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THEREGISTER HERALDThursday, January 31, 2013 Beckley, West Virginia ◆ Single copy: 75 cents

Volume 133Number 226

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UC-Beckley to add sports in fall Tomblin rejects advisory councilidea for fundingdrug treatment

CHARLESTON (AP) — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblinis rejecting recommendations that he fund solu-tions to West Virginia’s growing drug problem bytapping the state’s $913 million rainy day fundand raising taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.

Spokeswoman Amy Shuler Goodwin tells theCharleston Daily Mail that Tomblin won’t em-brace those two suggestions from the AdvisoryCouncil on Substance Abuse, which he organizedin 2011, but he is committed to addressing theproblem.

A council report released last week made ninerecommendations, including two aimed at build-ing treatment centers for some 150,000 addicts.The experts said raising cigarette taxes could cre-ate revenue for prevention or recovery programs.

But council member Rick Staton says he didn’texpect Tomblin to embrace the ideas.

The Wyoming County prosecutor and formerlegislator said the council understood funding de-cisions were Tomblin’s to make, and rejecting theproposal isn’t a “deal breaker.”

“I anticipate there will be some funding,” Sta-ton said, “even if there’s not funding mecha-nisms.”

The council also recommended: giving local po-lice more power to enforce alcohol control laws;reducing the flow of paper money to welfare recip-ients through debit cards; finding alternatives todriver’s license revocation for people who don’tpay fines so they can remain employed; andmeasuring the outcomes of state-funded drugtreatment programs.

Co-defendant testifiesin trial alleging arson ofcars at State Police lotBy Tina AlveyREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

LEWISBURG — Closing out the first day of atrial in Greenbrier Circuit Court, a confessed ar-sonist gave chilling testimony about the night aState Police detachment’s parking lot full of ve-hicles went up in flames.

Ray Goff spoke in a hurried monotone on thewitness stand Wednesday, the opening day ofthe arson trial of David Clayton White, 48, ofMeadow Bridge.

Goff admitted his part in torching “five or six”vehicles in the parking lot of the Rainelle de-tachment of the West Virginia State Police inthe early morning hours of Dec. 15, 2011, butsaid he was only following White’s instructions.

White is charged with arson in the second de-gree; conspiracy to commit arson in the seconddegree; eight counts of arson in the third degree;nine counts of intimidation of and retaliationagainst public officers and employees; conspira-cy to commit arson in the third degree; and con-spiracy to commit intimidation of and retalia-tion against public officers and employees.

The 29-year-old Goff earlier entered into anagreement with the state to plead guilty to threecounts of arson and serve a total of 3 years in

By Jim WorkmanASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR

The Golden Eagles willfly in Beckley, beginningthis fall.

On Wednesday, UC-Beckley announced itsplan to add athletics, start-ing with the 2013-14school year.

“We are very pleased tofield sports in Beckley be-ginning this fall,” said Uni-versity of Charleston-Beckley President Dr. Jer-ry Forster. “Intercollegiateathletics is a vital piece ofcampus life. The recruit-ment of student-athletes toUC-Beckley is very impor-tant to building a strongacademic institution.

“To rebuild on the on-campus numbers and en-hance the student experi-ence, we’re excited aboutathletic programs playinga role in that,” he added.

The first teams to wearUC-Beckley jerseys will bemen’s basketball, women’sbasketball, men’s soccer,women’s soccer andwomen’s volleyball.

Other sports are beingexplored for the future aswell.

The recruitment forcoaches and student-ath-letes will begin immediate-ly, according to Dr.Forster.

Because UC-Beckley is asatellite campus of theUniversity of Charlestonand falls under the sameaccreditation as UC, Beck-ley-based teams this fallwill initially be of juniorvarsity level, competingunder NCAA Division IIstandards.

Application by UC-Beck-ley to the NAIA (NationalAssociation of Intercolle-giate Athletics), the athlet-ic governing body thatMountain State Universitycompeted under, was de-nied. It was a lengthyprocess which began lastfall, shortly after UC an-nounced its intentions toparticipate in a teach-outplan for MSU students andultimately take over theBeckley campus followingMSU’s closing Dec. 31.

The rejection came thisweek.

“Our central administra-tive offices are inCharleston,” Dr. Forsterexplained. “The reason weare a satel-lite campusis for effi-ciency pur-poses. Wedon’t havethe unnec-essary administrativeoverhead. Our accredita-tion is under one umbrella.

