Published: September 17, 2009 09:03 pm      

Coal Show doesn’t slow

BRUSHFORK — For coal people, the second day of the 2009 Bluefield Coal Show was every bit as exciting as the first day, with lots of things to see and do and even a mid-afternoon visit by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.

“We really appreciate all that you do for the coal industry,” Roy C. Riley of J&R Manufacturing said after Manchin spent a few minutes visiting the company’s booth.

“Go Mountaineers!” David McCombe of Project Enterprise Inc., shouted in Manchin’s direction as he turned a corner to examine the booths in another aisle inside the National Guard Armory in Brushfork.

Manchin’s helicopter touched down at 1:40 p.m., and although he engaged in several cell phone conversations, he still greeted person after person with a smile and listened to each of their concerns. He seemed interested in everything people attending the show had to say, and even posed for pictures with visitors and exhibitors alike.

“I’ve never seen a Coal Show this big,” Charles A. Peters, general chairman of the Bluefield Coal Show said as he escorted Manchin around to “see some new stuff,” as the governor put it.

“I think all kids who grow up in the coalfields ought to see this show so they can see what their daddies and mommies do every day at work,” Greg Poore of Beckley said. Poore works for Pocahontas Coal in the Odd and Rhodell area. He came to the Coal Show with his 15 year old son, Blake Poore, and his father John Poore, a retired coal miner.

Poore started working underground in 1982, but is now working at a surface mine. “Seeing the equipment like this helps kids understand coal mining a little better,” Poore said.

“It’s interesting ... Everything about it is interesting,” Blake Poore said.

John Farinoso and Nate Leonard were busy fielding questions about Bender Inc.’s, ground fault protection gear for the coal industry, but Beth Nelson, administrative assistant with the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce was equally interested in the company’s work with the motion picture industry, most notably the recent “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

“We have an office in Burbank, Calif., that provides products that protect cast and crew members from electric shock especially in and around water,” Farinoso said. “Our ground fault protection units are used on movie sets.” However, the company’s main office is in Coatsville, Pa., and the company specializes in equipment for the coal industry.

“I was at this show two years ago, and I think there are even more people here this year than there were last year,” Farinoso said. “The parking lots were absolutely full by 10 a.m., (on Wednesday) and we are still seeing a lot of visitors today.”

Frank Hart, a Bluefield State College engineering professor was supervising a group of student volunteers from BSC who were staffing the Coal Show registration booth. “There were so many people coming through here on Wednesday that we just absolutely couldn’t handle it,” Hart said. “I don’t have any numbers yet, but we have registered just as many visitors today, but the flow has been steady and easier to deal with.”

Al Skinner, editor of “Coal People” magazine has been a regular exhibitor at the Bluefield Coal Show. “In spite of the economic challenges in the industry, we have had a great Coal Show so far.” Skinner and Christina Karawan, “Coal People” managing editor had a steady stream of visitors to their booth and even hosted an extended visit from Manchin.

“The security officers with Wallace Security have done a terrific job of getting this many people in and out of this Coal Show,” Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce said. “They get yelled at, probably, more than they deserve, but nobody ever thanks them. Sometimes they’re bringing visitors in by the onesies and twosies, but somehow, Ken Wallace is making it work.”

Bill Reid, managing editor of “Coal News” said the response to “A Voice For Coal” jointly sponsored by the chamber and the National Mining Association grew on day two of the show with 1,956 visitors sending letters to Congress.

“It was most encouraging to hear Gov. Manchin at the show say that the cap-and-trade bill moving from the House to the Senate is “completely unacceptable in its present form,” Reid said.

As usual, the Coal Show Hospitality Room provided a quiet place for coffee, cookies and conversation beyond the din of the selling show outside.

“I think people have enjoyed the computer hook-ups this year,” Dafney Peters, chair of the Exhibitors’ Hospitality Area committee said. Peters, Betty Corte, Shirley Ofsa, Frances Wayland, Katherine Turner, Mary Glah and Susan Cooper Snyder staffed the hospitality room throughout the show.

“It’s amazing how much this show has grown,” Lacy Boardwine, a marketing representative of Marshall Miller & Associates said. “There are so many people here, it’s hard to imagine.”

Boardwine said this is the fourth Coal Show she has participated in during her seven years with MM&A. “This is much bigger than the show two years ago,” she said.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com