Lakeland, Fla., high school football coach Bill Castle believes the
only difference between putting kids on a bus and putting them on an
airplane to travel to a road game is the look on their faces.
“Yeah, it’s kinda funny to see some of their eyes get really big once
they get on an airplane,” said Castle, who has taken his programs to
extraordinary heights in his first 32 seasons as head coach. The
Dreadnaughts were mythical national high school football champions in
2005 and 2006.
The eyes of a high school football-watching nation will be on Wheeling
Island Stadium on Monday, Sept. 1, as the inaugural Friends of Coal
Prep Classic will kick off at noon in what figures to instantly become
a marked calendar date for high school football fans around the country.
The event is the brainchild of Bridgeport, Ohio, native and St. John
Central graduate Ken Halloy, the president of Halloy Boy Sports
Marketing, Inc, based out of Columbus.
Halloy, who has a strong history of success in coordinating events like
this, including the wildly popular McDonald’s Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs.
USA Challenge, figured a high school football-crazed area like the Ohio
Valley was a natural fit.
The 2008 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 18 – 20 at the
YMCA/Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley, WV. The
event will provide a variety of entertainment, including a car show,
carnival rides, food vendors, a flea market, an arts & crafts area,
special appearances by the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team, former
WVU Head Football Coach Don Nehlen, current UVA Assistance Health Coach
and Beckley native Bob Pruett, Jeremy Starks of the BassMaster Elite
Series, a fireworks display, and a Saturday night concert featuring
performances by RANDY TRAVIS and West Virginia’s own TAYLOR MADE.
For additional information please visit www.friendsofcoalautofair.com or contact the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA at 304-252-0715
Friends of Coal angler Jeremy Starks took first place in this past weekend’s Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge, presented by Advance auto Parts, and held in Wheeler Lake in Decature, Alabama. Out of a field of 107 professional anglers, including three-time BASS Angler of the Year and two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam, Starks relled in the tope weight of 78 pounds, 10 ounces to take the title and first prize. This is the first major title for Starks, who is sponsored by the Friends of Coal.
Over the course of the four-day tournament, Starks pulled in his five fish daily limit which weighted in at 17 pounds, 19 pounds, 11 ounces, 20 pounds, and 21 pounds, 15 ounces; respectively. Starks beat out VanDam – the most accomplished angler in BASS history – by 8 ounces in a come from behind, final day effort to win the title.
Jeremy is in West Kentucky this weekend for another Bassmaster Tournament – Good Luck Jeremy!
Friends of Coal Angler Jeremy Starks took first place in this past
weekend’s Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge, presented by
Advance Auto Parts, and held in Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama!
he National Mining Association’s recently published 2007 Coal Producers Survey documents increased coal consumption and use for electricity generation along with a big spike in U.S. coal exports. According to the survey, total domestic consumption of coal was 1,128.8 million tons in 2007, marking an increase of 1.5 percent over 2006 consumption. That increase was primarily due to a warm summer that led to higher utility use in the power sector. The majority of coal production, approximately 93 percent, continued to be used for electricity generation. Power producers used an estimated 1,046.4 million tons of coal in 2007, about 20 million tons more than in 2006, with coal continuing to provide nearly 50 percent of total electricity generation.
Regarding exports, the U.S. shipped slightly more than 59 million tons of coal in 2007, marking a nearly 20 percent jump in exports versus 2006. According to the survey, coal has been the beneficiary of a global rush for resources, as well as an exchange rate that has the U.S. dollar trading lower against most international currencies. Metallurgical coal exports ended the year at 32 million tons, up 17 percent, as demand for U.S. coking coal for international markets increased dramatically, according to survey. The majority of the increased demand for metallurgical coal is the result of increased shipments to Europe, South America and Africa, primarily Egypt. Steam coal exports increased almost 22 percent to 27 million tons in 2007, driven by much larger shipments to Europe and Africa, primarily Morocco. According to the survey, U.S. exports of both steam and metallurgical coal are expected to continue to rise in 2008 due to the strong internat ional coal demand and the weak U.S. dollar. A copy of the survey is available at: NMA Coal Producer Survey. (NMA Mining Week | June 6, 2008)
The State recorded its fourth mining death of 2008 (the third underground fatality in the last three weeks) yesterday at a haulage accident at Consolidation Coal Company Robinson Run No. 95 Mine in Harrison County. Initial reports indicate the victim, 55-yr-old Gary Hoffman, lost control of the motor he was operating on a grade and either jumped from the vehicle or fell onto the track. MSHA reports a total of 14 fatal accidents nationally as compared to seven for the same period of 2007.
The newly reconstituted Mine Safety and Technology Task Force is looking into available technology with an eye towards advancing a regulatory proposal for “proximity devices” on face equipment.
The State Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety has filed final rules requiring the marking of energized gas lines on bonded mine property. The rules will take effect on June 16 and provide for a ninety (90) day period for gas operators to identify and mark active gas lines. The rules also require gas operators to give notice to coal operators before they commence work on bonded mine property. The rules were promulgated in January but held in abeyance until discussions were held with all interested parties. A subcommittee of the Board remains active to monitor the implementation of the rule.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the WV Diesel Commission is planned for June 17 at the OMHST Offices in Charleston.
The 2008 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 18 – 20 at the YMCA/Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley, WV. The event will provide a variety of entertainment, including a car show, carnival rides, food vendors, a flea market, an arts & crafts area, special appearances by the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team, former WVU Head Football Coach Don Nehlen, current UVA Assistance Health Coach and Beckley native Bob Pruett, Jeremy Starks of the BassMaster Elite Series, a fireworks display, and a Saturday night concert featuring performances by RANDY TRAVIS and West Virginia’s own TAYLOR MADE.
For additional information please visit www.friendsofcoalautofair.com or contact the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA at 304-252-0715
