard work at a Friday-night worshipservice that went well past 1 a.m. Teens that made up the yellow teamgave a similar testimony – cleaning garbage from the rivers ofHarlan County was an unexpectedly fulfilling task.
After hearing that the Harlan CountyOutdoor Recreation Board Authority’s Paddle Sports Committee wasbeginning to organize river cleanups, COAP contacted the board andoffered assistance by scheduling yellow team to five days of rivercleanup.
Expecting to spend time in Harlanhelping a family in need, there was some disappointment in the groupwhen they learned of their assignment. But by the end of the week,the teens realized their work also came with rewards.
“It was really challenging,” saidMaggie Smith, known in the group as Pep Dog. “At first you wouldsee something and think that you wouldn’t be able to do that, butthen you would and you would feel like you really accomplishedsomething.”
Smith and her friends hoisted garbage45 feet to the KY 72 bridge at the Harlan Flood Tunnels including 31tires, washer and dryer, shopping carts and more than 50 bags ofgarbage, with nothing more than a 50-foot rope and a garbage can.With temperatures in the 90s, work was difficult as the teens dug uphalf-buried car parts or home appliances apparently thoughtlesslycast into one of the county’s valuable natural resources.
After a week’s work at five differentsites on all forks of the Cumberland River, the piles of garbage grewto include more than 60 tires, nearly 200 garbage bags and a wideassortment of large and small items.
“We found enough pieces to build awhole car,” said Smith, who found a car frame and removed severalengine parts at the tunnels, a gas tank from under the US 421 bridgenear Pine Mountain, a car seat from behind Pine Flat Baptist Churchand a life-time supply of tires from Coxton to Baxter.
After photos of the group werepublished in Tuesday’s edition of the Enterprise, the teens spentthe rest of the week getting showered with praise from localresidents who drove by their jobsites or crossed their paths duringtheir daily stops at Dairy Queen. On a few occasions, locals eventlent a hand in the work.
When the group asked permission to paintover graffiti underneath a state bridge, local highway officials gavethe teens paint and lent them rollers, and all of the garbage bagsfilled by the group were donated by a local family.
“The way I seeit, it impacts everyone,” said Ryan Lonkta, commenting on thecleanup effort. Better known as “Tonka, ”Lonkta was one of twoadult chaperones who work with the teens, this marking his sixth tripto Harlan County. ““We got to help everyone, not one singlefamily. It’s something everyone in Harlan and Kentucky can sharein.”
A second group ofout-of-state teens will be hitting continuing their efforts inupcoming weeks.
Outdoor board to pursue funding for zipline tour
April 18, 2011
Zipline expert Robert Nickell discussedthe proposed attraction with the five-member board as well as HarlanCounty Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop and magistrates Bill Moore andJonathon Pope at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Nickell’s company,Universal Zipline Technology, was hired by the board to perform asite evaluation and course design at Black Mountain Off-RoadAdventure Area.
Nickell said the course he wasdesigning for Harlan County would be the second biggest on the eastcoast. Early cost estimates for the project have ranged from $220,000to $250,000, a number that will be refined once Nickell completes thedesign.
“I’ve seen every one of the zipline I’ve built pay for itself in the first nine months to a year,”said Nickell, who has designed and built zip line courses all overthe world. “For the investment, it’s one of the most successfulbusinesses you can get in.”
The board’s interest, however, isproviding another recreation opportunity in Harlan County, attractingmore people the area and creating jobs.
The zip line would make Black MountainOff-Road Adventure Area the only off-road trail system that alsofeatures a zip line and would benefit from the existing customer baseas well as entirely new ones.
“It’s one of the safest thrillrides you can have. The best thing is all ages can do it. It opens upthe door to a huge variety of people who can do it,” said Nickell,adding that the biggest age group that visited zip lines was 50 andabove.
According to Nickell, the two-hour zipline tours commonly cost $75 to $120 per person, but the board isconsidering lower rates as well as discounts for residents and largegroups.
