Coal news and updates

‘Support Coal’ rally planned for Labor Day at Old York

There are few people — if any — in Walker County whose lives aren’t directly or indirectly touched by the coal industry.

The recent downturn in the coal industry has many worried, and those concerns are the driving force behind a free “Support Coal” rally planned for Monday, Sept. 1, at Old York in Oakman.

Bull Corry, owner of Old York and a full-time coal miner, said he’s seen a drastic decrease in coal-related jobs in recent years.

And, without help, it’s going to get worse, he said.

“Everybody is in one way affected by coal,” Corry said. “Everybody was raised on coal, whether they want to admit it or not. It doesn’t matter if they work in a mine, drive a coal truck or make deliveries to a mine, everybody is affected by coal.

“We’ve got to show our support for this industry,” he added. “Walker County is coal-blooded. Coal is like the blood of this county and if it stops flowing, everything stops.”

The rally will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K run, event organizers said. The run will begin at Bull Pen Steakhouse and wind its way through Oakman.

Jenny Sandlin, a teacher at Oakman Elementary School, is helping organize the 5K. Her father is a coal miner of more than 35 years.

The entry fee for the 5K is $20 and includes a T-shirt if preregistered before Aug. 22.

After that, the entry fee is $25.

Registration forms are available at the Bull Pen Steakhouse or at Oakman Elementary School, or by emailing Sandlin at sandlinje@wcslive.com.

The run will include several age divisions, and awards will be given to winners in each division. For more information on the 5K, you can call (205) 622-3611.

Following the 5K run, musical acts will take the stage beginning at 10 a.m. Among those scheduled to perform are local singer Shelbie Z., the Junior Uptain Band, Southern Magic and several others.

The event concludes with a special concert beginning at 4 p.m. by Whey Jennings, grandson of country legend Waylon Jennings.

In between the music, several speakers will take to the stage, including state Sen. Greg Reed, a vocal supporter of the coal industry in Alabama, and Connie Cooner Rowe and Tim Wadsworth, who were recently elected to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives.

There will also be vendor booths set up around the event, as well as activities for the kids. Vendors interested in participating can call Corry at (205) 622-3999 or (205) 302-2239.

George Barber, president of the Alabama Coal Association, said he fully supports the rally.

“We’ve got to get the message out to everybody, whether they’re in the coal business or not,” Barber said, “the things that the goverment is trying to do is going to cost everyone.”

Sponsors of the “Support Coal” rally are the Alabama Coal Association, Coal Jobs Count, MS&R Equipment Co., Best Coal, Inc., Cedar Lake Mining, Inc., Xinergy of Alabama, Inc., Cane Creek Mining, Black Rock Energy, Nelson Brothers, Carl Cannon Chevrolet and local radio stations Oldies 101.5 FM and Country Legends 88.5 FM.

Source: www.mountaineagle.com