SunCoke, AK Steel ink agreement

HAVERHILL — SunCoke and AK Steel have inked an agreement that will allow the Scioto County energy company to provide metallurgical-grade coke to the steel giant for the next 12-years.

Terms of the agreement, which were announced Thursday, have SunCoke’s Haverhill facility providing AK Steel with up to 550,000 tons of coke annually along with sharing a financial interest in the electric power generated from the heat recovery coke battery.

The agreement is for 12-years with two, five-year renewal options.

With operations in Ashland, Ky., AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels mostly for the automotive and appliance industry.

Metallurgical-grade coke is produced from blends of coal and is used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a blast furnace.

AK Steel said in a statement they have no immediate plans to idle any of its existing coke batteries at their Ashland works despite their advanced age and environmental compliance costs.

‘Flying Wild’ program at WNF

NELSONVILLE — Registration is underway at the Wayne National Forest for educators that may be interested in the new Flying WILD Education program.

A workshop covering this unique program will be Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. at the Wayne National Forest headquarters located off U.S. Hwy 33 between Nelsonville and Athens.

The workshop is free and thanks to a grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, teachers will be paid a $50 educator stipend to attend. The grant is also paying for educators to receive a workshop manual.

Developed by the national office of the award winning Project WILD environmental education program, Flying WILD introduces students to bird conservation through classroom activities and school bird festivals.

It also supports educators by providing interdisciplinary, standards-based opportunities to engage students in real-world learning.

Flying WILD activities are correlated to the National Science Standards.

Middle school age students are the focus of Flying WILD, but activities can easily be adapted to higher or lower grades.

The training will introduce educators to the new Flying WILD materials and activities. At the workshop, teachers will receive a copy of the program guide, Flying WILD: An Educator’s Guide to Celebrating Birds, as well as an introduction to resources that will help educators make your Flying WILD program a success.

To register, send an email to Regina Martin at rkmartin@fs.fed.us or call her at (740) 753-0549. Space is limited.

For more information on the Flying WILD Program, visit their web site at www.flyingwild.org.

Mosquito spraying set for Thursday

IRONTON — City of Ironton will conduct mosquito spraying on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 7 to 11 p.m.

If inclement weather prevents the spraying, then it will be done on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the same time.

Anyone with respiratory problems should consider closing windows and shutting off any window unit air conditioners until the fog has dissipated.

See ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ Sept. 12

SUMMIT, Ky. — “Hannah Montana: The Movie” is the feature at the Second Saturday Screening at the Summit Branch of Boyd County Public Library on Sept. 12.

The movie will be shown at 2 p.m. at the branch, located at 1016 Summit Road, across from Boyd County Middle School. Admission is free, and refreshments are served.

A free kids/family movie is shown on the second Saturday of each month at Summit. Also, a teen/tween movie is shown on the third Wednesday, at 3:30 p.m., at Summit. The Sept. 16 feature is “Coraline.”

Outside groups can host movies at either the Main or Summit branches, using the Library’s license. Anyone wishing to do so should call Amanda Clark at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1140.