Construction could begin by summer ifthe board can secure the necessary funding. Once Nickell completesthe course design and estimated cost, the board will apply for twoseparate loans through Harlan Revitalization and the KentuckyTourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet.
Grieshop said the Harlan County FiscalCourt may decide at this week’s fiscal court meeting whether or notto put up collateral for the loans and sign as a guarantor.
Pope voiced his support for the projectto the board.
“I’m going to bring my kids,”said Pope. “I’m wondering about a yearly pass.”
HVAC named Subcontractor of the Year
HVAC, Inc. is proud to have been named 2011 Subcontractor of the Year by the Tri-Cities Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
The announcement was made at the 20th Annual Tri-Cities AGC Excellence Awards in March, where the organization and its more than 200 members honor outstanding associates and their work.
HVAC, Inc. President Keith Rhymer, a 17-year veteran of the company in his first year as president, credits the hard work of HVAC’s more than one hundred employees.
“This is a great achievement for HVAC, Inc. and all of our employees,” said Rhymer. “This award is voted on by general contractors and suppliers who are members of the Tri-City AGC. Every employee should be extremely proud of this achievement.”
Other finalists for subcontractor of the year included Chris Mullins Company and Kingsport Armature & Electric Co., Inc., both of Kingsport, and Woods Paint Company, Inc. of Bristol.
Other 2011 winners include: BurWil Construction Co., Inc., General Contractor Circle of Excellence Category A; Armstrong Construction Co., Inc., Category B; Chris Broglio – BurWil Construction Co., Inc., Project Manager of the Year; The Good Company, Supplier of the Year; Randy Webb – BurWil Construction Company, Inc. – Superintendent of the Year; The Olde Farm Pavillion, Project of the Year Division I First Place; J.A. Street & Associates, Inc., Second Place; Thomas Weems Architect, Third Place; Alpha Natural Resources, Project of the Year Division II First Place; BurWil Construction Company, Inc., Second Place; Thompson & Litton Architect, Third Place; Thomas Weems, Architect of the Year for Project of the Year Division I; and Thompson & Litton, Architect of the Year for Project of the Year Division II.
HVAC, Inc. celebrates 25 years as the region’s premier specialty contractor, offering commercial heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and building automation as well as solar, wind and geothermal green solutions to the region.
April 17, 2012
HVAC, Inc. is proud to have been named 2011 Subcontractor of the Year by the Tri-Cities Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
The announcement was made at the 20th Annual Tri-Cities AGC Excellence Awards in March, where the organization and its more than 200 members honor outstanding associates and their work.
HVAC, Inc. President Keith Rhymer, a 17-year veteran of the company in his first year as president, credits the hard work of HVAC’s more than one hundred employees.
“This is a great achievement for HVAC, Inc. and all of our employees,” said Rhymer. “This award is voted on by general contractors and suppliers who are members of the Tri-City AGC. Every employee should be extremely proud of this achievement.”
Other finalists for subcontractor of the year included Chris Mullins Company and Kingsport Armature & Electric Co., Inc., both of Kingsport, and Woods Paint Company, Inc. of Bristol.
Other 2011 winners include: BurWil Construction Co., Inc., General Contractor Circle of Excellence Category A; Armstrong Construction Co., Inc., Category B; Chris Broglio – BurWil Construction Co., Inc., Project Manager of the Year; The Good Company, Supplier of the Year; Randy Webb – BurWil Construction Company, Inc. – Superintendent of the Year; The Olde Farm Pavillion, Project of the Year Division I First Place; J.A. Street & Associates, Inc., Second Place; Thomas Weems Architect, Third Place; Alpha Natural Resources, Project of the Year Division II First Place; BurWil Construction Company, Inc., Second Place; Thompson & Litton Architect, Third Place; Thomas Weems, Architect of the Year for Project of the Year Division I; and Thompson & Litton, Architect of the Year for Project of the Year Division II.
HVAC, Inc. celebrates 25 years as the region’s premier specialty contractor, offering commercial heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and building automation as well as solar, wind and geothermal green solutions to the region.
