This article originally provided by The Charleston Daily Mail

May 31, 2005

State Police arrest 16 at Massey site

WHITESVILLE, W.Va. (AP) -- State Police arrested 16 people Tuesday and cited them for trespassing at Massey Energy's Goals Coal processing facility.

The 16 were part of about 150 environmentalists protesting at the plant, said Sgt. Wayne Vessels.

The group wants Massey to close the preparation plant, which is adjacent to Marsh Fork Elementary School; 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.

The protesters marched from the elementary school to the plant and crossed onto Massey property.

"They were warned several times by the security guys from the Massey headquarters. Of course, we had our guys there. We asked them to please step back. They had a list of demands to present. They went ahead and presented their list of demands, and they refused to leave,'' Vessels said.

The 16 were handcuffed and taken to the Whitesville State Police detachment, where they were given citations and released, Vessels said. Vessels did not have a list of names, but said one woman was 80 years old, one was from Alabama, another from Tucson, Ariz., and some were local residents.

Among those 16 people was Debbie Jarrell, 46, of Rock Creek, whose 10-year-old granddaughter attends the school. Jarrell was concerned about Massey's plans to build the second silo near the school.

"I don't understand how anyone in their right mind could even bring that to the table, to think about being that close to the kids,'' she said. "It looms over top of this elementary school, and they're wanting another one.

"I want the kids to have a safe environment to learn in.''

A Massey spokesperson did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Tuesday.