“We’re not an independ-ent institution (at UC-Beckley). That’s what shot(the NAIA application)down. It was a full blownapplication.”

Mountain State Univer-

sity enjoyed athletic suc-cess, especially in men’sbasketball where theCougars became a national

power atthe NAIAlevel, claim-ing the na-t i o n a lc h a m p i -onship in

2004 and competing in thenational tournament on aregular basis.

“They were a power-house in the NAIA and apoint of pride for everyonein the Beckley area,” Dr.Forster said. “The sportswe’re adding today arehopefully just one part of

something really specialwe feel like we are buildingin Beckley.”

UC-Beckley currently of-fers 12 academic pro-grams, ranging from asso-ciate to master’s degrees.

The Golden Eagles arein discussions with theYMCA of Southern WestVirginia and plan to playand practice soccer at thePaul Cline MemorialYouth Sports Complex.The basketball teams andthe volleyball team arecurrently planning to be oncampus at Van MeterGymnasium.

— E-mail: [email protected]

By Sarah PlummerREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

Most of southern West Virginia is keepinga watchful eye on wind, water and winterweather as last weekend’s surreal spring getsswept away and temperatures again drop.

Mercer, Monroe, Greenbrier and Summerscounties are under a wind warning through 4p.m. today, according to Ken Batty, meteorol-ogist with the National Weather Service.

Winds are expected to continue around 40miles per hour with gusts up to 50, which isenough to cause minor damage in areaswhere outdoor items are not secured and togreatly impact high profile vehicles in inter-states, said Batty.

Widespread wind damage, however, is notexpected.

Wind, rain, snow keep wary eyes on weather

RICK BARBERO/THE REGISTER-HERALD

Dr. Jerry Forster, University of Charleston-Beckley president, shows off athleticequipment and apparel during a press conference Wednesday where he announcedthat sports will be added at the Beckley campus this fall.

F. BRIAN FERGUSON/THE REGISTER-HERALD

A pickup truck splashes through high water on Maple Avenue in OakHill Wednesday afternoon. As wind exits, forecasters warn of floodingand say up to 3 inches of snow may arrive by Friday morning.See WEATHER, 13A

On Page 1B■ Former MSU coach Bolen

weighing options afterUC-Beckley announcement

Governor: Still committed to addressing problem

See TOMBLIN, 13A

■ GREENBRIER COUNTY

See ARSON, 13A

By Sarah PlummerREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

University of Charleston-Beckley’s PresidentJerry Forster spoke to Beckley Rotary ClubTuesday about where the branch campusstands now and what its future may hold.

He said the success of UC-Beckley rests on at-tracting residential students, adult and com-muter students and online students.

And one of the biggest challenges UC-Beckleyfaces is building campus-based student activi-ties, including sports.

“Right now we have nine students on a cam-pus with 400 beds. You can’t recruit a young,college-aged man or woman without being ableto tell them we have a campus life they will en-joy,” he explained.

And growing enrollment will be crucial toUC’s stability, he explained.

“The financial challenge is significant. Wehave 520 students enrolled and we need 1,000to break even. There are $2 in expenses forevery $1 in revenue for this first semester, butwe feel this emphasizes the university’s com-mitment to the opportunity. This may be a stepback for UC initially, but we are confident it isgoing to be a step forward two or three yearsdown the road,” Forster shared.

Forster also said there are programs UC-Beckley has been able to roll with this semester,like culinary arts, business management andsocial work, but there are many “academicpipelines” the budding school needs to reopen.



BELIEVE IT OR NOT!WOODROW TOPS RIPLEY

SPORTS | Page 3B

HARD HEARTSWHEN LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD

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‘SOMETHINGSWEET’ TO

BENEFIT WRCLOCAL | Page 3A

THEREGISTER HERALDWednesday, February 6, 2013 Beckley, West Virginia ◆ Single copy: 75 cents

Volume 133Number 232

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Watch cat


Dr. Jerry Forster, president of UC-Beckley,speaks to the Beckley Rotary Club on Tuesday af-ternoon at the Beckley-Raleigh County ConventionCenter. Forster discussed where the branch cam-pus stands now and what its future may hold.


A fashion-conscious feline shows off its colors while watching over the comings and goings on Court Streetin Fayetteville Tuesday morning.

