| West Virginia was the second largest
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| | International Steel Group Inc. and buying
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| producer of coal in the United States in
| |
| | Bethlehem Steel Corp., Acme Steel Co. and
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| 2005, producing 160 million tons or 13%
| |
| | Weirton Steel Co., all in bankruptcy at
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| of total production, while Wyoming was
| |
| | the time. However, the deals depended on
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| number one, producing 380 million tons,
| |
| | the United Steelworkers Union agreeing to
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| approximately 35% of the nation's total
| |
| | contract concessions and billions of
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| coal production. However, the coal
| |
| | dollars in unfunded pension benefits
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| produced by West Virginia is more in
| |
| | which were ultimately dumped on the
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| demand than that which is produced in
| |
| | federal pension benefits program by Ross
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| western states as it is considered a
| |
| | and now paid by the U.S. taxpayers.Unlike
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| cleaner burning coal.With demand for
| |
| | the steel business, however, coal mining
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| alternative energy sources in the U.S. at
| |
| | is dependent upon safety measures
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| an all time high, the price of coal
| |
| | necessary to execute every 24-hours,
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| doubled over the past two years, as
| |
| | requiring constant follow-up. It can mean
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| natural gas and oil prices have sky
| |
| | the difference between life and death.
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| rocketed with supplies diminishing,
| |
| | The learning curve has changed with
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| especially in the wake of Hurricane
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| | investors who did not originate from the
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| Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico in August
| |
| | mining industry and running mining
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| of 2005. The Gulf produces nearly 40% of
| |
| | operations, some of which have been
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| the nation's natural gas and refines
| |
| | closed for years, and housing a host of
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| nearly 30% of the nation's oil and is
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| | unsafe conditions much less present in a
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| still hampered by the storm's
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| | maintained mine. In addition, many
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| devastation. In 2006, coal is expected to
| |
| | unskilled miners are coming into the
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| provide over 50% of the energy necessary
| |
| | workforce in non-union environments and
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| for U.S. electric utilities and
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| | lax federal government oversight, in
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| speculators expect the future of the coal
| |
| | which many citations and fines in very
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| industry to extend its growth over the
| |
| | small amounts are doled out, rarely if
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| next decade, returning to its rate of
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| | ever shutting down a mine for unsafe
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| production prior to the 1970's.The
| |
| | working conditions.Much has been
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| tragedies of the 2005 hurricane season
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| | publicized about the number of citations
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| along the Gulf Coast as well as the
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| | Sago Mine received in 2005. MSHA levied
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| subsequent flooding of New Orleans, LA
| |
| | 208 citations, orders and/or safeguards.
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| served to expose flawed emergency
| |
| | Half of the citations were for
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| services systems on all levels of
| |
| | "significant violations" which generally
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| government in addition to failed levee
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| | commanded fines between $60.00 and
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| maintenance. Victims who endured
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| | $440.00. The fines totaled approximately
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| Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita as
| |
| | $25,000. However, in the 11-week review
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| well as several other storms in
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| | ending December 22, 2005 and three times
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| Louisiana, Mississippi, parts of Texas as
| |
| | in a period of five days, MSHA cited the
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| well as Florida, have been promised that
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| | mine for 46 alleged violations with 18
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| government and its respective agencies
| |
| | deemed "unwarrantable failures" and with
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| would be examined and mistakes made would
| |
| | three still pending. According to Ben
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| be corrected. Yet it remains to be seen
| |
| | Hatfield, President of ICG, all
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| if proper funding oversight will be
| |
| | violations were corrected; however, the
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| followed through or if indeed lessons
| |
| | MSHA has yet to publicly release any
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| will be learned.Similarly, the mining
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| | documents nor will comment on the three
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| explosion of Sago Mine in Tallmansville,
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| | pending violations.Serious violations
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| WVA, in which 12 miners lost their lives
| |
| | which Sago was cited for included failing
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| on January 2, 2006, with one surviving
| |
| | to enforce an adequate ventilation plan,
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| miner who still remains in a coma as of a
| |
| | key to preventing the
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| week later, will be steeped in paperwork
| |
| | buildup of methane gases which occur
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| and months of several independent
| |
| | naturally underground, failing to conduct
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| investigations, including federal and
| |
| | safety inspections before each 8-hour
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| state hearings. While it would appear
| |
| | shift, 11 roof collapses over the course
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| that running a mining operation is fairly
| |
| | of the past year and dangerous buildup of
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| straight forward, the fact that the work
| |
| | flammable coal dust.While the ICG has
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| in this underground mine is done 25
| |
| | skirted answering questions thus far, Ben
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| stories below the surface of the earth,
| |
| | Hatfield did lay blame on the inherited
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| makes it ripe for facts to be less than
| |
| | problems from the Anker group. But also
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| forthcoming. But maybe the legacy of the
| |
| | important to the upcoming investigations
|
| tragedy of Sago will unveil the real cost
| |
| | will be if there were continued failure
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| of the purchase of mining operations in
| |
| | of safety inspections and prior to
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| the 21st century, by investors with
| |
| | entering the mine over the New Year's
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| little or no interest in the history of
| |
| | weekend, at which time the mine was shut
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| mining or its real inherent risks.The
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| | for two days. Closed mines can be deadly
|
| evolution of mining technology as well as
| |
| | especially during winter, when methane
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| the work of the United Mine Workers
| |
| | accumulates faster due to cold
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| Association (UMWA) has led the way for
| |
| | temperatures and changes in barometric
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| miners' safety rights vastly improving
| |
| | pressure.In addition, Sago did not keep a
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| the lives of miners throughout the U.S.
