Logan Coal Vendor Association’s Annual Golf Tournament

August 20, 2011

LOGAN – According to Judy Gore, Logan office operations supervisor for Walker Machinery Co., many folks are unaware of the many uses of coal.
Promoting education is one reason why Walker is a member of the Logan Coal Vendor Association (LCVA) and participates in its annual Golf Tournament at Logan Country Club, in Chapmanville. Gore sold raffle tickets at the Aug. 20 outing. Three items raffled were a Hi Point 9MM Luger, a television and a Burner driver. Proceeds from the raffle went to CEDAR (Coal Education Development and Resources) of Southern West Virginia, Inc.
CEDAR is a partnership between the coal industry, business community and educators. It supplies financial resources and coal education materials to assist in integrating the study of coal into the classrooms of Mingo, Logan, Boone, McDowell and Wyoming counties. Its purpose is to enable people to form a factual and unbiased opinion of the coal industry.
Scholarships are given to teachers that apply. The money that the teachers receive is to buy material to educate both the parents and students James Milam said. Milam is manager of Walker’s Logan store. The parents also need the education to combat dark messages in the media and see what coal really is, he said.
“All media portrayed about mountaintop removal is of a mountain getting blown up,” he said.
“It’s kind of like building a house. In the process the house looks bad, but the finished product is beautiful. When you look at a restored mine site, you see beautiful trees and wildlife.”
Other profits from the outing go towards printing educational pamphlets for the public, Milam said. Folks from other states have come through the Coal Auto Fair, in Beckley, and have a better understanding of what coal means. For one, people do not realize that industry attracts other investors to the state, he said.
“There are five of us vendors for every coal miner,” he said. “If the coal industry decides to mine elsewhere than we lose - the vendors lose.”
Owners of Superior Mine Supply, Inc., Minda and Dick Williams, are also members of LCVA.
Dick was in charge of organizing the teams for the tournament. This year they had 20 teams, which pleased LCVA member Jim Winkler, owner of American Hydraulics.
“I’m thrilled,” he said of the turnout. “It’s important because we represent the vendors and help the coal operators. Without the coal and coal operators we are not employed and have no one to sell to.”
According to Winkler, proceeds of the tournament go towards LCVA advertising, CEDAR, children’s charities, providing Thanksgiving turkeys and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College scholarships. Cindy L. Crigger, vice president of communications at Southern said the school participates every year.
“It’s just a wonderful opportunity for us to get out and meet the people and to find out what’s going on in the industry,” Crigger said. “We realize the importance of providing training to the coal industry.”
We promote coal, Milam said. That pretty much covers it.
“The communities in Southern West Virginia depend on coal. Walker participates in coal community functions. We also let the federal government know what coal means to us by participating in rally's and hearings. Coal keeps the lights on!” He said.

Logan employee wears many hats

Aug. 20, 2011

LOGAN – Judy Gore is employed in the heart of the coal industry where the work never stops.
Gore is Office Operations Supervisor for Walker Machinery Co., in Logan. She first started in Logan as a Walker temp back in 1989 and was hired on full time in 1990.
“She’s my right arm,” James Milam said. “She keeps up with my agenda and gets me prepared for my monthly meetings.”
According to Milam, Gore was in Logan when he first arrived from Beckley back in 1993.
“She put me in mind of someone I could depend on,” he said. “I just kept giving her projects to do and she kept running with it. Finally, I overloaded her and had to get her a staff. She does an exceptional job.”
Gore supervises several employees, is over the clerical staff and manages Logan's service budget. She oversees the processes of the service work orders, all aspects of billing, handles work order dispute calls, and assists the credit department with issues that Logan customers may incur. She also assists with Human Resource responsibilities, such as the interviewing process and data collection.
Milam said, "she keeps me organized."
Gore also coordinates the Logan Coal Vendor activities and keeps everyone informed.
“We are really busy at times, but I’m not complaining. I really love my job and the people I work with. ” Gore said. “We have worked together for so long, we are like family. "
She is referring to both her fellow employees and the customers. Their long-standing relationships have created a family atmosphere.
Receptionist Anna Marsh was hired on a few months before Judy. “Judy is a sweet, sweet person and easy to get along with,” Marsh said. “She is very dedicated and loves what she does.”
This fall marks Gore’s 22nd anniversary with Walker Machinery.

Patriot Coal Hosts Earth Day Event

May 13, 2011

LOGAN – According to Ray Albright, Buffalo Grade School has a wonderful relationship with Patriot Coal Corporation.
Albright is principal of Buffalo Elementary School, in Logan.
“Patriot Coal has just been absolutely wonderful when it comes to helping the school with whatever extras that every school needs,” Albright said. “Every school has a need for this kind of relationship with business.”
Albright attended the Patriot Coal Earth Day event at Apogee Mine, in Logan, May 13. About 12 Logan County school students, of mixed grades, were actively involved with planting trees on the mine site and fishing in a stocked pond. One eighth-grader Hunter Montgomery, who caught several Bluegills, said he enjoyed the event because it was something different.
“I learned a little bit about the coal mine and how everything works,” he said.
Superintendent of Logan County Schools Wilma Zigmond stressed the importance of educating children about the benefits of coal mining. It is not the terrible thing they make it out to be, she said.
“Coal mining is probably one of the most regulated industries that we have, and they go back and clean up where they’ve been,” Zigmond said. “Kids need to understand there is a positive behind the coal mining industry; it’s not negative.”
According to maintenance planner for Patriot Coal Jerry Price, the purpose of the event was to show the students there is more to mining than stripping coal.
“Afterwards, we try to restore the land back to its normal habitat, or as close as possible, by planting trees and grass and things,” Price said. “There is a process we have to go through and it’s good to have them join in with us to see how that works. In a few years they will get to see the results of their help with these projects.”
Albright said they stress Earth Day every day of the year at the school.
“The environment is going to be here when we’re all gone,” he said. “But while we are here it is our responsibility to maintain it for future generations. We must be actively involved, even more so now, because the demands on the environment are so much greater than they used to be.”