By Tina Alvey REGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

LEWISBURG — After deliber-ating less than an hour, a Green-brier County jury found a Mead-ow Bridge man guilty of arsonand related crimes in connectionwith the 2011 torching of vehiclesin a State Police parking lot atRainelle.

David Clayton White, 48, facesbetween 47 and 105 years inprison when he is sentencedMarch 6 for his part in the fierydestruction of eight vehicles atthe Rainelle detachment of WestVirginia State Police.

The nine-woman, three-manjury convicted White on all 21

counts of an indictment thatcharged him with second andthird degree arson, intimidationof and retaliation against publicofficers and various conspiracycrimes.

Upon hearing the verdict,Greenbrier County ProsecutingAttorney Patrick Via immediate-ly advised the court that he in-tends to file an information laterthis week charging White as ahabitual offender. That chargecarries a life sentence.

“We’re very pleased,” Via latersaid of the verdict, noting, “We’realways pleased when the jury lis-tens attentively and delivers ajust verdict.”

He added, “Each trial has its

own little bumps, but we present-ed the evidence we intended topresent. We dispense justice; wepresent the evidence, and it’s upto the jury to render a verdict.We certainly accept this one.”

Via said he expects trials fortwo of White’s co-defendants —Joshua Redden, 26, and JenniferWhite, 32, both of MeadowBridge — to be placed on thedocket soon.

“I don’t know what to expectabout the disposition of those twocases — whether there are otherresolutions possible,” Via said.“Neither has reached a plea bar-gain at this time.”

By Vicki SmithASSOCIATED PRESS

Private and federal mine safety inspectors canbe held liable and sued when a negligent inspec-tion results in the wrongful death of a coal miner,the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in hand-ing a victory to the widows of two men killed in2006.

The unanimous ruling penned by Justice RobinDavis says inspectors owe “a duty of care” toworkers who count on them to do their jobs “withordinary skill, care, and diligence” expected bymembers of their profession. Inspectors, the rul-ing said, know that negligence is likely to result inforeseeable harm to miners.

For the widows of Don Israel Bragg and ElleryElvis Hatfield, the ruling is a victory in a continu-ing battle for justice for those behind by the Janu-ary 2006 fire at Massey Energy’s Aracoma CoalCo. Alma No. 1 mine in Logan County.

“The conscious decision of coal companies to ig-nore the most basic of mine safety laws and in-stead just run coal should not and cannot excusegovernment regulators from their independent re-sponsibility to enforce those laws,” said attorneyBruce Stanley, “regardless of the prevailing polit-ical climate or perceived economic pressures.

By Vicki SmithASSOCIATED PRESS

Even as the statewide rate falls, the number ofteenagers giving birth in McDowell County issoaring, jumping 34 percent in five years.

The 2012 West Virginia KIDS COUNT reportreleased Tuesday shows a rate in McDowell of 96births per 1,000 girls in 2010, the latest figuresavailable. That’s 17 more births per 1,000 girlsthan the next-closest county, Mingo, and morethan double the statewide rate.

McDowell’s rate is also seven times higher thanthe county with the fewest teen births: In Monon-galia, it’s just 14 per 1,000 girls between the agesof 15 and 19.

The figures are alarming, says KIDS COUNTExecutive Director Margie Hale, becauseteenagers who get pregnant are likely to drop outof school and live in poverty. Their children are athigher risk of being born underweight and dyingbefore their first birthdays. Experts say they’re al-so less likely to get the intellectual and emotionalstimulation needed for healthy development.

Overall, the report shows a positive trend: Thestatewide teen birth rate fell in 2010, as did thenatonal rate. But West Virginia still ranks amongthe 10 worst states, with 45 births per 1,000teens, compared to a national rate of 34.

UC-Beckleypresidenttalks aboutchallengesBuilding enrollment base,athletics key to success

McDowell teenbirth rate soarsas W.Va. rate falls

See BIRTH RATE, 9ASee MINE FIRE, 14A

Court: Negligentmine inspectors liable, can be sued

See ARSON, 14A

White convicted of Rainelle arson



TRIATHLONTO HIT GLADE

SPORTS | Page 3B

‘A-MASON’ JAR PROJECTSTHOSE WHO CAN, DO

(THOSE WHO CAN’T, CRAFT)LIFE! | Page 1B

TRAIN DRIVERWAS ON PHONEBEFORE CRASH

WORLD | Page 9A

THEREGISTER HERALDWednesday, July 31, 2013 Beckley, West Virginia ◆ Single copy: 75 cents

Volume 134Number 42

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Beautification project


Casinda Nelson, left, and Jenny Curry, both with One Voice, a faith-based community re-source, plant flowers Tuesday afternoon in front of their facility on South Kanawha Street.