| |
| | rescue team on site, like a good many
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| The UMWA was largely responsible for the
| |
| | operations due. And speculation of the
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| advent of the Federal Coal Mine Health
| |
| | delay in getting a team together was
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| and Safety Act of 1969, known as the Coal
| |
| | further hampered by federal and state
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| Act, which established health and safety
| |
| | workers who would normally be available,
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| standards for miners both in underground
| |
| | were not since January 2nd was an
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| and above-ground mines. The Bureau of
| |
| | observed Monday holiday following New
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| Mines was given the power to levy fines
| |
| | Year's Day. Since Sago chose to open
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| and criminal penalties on mines in
| |
| | knowing that it was a state and federal
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| violation of the law. In addition, free
| |
| | holiday it may have put its crews at
|
| chest x-rays were available for
| |
| | unnecessary risk, as it took 11 hours for
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| underground miners as well as a
| |
| | a rescue team to be assembled. That will
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| compensation fund.The Coal Act was
| |
| | also be examined by the several
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| amended in 1977 in what is now known as
| |
| | investigations already having been
|
| the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act,
| |
| | announced.The MSHA will conduct its own
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| or the Mine Act, which is the prevailing
| |
| | investigation, and West Virginia
|
| legislation today. The Mine Act helped
| |
| | Governor, Joe Manchin, III, has hired
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| strengthened the Coal Act with better
| |
| | former Director of MSHA under President
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| enforcement of its statutes and combined
| |
| | Clinton, J. Javitt McAteer, to be special
|
| federal safety and health regulations for
| |
| | advisor to the investigation for the
|
| all mines, coal and non-coal, under the
| |
| | state of West Virginia. The White House
|
| same piece of legislation. In addition, a
| |
| | will lodge another investigation with
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| new agency within the Department of
| |
| | requests by Senators and the House
|
| Labor, known as the Mine Safety and
| |
| | Representatives calling for hearings on
|
| Health Administration (MSHA) was
| |
| | Sago as well as on mine safety.Similar to
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| established with a director appointed by
| |
| | the discovered cuts in the funding of
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| the president of the U.S.The UMWA was
| |
| | levee maintenance after Hurricane Katrina
|
| founded in Columbus, OH in 1890 with the
| |
| | hit New Orleans, funding for MSHA for
|
| merger of the Knights of Labor Trade
| |
| | 2006 was cut $5 million from 2005. The
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| Assembly No. 135 and the National
| |
| | agency also has seen a decrease of 170
|
| Progressive Union of Miners and Mine
| |
| | staffers since 2001. Also, 17 proposed
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| Laborers. Its initial constitution
| |
| | standards to further protect miners'
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| "barred discrimination based on race,
| |
| | safety and health were denied by MSHA.
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| religion, or national origin." It was a
| |
| | The entire budget for MSHA for 2006 is
|
| leader in fighting racism and ethnic
| |
| | $280 million. It is expected that its
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| discrimination before the turn of the
| |
| | appropriations will be reviewed.Senator
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| 20th century. Also included in their
| |
| | Robert Byrd (D-WVA) has announced that
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| early fights, the UMWA fought for the
| |
| | the first Congressional hearing on the
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| 8-hour day in 1898, followed by
| |
| | Sago Mine will be held on January 19,
|
| collective bargaining rights in 1933,
| |
| | 2005, which will include federal and
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| health and retirement benefits in 1946
| |
| | state mine safety officials, labor and
|
| and the eventual health and safety
| |
| | business representatives as well as
|
| protections resulting in federal
| |
| | academic experts in mine safety
|
| legislation in 1969.And perhaps most
| |
| | testifying. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) as
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| important to the UMWA's accomplishments
| |
| | well as Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA)
|
| was its plowing the way for the National
| |
| | have also called for a series of Senate
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| Industrial Recovery Act, which granted
| |
| | hearings on the broader issues impacting
|
| workers the right to form unions and
| |
| | mine safety. Representative George Miller
|
| bargain collectively with their
| |
| | (D-CA) and ranking member of the House
|
| employers. And after the success of
| |
| | Education and Workforce Committee has
|
| organizing the nation's coal miners, the
| |
| | requested all documents relevant to the
|
| UMWA extended its work to the steel and
| |
| | Sago mine disaster from Labor Secretary,
|
| auto industries in order to help those
| |
| | Elaine Chao. Rep. Miller expects to hold
|
| workers organize.While fatalities in the
| |
| | hearings after the Senate hearings. No
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| mines have fallen significantly over the
| |
| | reports for any of the investigations,
|
| past century and working conditions
| |
| | however, are expected before July
|
| improved, by the 1980's many of the
| |
| | 2006.The Government Accountability Office
|
| smaller mines went out of business, with
| |
| | in 2003 found that over the past decade,
|
| more nuclear power plants coming online
| |
| | inspectors had often failed to ensure
|
| and the with the oil crisis of the 1970's
| |
| | that violations were corrected by
|
| supposedly over. Coal became less of a
| |
| | deadlines. In addition, there has been
|
| necessity. Many mines which remained
| |
| | criticism that political appointees
|
| opened decided to hire only non-union
| |
| | running MSHA are primarily former mining
|
| personnel. With fewer jobs available in
| |
| | executives from the private sector, and
|
| rural communities, workers became willing
| |
| | there exists a fundamental conflict of
|
| to forego union benefits and guaranteed
| |
| | interest in issuing citations and such
|
| pension plans. They sacrificed the
| |
| | diminutive fines. Further, the Congress
|
| transparency with management regarding
| |
| | has not held one hearing in either the
|
| safety concerns which the union provided
| |
| | Senate or House on mining safety issues
|
| them and without fear of
| |
| | since 2001.On September 23, 2001, 13 coal
|
| retribution.Today, according to Cecil E.
