By TOM BONE Bluefield Daily Telegraph 

GREEN VALLEY — Many coaches can attest to Tahj Sho-Johnson’s speed and talent on the football field. Many Princetonians can testify to his character. Many statistics could try to quantify his individual accomplishments as a Princeton Tiger.

But perhaps Rick Taylor summed up the 2013 Pocahontas Coal Association-Bluefield Daily Telegraph Football Player of the Year Tuesday night with his closing comment at the annual banquet.

“What a champ,” said Taylor, the coal association president and master of ceremonies.

New plant will use coal to produce key steelmaking ingredient; marks third major jobs announcement this month

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced Carbonyx, Inc., a Texas-based company, will invest tens of millions of dollars in a new Jackson County plant, creating at least 60 jobs.  The new plant will use state-of-the-art technology to produce a key ingredient for steelmaking and rely on coal as the main input for its manufacturing process, making it an important new customer for regional coal producers.

"We are excited and honored to welcome Carbonyx to West Virginia," Gov. Tomblin said.  "Carbonyx is a tremendous innovator in the steelmaking business--and they've decided to invest right here in the Mountain State because of our top-notch workforce and winning business climate."

The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary (FOCLA) has been preparing for our annual "Giving Hearts" project. Due to the economy, we have not met our donation goal. We are asking for your support.  Below is a brief outline of our "Giving Hearts" project:

• The families' names of deployed West Virginia Troops have been provided. The volunteers will shop for clothing as well as the children's toy wish list.
• Area churches and schools also provide names of families in need of food and clothing.
• Food provided will be turkey, ham, vegetables, fruits, desserts, as well as dry and staple goods.
• Complete outfits for each child will be purchased. (Pants, shirt, coat, pajamas, gloves and toboggan)
• All gifts are wrapped and foods are boxed
• Saturday, December 14th, 2013, will be gift pick-up day at our Mabscott office. We welcome any sponsor who wishes to participate, and encourage them to attend.

The Ladies Auxiliary believes the "Giving Hearts" Project is a wonderful opportunity to help our communities. Along with your sponsorship of a family or a donation, we will be able to provide these families with a very Merry Christmas! Donations are being accepted untilDecember 6, 2013 and can be mailed to:  Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 1109, Beckley, WV 25802   (304) 255-1457, ext. 20

The colorful Erkan “Doc” Esmer passed away last weekend.  “Doc” to his friends was an environmental guru in the field of reclamation and impoundments and will be missed by all in the industry.  Donations can be made in his memory to the Islamic Association of WV, 1 Valley Drive, South Charleston, WV  25303

The last of a series of coal and energy forums around the state will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5^th at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown.  The forum is co-sponsored by the WV Coal Forum and the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce, and is designed for industry representatives and local business and policy leaders to discuss the significance of the coal industry and coal exports to north central West Virginia.

Persons interested in attending the forum are requested to register by e-mailing Joel Watts at rsvp@wvcoalforum.org.