W.Va. Sierra Club sues anew over strip mine runoff

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Environmental groups are suing Fola Coal Co. again for runoff from a mountaintop removal mine site that they say is contaminating West Virginia streams.

Thursday’s filing in U.S. District Court in Huntington mirrors a complaint the Sierra Club and others used to win a settlement with Fola last year for the cleanup of another waterway.

In both cases, environmental groups argue the coal company has violated the state’s water quality standards, which set general protections rather than numeric standards.

This case focuses on a Leatherwood Creek tributary that the groups say is tainted with sulfate and other dissolved solids.

More than 60 percent of land in the watershed is permitted for mining.

Four similar lawsuits involving eight impaired streams are pending against Alex Energy, Elk Run Coal Co. and Fola.

 

OLBH to offer seminar to address behavior problems

RUSSELL, Ky. — Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) will host a free seminar addressing common childhood behavior problems Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. at Bellefonte Pavilion (2000 Ashland Drive) on the OLBH campus.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

The event, titled “Beyond Time Out,” is for parents and caregivers who wish to learn how to promote desirable behavior and manage misbehavior in young children. The seminar will feature special guest speaker Rebecca Baum, M.D.

Baum is a member of the Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus where she also serves as a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

She completed her fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP for the free seminar, call the OLBH CareLine at (606) 833-CARE (2273) or preregister online at www.olbh.com.

 

Ohio Horse Park needs volunteers to help ‘saddle up’

FRANKLIN FURNANCE — The Ohio Horse Park Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship needs the community to keep the riders in the saddle.

The training will last up to three hours. Volunteers do not need horse experience but must be at least 16 years old. Registration is required.

For more information, call (740) 354-9347 or email OHPinfo@ohio.edu.

 

Fruth recognizes Immunization Awareness Month

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Fruth Pharmacy is gearing up for National Immunization Awareness Month this August and is urging the public to be informed about what is available.

Serious diseases such as influenza, tetanus, whooping cough, shingles, hepatitis A and B, and pneumococcal diseases can oftentimes be prevented by immunization.

The United States has been able to achieve high immunization rates in children for needed vaccines; however, adult rates for getting needed immunizations are very low.

It is estimated only 13 to 30 percent of adults receive the proper immunizations.

Under the Affordable Care Act, many preventive services, including recommended adult vaccines, may now be covered by patient health insurance policies without any deductibles or coinsurance.

For a schedule of adult immunization recommendations from the CDC, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/adult.

Fruth Pharmacy provides many immunizations including flu and whooping cough. Please see a Fruth Pharmacist for more information.

Fruth Pharmacy is a regional chain with 27 stores in Ohio and West Virginia. To learn more about Fruth Pharmacy, please visit www.fruthpharmacy.com

 

USW, AK Steel reach agreement at Ashland, Ky., plant

ASHLAND, Ky. — The United Steelworkers (USW) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with AK Steel covering 860 workers at the steelmaker’s Ashland, Ky., facilities.

The agreement, subject to ratification from the members of USW Local 1865, would be in effect for 18 months, through March 1, 2015. The current agreement is scheduled to expire on Sept. 1.

“This agreement represents a step forward for the workers at Ashland, and provides some stability for them and their families,” said USW International Vice President Tom Conway. “It’s a short-term agreement, but that approach made sense given the current market conditions.”

Specific details of the contract will be withheld until USW members are able to review and vote on the agreement. The union’s bargaining committee has voted unanimously to recommend ratification, and members are scheduled to vote by Aug. 20.

 

EKMHS to host free picnic for veterans

Ashland, Ky. — The Eastern Kentucky Military Historical Society will host a free summer picnic for all area veterans, their families and military history enthusiasts.

The picnic will be at 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at Armco Park in shelter house No. 2. Signs at the entrance of the park will guide guests to the appropriate shelter house.

Matt Potter, EKMHS president, said this is a great opportunity for all local veterans to come together and meet one another.

“Our organization loves to host veterans and help them make friendships with individuals with common service and interests,” Potter said. “Additionally, events like this assist us in furthering our mission of providing services to as many local vets as possible.”

All who plan to attend the event are asked to RSVP by calling Potter at (606) 547-2607.

 

MU participating in civil rights initiative

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Marshall University is participating in initiative marking history of civil rights in U.S.

Officials say the school has been selected to participate in “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle.”

The initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities a series of documentaries and support materials developed by the endowment with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The films include “The Abolitionists,” ‘’Slavery by Another Name,” ‘’Freedom Riders,” and “The Loving Story.”

Marshall is one of 473 institutions across the country that has been awarded a set of the films. A schedule of showings will be announced in the near future.

The endowment was created in 1965 to support learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities.