Country singer Alan Jackson, left, is given a bracelet with the name of Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion victim Cory Davis with Davis’ birthday on it of May 22, 1989, by his mother Cindy Davis and from left, brother Nathan Davis, girlfriend Emily Pritt, and father Tommy Davis prior to a benefit concert Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, W.Va. All of the proceeds from the concert go to the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund which benefits the 29 miners who lost their lives and two that were injured in the tragedy at the Upper Big Branch Mine April 5, 2010 in Montcoal, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)
While Coal Tattoo was shut down for a couple of days, the coal-related news continued, so here’s a quick update for those of you who may have missed these developments:
– Seventeen miners were killed in a coal-mine explosion in China.
– An inspection sweep by the West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training brought more than 100 citations following the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster.
– Sen. Jay Rockefeller urged the Obama administration to crack down on coal-mine safety.
– AEP is going to keep 10 of its coal-fired plants off-line for the rest of the year, because of slow demand for electricity.
Stanley “Goose” Stewart and his wife, Mindi, stand for the National Anthem during Coal Miner Appreciation Day at Appalachian Power Park on Memorial Day. As part of the event, miners and their families got in free and free food and drink were served. To honor the 29 miners killed at the Upper Big Branch Mine on April 5, Power players wore a 29 patch, and the team retired jersey No. 29. Stewart, who was heading into the mine when the massive explosion occurred, testified at a Congressional hearing in Beckley on May 24. Gazette photo by Kenny Kemp.
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Thank you so much for this continuing coverage.
In the vein of history/background, I just ran across a rare truthful discussion of history of the mine wars in southern West Virginia around 80 to 100 years ago, on the web site of the Jefferson County, WV Historical Society. It is there because two of the sedition trials took place there. The site:
http://www.jeffersonhistoricalwv.org/thehistory.html
Thanks, Judy, for the great link. A lot of good history there.
Thank you, Judy.
I was born in Blair many years ago. twenty six miners and sheriffs died in that insurection. Many of the miners surrendered peacefully to the US army troops , because many had just returned from combat in ww1. They respected the government, although their constitutional rights had been violated.