A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Massey changes mind, will help build new school
Coal giant Massey Energy has reversed its previous position and will provide $1 million to help build a new Marsh Fork Elementary School in West Virginia. In October we reported Massey's refusal to provide any money to help build a new school after local officials announced they planned to move students from the current location, right, which sits in the shadows of a huge Massey slurry impoundment and tipple. Environmental group Coal River Mountain Watch has pledged $10,000, and the Raleigh County School District has asked the state for $6.6 million to finance the rest of the project, Davin White of The Charleston Gazette reports.In a letter announcing the gift, Massey CEO Don Blankenship cited the school's age and location in the floodplain as reason for the move. (Read more) (Photo by Vivan Stockman, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition)
Labels:
coal,
education,
mountaintop removal,
schools,
strip mining
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