This article originally provided by The Daily Mail

May 25, 2005

Two protesters arrested at coal prep plant

SUNDIAL, W.Va. (AP) -- Two protesters were arrested Tuesday after they tried to deliver demands that Massey Energy close a coal preparation plant behind a Raleigh County elementary school.

Holding signs that read "Massey: Stop poisoning our kids'' and "sick kids are bad business,'' several dozen residents gathered at the entrance to Massey subsidiary Goals Coal Co., which operates a preparation plant, silo and storage facility near Marsh Fork Elementary School.

State Police arrested two protesters on trespassing charges after they tried to enter company property to read a list of demands for Massey.

Julia Bonds and Bo Webb, both with Coal River Mountain Watch, were ticketed for trespassing and later released, Vivian Stockman, project coordinator for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, said Wednesday.

"They got up onto the bridge a little bit and the security guards came out,'' said Matt Noerpel of Mountain Justice Summer, a group opposed to mountaintop removal mining.

According to the group, the residents want Massey to close the preparation plant; clean up the school or build a new one in their community; withdraw an application for a second coal loading silo behind the school; and halt blasting operations near their homes.

"Our communities and children have been the sacrificial lambs long enough to the coal companies. It's time for us as the parents, grandparents and the community to change that,'' said Debbie Jarrells, whose granddaughter attends the school.