| |
| | miners died at the Jim Walter Resources
|
| Roberts, President of the UMWA, only
| |
| | (JWR) Blue Creek No. 5 mine in Brookwood,
|
| 32-35% of all mines are union shops. With
| |
| | Alabama. In June 2003, the Federal Mine
|
| the majority of today's miners comprised
| |
| | Safety and Health Administration fined
|
| of an aging workforce in their late 40's
| |
| | Walter Industries more than $400,000 for
|
| and 50's facing retirement, cash bonuses
| |
| | eight safety violations that "directly
|
| and higher salaries are luring the next
| |
| | contributed" to the 2001 accident. The
|
| generation, now in their 20's. In the
| |
| | company subsequently appealed the fine.
|
| past 20 years as mines shut down and
| |
| | In November of 2005, an administrative
|
| union-busting was rampant, workers were
| |
| | law judge on behalf of MSHA threw out six
|
| headed to other cities for more lucrative
| |
| | of the eight safety violations and
|
| manufacturing jobs. But with steel mills
| |
| | slashed the fines to $3,000. Let us hope
|
| on the decline, textile mills losing out
| |
| | that history does not repeat itself and
|
| to overseas manufacturing and impending
| |
| | that we learn from this crisis. Here is
|
| layoffs of automakers, the coalmines are
| |
| | but one more opportunity to do right by
|
| becoming the last bastion for those
| |
| | our miners. They deserve at least that
|
| living in communities where the average
| |
| | much.Diane M. Grassi is a freelance
|
| salary is $25,000. Non-union miners can
| |
| | columnist, reporting and writing
|
| look forward to earning twice that
| |
| | commentary on current events of the day
|
| amount.However, the recent history of the
| |
| | providing honest and often politically
|
| Sago Mine as well as others its size is
| |
| | incorrect assessments. From U.S. public
|
| not unlike that which has become of other
| |
| | policy to Major League Baseball, she is
|
| major industries in the 21st century,
| |
| | an eclectic thinker, and demanding of her
|
| with individual companies and its workers
| |
| | readers to reflect on their own thinking
|
| left victim to bankruptcy or corporate
| |
| | patterns from an alternative perspective.
|
| takeover. The Sago Mine, which had 145
| |
| | Whether you agree with her or not, Diane
|
| employees prior to January 2nd, was
| |
| | M. Grassi will have you coming back to
|
| operated by Anker West Virginia Mining
| |
| | note her opinions, and if at best she
|
| Co. until November 2005. The
| |
| | wakes you up, then her goal will have
|
| International Coal Group Inc. (ICG),
| |
| | been accomplished.
|
| purchased it in April 2005, and completed
| |
| | Ms. Grassi is featured with the online
|
| its purchase in November 2005 at which
| |
| | publications: New Media Journal.us;
|
| point it took over Sago's operation.Famed
| |
| | American Chronicle; Mich News.com; the
|
| New York investment financier and
| |
| | Federal Observer; Opinions Editorials;
|
| billionaire, Wilbur Ross, formed ICG in
| |
| | the Conservative Voice; the Las Vegas
|
| May 2004, now listed on the NY Stock
| |
| | Penny Press; the Sierra Times as well as
|
| Exchange, buying up coalmines belonging
| |
| | many others. She also writes regular
|
| to Horizon Natural Resources. One of
| |
| | columns on Major League Baseball where
|
| those holdings was the Sago Mine. Ross'
| |
| | she is a featured online columnist with
|
| purchase of Sago followed his fray into
| |
| | The Diamond Angle Baseball Ezine and
|
| the steel industry, founding the
| |
| | Sports-Central.org. Ms.
|