By Jessica FarrishREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

All of southern West Vir-ginia is invited to a Day ofHope.

Everyone — all ages and re-ligions — will be served whenthe Convoy of Hope stops inBeckley Aug. 17 to set up freegrocery distribution, refresh-ments, medical and dentalservices, job placement servic-es, haircutting stations, liveentertainment, family por-traits and a children’s carni-val.

Convoy of Hope is a Mis-souri-based non-profit organi-zation that focuses on feedingthe hungry. Convoy, a first-re-

sponder organization in disas-ter relief, has fed more than55 million people around theworld since it was started in1994, according to its website.

The goal of the organizationis to “deliver much-neededfood, supplies and hope to theimpoverished and suffering.”

Around 750 volunteers fromarea businesses, churches andcommunity agencies are as-sisting Convoy of Hope crewsin bringing the services to thecommunity.

The Convoy truck will bring35,000 pounds of grocerieswhich will be distributed freeto people who need them.

By Tina AlveyREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

LEWISBURG — Ina pre-sentencingstatement punctuatedby an obscene invita-tion, a defiant DavidClayton White placedblame for his legalwoes on his defenseattorney, the StatePolice, the prosecutorand the judge whopresided over his ar-son trial.

“Nineteen months ago, I wasan innocent man,” the 48-

year-old White proclaimedduring his Tuesday sentencing

hearing in GreenbrierCircuit Court. “Now,I’ve lost everything.”

White was convict-ed in February of 21arson, retaliation andconspiracy crimes inconnection with a De-cember 2011 fire thatdestroyed numerousvehicles in the park-ing lot of the State Po-lice detachment inRainelle.

By Mannix PorterfieldREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

CHARLESTON — Absentfrom the official invitation listfor that ballyhooed trip to con-front the Environmental Pro-tection Agency in aThursday protestagainst what are per-ceived as paralyzingregulations on coal areany legislators fromthe heart of the south-ern coalfields.

And one southernlawmaker, while ex-pressing confidence inthe ability of those in-vited to carry coal’smessage to the WhiteHouse, is keenly disappointed.

Moreover, a Republicanleader in the House, remindedthat no one from his partymade the guest list either,termed the visit a public rela-tions gimmick.

Heading the entourage des-tined Thursday for the nation’scapital via bus tentatively areSenate President JeffreyKessler, D-Marshall and

House Speaker Tim Miley, D-Harrison. The list also is to in-clude a representative of indus-try and the United Mine Work-ers of America, but a completeroster was unavailable Tues-day from state Democratic

headquarters inCharleston.

“I have full confi-dence in those going,but the heart of thecoalfields should berepresented as well,”said Sen. Daniel Hall,D-Wyoming, whovoiced his desire to theDemocratic leadershipthat he be asked to at-tend.

“It would be easy toname 15 people from

the coalfields in the House andSenate who should be first onthe list.”

Not only were southern law-makers snubbed, but ditto forthe Republicans, promptingcriticism by House MinorityWhip Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan,who said it is plain to see thatWest Virginia’s economy has

Convoy of Hopeto visit Aug. 17

See HOPE, 12A

See WHITE, 12A

See LAWMAKERS, 12A

By Wendy HoldrenREGISTER-HERALD REPORTER

The fourth floor of BeckleyAppalachian Regional Hos-pital has made a bold stepinto the 21st century afternine months and $9 millionin renovations, and will wel-come patients starting Mon-day.

As soon as patients andvisitors step off of the eleva-tor and onto the fourth floor,the entire atmosphere is dif-ferent.

A soft green and brown col-or scheme, selected by thefourth floor staff, can befound in the artwork on thewalls, the plush new furni-ture and even on the floortiles.

As West Virginia Market-ing and Service ExcellenceManager at ARH Ted Weigelsaid, it feels more like a hotelthan a hospital.

