Ex-mine inspector pleads guilty in fatal 1997 roof collapse
ABINGDON Va A federal mine inspector faces a stiff sentence after pleading guilty to perjury and falsifying MSHA documents tied to the May 15 1997 Cedar Bluff Sotus Coal No 1 Mine roof collapse that killed Thomas Layne Kinder 35 of Cedar Bluff. Stevens 50 of Cleveland formerly MSHA inspector will be sentenced Nov 12 1998 under higher guidelines due to perjury. Others involved include Jeffrey Phillips Roger D Brown and Buster J Lamie Jr. with Philips earlier rescued from the initial fall.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Abingdon
Tazewell County
Henry E. Stevens
Cleveland
Mine Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
MSHA
Sotus
Cedar Bluff
Thomas Layne Kinder
U.S
Randy Ramseyer
Stevens
Ramseyer
Solus Coal
Jeffrey Phillips
Roger D. Brown
Buster J. Lamie Jr
Phillips
Raven
Kinder
Brown
Doran
Man gets 15 years for murder in Cedar Bluff case
A Tazewell County man, Bobby Lee Reynolds, 22, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of second degree murder in the 1996 beating death of 83 year old George Crockett Griffitts of Cedar Bluff. He assaulted Griffitts in his Edgewater Drive home while reportedly seeking drugs, with no weapon involved. Reynolds has been held in jail since Sept. 25, 1996, and awaits transfer to a state prison.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tazewell
Cedar Bluff
Bobby Lee Reynolds
George Crockett Griffitts
Donald Mullins
Reynolds
Mullins
Commonwealth
Mike Dennis
Griffitts
Bristol Regional Medical Center
Dennis
Edgewater Drive
West Virginia Supreme Court Busiest High Court Says Justice McCusky
Justice John McCusky told the Bluefield Rotary Club that West Virginia’s Supreme Court of Appeals handled over 3,000 cases last year, about 50 percent more than any other state. He noted many were workers compensation appeals and stressed the court’s long lasting impact on daily life and state routes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield
West Virginia
West
Gov Gilmore hails 2.6 percent job growth in Virginia
Gov Jim Gilmore praised Virginia's 2.6 percent job growth from June 1997 to June 1998 as figures show total employment exceeding 3.3 million with an 86,400 gain in the past fiscal year. He noted gains in most sectors except mining and government and planned an economic development announcement at the Martha Washington Inn.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wytheville
Virginia
Jim Gilmore
Gilmore
Virginia Employment Commission
Commission
Martha Washington Inn
Governor brings check for grant to Wytheville
Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore visited Wytheville and delivered a grant check to fund two Safe & Drug-Free Schools positions in Wythe County schools. He pledged continued support for education, citing commitments to early reading programs and new education standards, and noted plans to hire 4,000 additional staff.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ytheville
Virginia
Jim Gilmore
Wytheville
Wythe County
Bluefield man faces 23 federal counts
Grover Dillon Sr., a former Bluefield resident now in Pocahontas Virginia, is indicted in the Southern District of West Virginia on 23 federal counts for mail fraud obstruction of justice and witness intimidation tied to a scheme using life and accident insurance policies on 13 people. Three insureds have died. Dillon is also accused of plotting to murder Bluefield Police Detective Ted Jones.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield
Grover Dillon Sr
Pocahontas
United States District Court
West Virginia
Dillon
Josephine Dillon
Ted Jones
Mercer County program targets high school dropouts
Mercer County schools consider Communities in Schools to reduce teen pregnancy, violence, and dropout rates. At a Tuesday orientation, 45 community leaders heard how the program would unite agencies to support students and families. Mercer ranked 33rd in the state for high school dropouts, with seniors rarely dropping out.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Princeton - Mercer County
Douglas Center
Anne Krout
Krout
Mercer County
State Department of Education
Don White
Princeton Senior High School
White
Tazewell Elementary School
Melissa Lingerfelt
Tazewell County School
Scam targets home sewer systems in Mercer County
Mercer County deputies report a door to door sewer cleaner scam targeting elderly homeowners. A Bluefield area woman paid 159 dollars with a canceled check after a threaten mark by the salesman. Similar incident reported in Bramwell. authorities warn such schemes often blend with paving and roof repair scams and impersonations of utility workers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Princeton
Mercer County Sheriff’s Department
Bluefield
P.P. Richmond
Mercer County Health Department
Richmond
Bramwell
Keith Honaker
Mercer County Sheriff's Department
K.W. Reed
Mercer County
Reed
American Electric Power
APCO
Also Mentioned on This Page
Bill Archer
The
Daily Telegraph
John Nelso
Highflyer
Casey Mills
Josh Thurmer
High Court
Barbara Hawkins
Justice John McCusky
Gov
Eric DiNova
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