The 19 private rooms fea-ture WiFi and flat screentelevisions, as well as fullbathrooms and state-of-the-

art beds.The adjustable beds pro-

vide both comfort and safety,Weigel said, as they can belowered to prevent patientfalls.

CEO Rocco Massey saidthe rooms are spacious, as

well as conducive to healing.From a clinical perspec-

tive, he said everything wasbuilt with patient safety andthe newest technology inmind.

Beckley ARH’s renovated fourthfloor ready for patients Monday


Workers complete final details for the lobby of the newly ren-ovated fourth floor of Beckley ARH Tuesday.

David Clayton Whitereceives life in prison

No southern lawmakers orRepublicans going to EPA

White

Hall

See HOSPITAL, 12A

23-inch CyanMagentaYellowBlackR-H Page Jumps

FromPageOne12A THE REGISTER-HERALD

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 www.register-herald.com

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• For statewide fishing reports on-line, visit: www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/weekly_fishreport.shtm

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by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, phone the following numbers:

Bluestone Lake 304-466-0156Lake, New River, Greenbrier River information

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0.00inches

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Daily 3: 5-1-4 Daily 4: 7-4-3-1Cash 25:1-7-13-17-22-24

Powerball:Est.: $235 million

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The event will be heldrain or shine at the YM-CA of Southern West Vir-ginia’s Paul Cline Memo-rial Youth Sports Com-plex. No identification isrequired and distributionwill be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Day of Hope was facili-tated by John Jordan,Convoy coordinator andpastor of Calvary Assem-bly of God in Beckley.

“This is too big for onechurch to do,” explainedJordan. “It had to be acommunity effort fromboth the faith-based andcommunity agencies tomake something like thishappen.”

Jordan said he’d heardof Convoy of Hope whenit started in the mid-1990s and was impressedby how the group re-sponded to natural disas-ter victims.

He said that for thenext decade, he talked toConvoy representatives“on and off” to try to getthem to Beckley.

“I obviously do feel likethere’s a physical need, anatural need in the ar-eas of groceries and dif-ferent things we’re goingto be offering,” said Jor-dan. “That kind of needhas always been and al-ways will be evident inour communities, proba-bly.

“I feel like even beyondthat, though, (Day ofHope) has the opportuni-ty to change the spiritualatmosphere of our com-munity, to see the churchcome together and laydown our doctrinal dif-ferences and denomina-tional banners and say,‘Hey, let’s work togetherto show the communitythat the church as awhole is alive and welland that God really doeslove people.’

“This gives us an op-portunity to show thecompassion of Christ.”

Last fall, Convoy repre-sentatives contacted Jor-

dan and told him they’dlike to serve southernWest Virginia.

“This was the first timethey’d initiated it fromtheir end, so I thoughtmaybe the Lord’s doingsomething here.”

Jordan said he reachedout to several local pas-tors, including pastorsJason Lowe (Faith Com-munity Church), VondieCook (CrossPoint Churchof God) and Doc Adkins(First Baptist Church)and leaders of communi-ty agencies like Women’sResource Center,Birthright and others.

“It seemed like doorsstarted opening, andthings started falling intoplace,” said Jordan. “I’mexcited, not only for thechurches, but to see thecommunity organizationsand agencies come to-gether.

“Under our communityservices tents, we’re up to18 different agencies.”

Dee Sizemore, publicrelations, fundraisingand development coordi-nator for Women’s Re-source Center, said Dayof Hope opens doors toher organization.

“One of the best waysto serve victims is to net-work with other groupsin our community, andthis will be a great day tonetwork and to reach outinto the community withour services,” said Size-more.

Faith Community Pas-tor Lowe said his faithled him to get involvedwith Day of Hope.

“The Bible is clear thatGod has called us to carefor those in need in ourcommunity, and He hascalled us to be in unity,which the Day of Hoperepresents throughbringing churches andcommunity groups to-gether,” stated Lowe.

Community leadersand businesses may con-tact Jordan by phone,304-252-0717, or e-mail,[email protected] for more infor-mation.


HOPEContinued from 1A

A separate jury, im-paneled three monthsafter his trial, identifiedWhite as a habitualcriminal, effectively re-quiring Greenbrier Cir-cuit Court Judge JosephC. Pomponio Jr. to sen-tence the man to life inprison.

Asking the judge tohand down the life sen-tence, plus an additional45 to 129 years of im-

prisonment, GreenbrierCounty Prosecuting At-torney Patrick Via ac-knowledged duringTuesday morning’s hear-ing, “It is an extraordi-nary sentence ... themaximum provided bylaw.”

But, he noted, “Theacts ... merit that type ofsentence.”

White demanded thedeath penalty instead oflife in prison, saying thetwo amounted to thesame thing.

Using crude language,White also asked court

officials and law enforce-ment officers involved inhis case to line up andkiss his posterior, evenrepeating the invitationwhen a dismayed Pom-ponio inquired, “Whatdid you say?”

Citing White’s “sub-stantial” criminal record— which includes thefederal offenses of rack-eteering and being afelon in possession of afirearm — the judge sen-tenced him to the prisonterms Via had recom-mended.

“We don’t have the

death penalty in thestate of West Virginia,so this court can onlysentence you to life,”Pomponio told White.

After another briefoutburst by the defen-dant, Pomponio added,“I’m supposed to followthe law, and that’s whatI’m doing.”

At the conclusion ofthe hearing, defense at-torney Douglas Arbucklestated his intention toappeal his client’s con-viction.


WHITEContinued from 1A

Negative pressurerooms and isolationrooms were built especial-ly to help control and re-duce infections, andalarm and oxygen controlsystems can be found out-side the rooms so the staffcan monitor room condi-tions.

“First and foremost, wewant a positive patientexperience with comfort-able and private roomsthat promote healing,”Massey said.

In addition to the 19rooms, other renovationsinclude new heating andair conditioning, new ele-vators and a new outsidefacade.

Weigel explained thatthe new elevators costabout $1 million and theyare operated by a hy-draulic piston on the bot-tom instead of a cablefrom the top, ensuring

safety even if the eleva-tors were to break down.

Construction is still un-der way for the exterior,which will include moreenergy efficient windows,and the ribbon cuttingceremony is scheduled forSept. 20 at 11 a.m.

“In 1965, at the time,Beckley ARH was a pre-miere facility,” Masseysaid.

Over time, however,the building has becomedated and it was in needof some changes and amore “modern look.”

Massey said he is a 32-year employee at BeckleyARH and he was evenborn there, so the hospi-tal holds a special place inhis heart.

“We’re looking at thefuture in a positive way.”

As for future renova-tions, Massey said every-thing is still up in the air,but they do plan to con-tinue to renovate andmodernize.


HOSPITALContinued from 1A

suffered by the EPA’s as-sault on the coal indus-try.

“West Virginia De-mocrats must join withus to fight for our peopleand jobs, with actual re-al legislative action, notpublic relations stuntslike this partisan bustrip,” Cowles said.

Cowles said the GOPhas offered several“strong bills” to reversethe Obama administra-tion on coal regulations,but the Democratic

leadership has failed toact on them.

“Let’s stand together,let’s work together,” theRepublican leader said.

“I am disappointed inthe state Democratleadership. Now is thetime to be united asWest Virginians, notplay politics.”

Only one member ofWest Virginia’s delega-tion in Congress, Rep.Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.,plans to sit in on themeeting with EPA offi-cials.

In advance of themeeting, Rahall said heis “delighted” to havemembers of his political

party and home statedemonstrating on be-half of the coal indus-try.

“The policies of thisEPA are hurting Demo-cratic coal miners justas much as they arehurting Republican coalminers, and if we wantto help coal miners ofboth parties and theirfamilies, we need to rec-ognize that,” he said.

“We need this admin-istration to get the mes-sage loud and clear thatmembers of both partiesare strongly opposed tothose ill-considered, an-ti-coal policies.”

State Democratic

Chairman Larry Puccioannounced the trip lastweek during legislativeinterims at the Capitolbut offered no specificson what EPA regula-tions were objection-able.

For several years,Gov. Earl Ray Tomblinand others have beenlocked in battle with theEPA over what theyroutinely have labeled“a war on coal.” Tomblintook the administrationto federal court and wonreversals in some areasof the legal struggleover regulations.


LAWMAKERSContinued from 1A

TAVARES, Fla. (AP)— After hearing two ex-plosions, maintenanceworker Gene Williamslooked outside to see a20-by-20 foot fireball ris-ing above an outdoorstorage area at the BlueRhino propane plant.

Moments later, a fork-lift worker stumbled intothe building with fleshhanging off his hands.His legs and face wereburned. Exploding 20-pound canisters ofpropane began rainingdown around them dur-ing the series of explo-sions late Monday night.

Bright orange flameswould grow as high as200 feet, fueled by the ex-ploding canisters thatshot through the air likefireworks. Houses nearbyshook and residentsawakened to the sound of“boom after boom afterboom.”

No one died, but eightworkers were injured, in-cluding one worker whowas hit by a car on anearby road while fleeingthe explosions. Officialssaid the damage couldhave been significantlyworse if three 30,000-pound propane storagecontainers had caughtfire at the plant that re-fills propane tanks forgas grills and other homeuses. About 50 nearbyhouses were temporarilyevacuated, though nonewas ultimately damaged.

If the large tanks hadexploded, “it would havewiped us out,” said LakeCounty Battalion ChiefChris Croughwell, one ofthe first responders to

the explosions in thetown northwest of Orlan-do.

The cause of the explo-sion was under investiga-tion by federal and stateauthorities. Williamssaid it appeared to beginabout 100 yards from theloading dock in an areawhere some of the plant’s53,000 20-pound propanecanisters are stored onplastic pallets.

Tavares Fire ChiefRichard Keith said possi-ble causes of the explo-sion may be either equip-ment malfunction or hu-man error. Sabotage wasnot suspected.

The plant’s two-dozenworkers were preparingto go home when the ex-plosions started Mondaynight, said Williams, whoworks the third shift.Based on what the fork-lift operator told him, theexplosion was likelycaused by a “combinationof human error and badpractices, possibly. Idon’t want to speculateany further, that’s whatthe forklift driver wastelling me.”

Williams said the fork-lift driver told him, “‘I didwhat they told me to do, Idid what they told me todo, and then this hap-pened.”’

“Something in thatarea must have triggeredit. I don’t know if he didsomething or somethingelse triggered it,”Williams said.

Williams said theywere able to remotelyshut the valves to thethree big tanks. But theyweren’t able to turn on

water sprays meant tokeep the tanks cool dur-ing a fire.

“It was too violent, toohot, to get in there andturn them on,” he said.

Croughwell said thehoses designed to spraywater on the large tanksdidn’t go off because theyhad to be manually acti-vated — requiring some-one to brave dangerousconditions.

“Most sane people don’tstick around for an eventlike this,” he added.

Tavares Mayor RobertWolfe said Tuesday thathe was surprised to learnthe hoses at the planthad to be manually acti-vated. If Blue Rhino re-opens the plant, Wolfesaid he plans to ask thatthe hoses be activatedautomatically by comput-er. “That way, it’s fail-safe,” Wolfe said. “We’relucky those tanks didn’texplode.”

Blue Rhino is a sub-sidiary of Kansas-basednational propaneprovider Ferrellgas.Spokesman Scott Brock-elmeyer said Tuesday hedidn’t have specific infor-mation available aboutthe safety water hosesbut added that the com-pany follows industrystandards.

“It’s as sobering a situ-ation as you can possiblyimagine,” Brockelmeyersaid. “We have folks whoare injured, and we’vegot Blue Rhino and Fer-rellgas employees acrossthe country who arekeeping them in theirprayers and sending goodvibes their way.”

Ferrellgas paid a$2,295 fine in November2011 following an OSHAinspection that found acomponent at the end ofan air hose used in theconsumer tank refurbish-ing process was not pres-ent.

Brockelmeyer said thecompany corrected the is-sue and added that “theprocess is performed inarea away from wherethe tanks are filled....sono product was beingprocessed in that area.”

Four workers were list-ed in critical conditionsat area hospitals.Tavares Fire Depart-ment Battalion Com-mander Eric Wages saidfive workers walked upto a command center fire-fighters set up near theplant Monday night withskin hanging off theirarms, torso and faces. Hesaid their arms were out-stretched and they werein complete shock.

The Florida HighwayPatrol confirmed that 29-year-old Leesburg resi-dent Kaghy Sam wasstruck by an SUV drivenby 72-year-old Gene Bat-son on a road near theBlue Rhino plant.

A statement from theFHP said that Sam wasrunning on the road “dueto a large fire and severalexplosions” just before 11p.m. Monday and “raninto the direct path” ofBatson’s vehicle.

Sam was flown toOcala Regional MedicalCenter with serious in-juries.

No charges were filedin the auto accident.

Explosions rock Fla. gas plant

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