Coal Miner Sings Toward England Deal for Country Music
H R Cook of Tazewell Virginia aims to quit underground work after a British label Silver Dollar agreed to release a double album of his country songs. He writes and demos while working 12 hour shifts at Pinnacle mine and owes his family stability to the potential 10 percent royalty and a 20 song, three day session in Maggard Studio Big Stone Gap Virginia. Cook has sung since youth, rodeoed in youth, and built a career through Fireball Records and Mel Street connections, hoping England markets lift his fortunes despite the 1980s recession and slim U S steel payoffs. He plans to move toward music if royalties materialize, while remaining in the coal field to support his wife and three daughters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Silver Dollar Recording
Maggard
Big Stone Gap
Cook
England
Jeannie C. Riley
Lynchburg
H.R. Cook
Herman
Yuma
Ariz
Tazewell County
U.S. Steel
Gary
Pinnacle
Pineville
Mel Street
Swing Kings
Bluefield
Fireball Records
Silver Dollar
Merle Haggard
Wyoming County
Chambers Wins House Speaker Post in Charleston
Chambers defeated Del. Larry Schifano 53-24 to become House speaker after overcoming a two year head start and a last minute infusion of 17000 from WESTPAC backed business interests. Senate leaders maintained control with Dan Tonkovich reelected and Earl Ray Tomblin tipped to replace Joe Spears in finance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
House
Chuck Chambers
Del
Larry Schifano
Senate
Dan Tonkovich
D-Marshall
Joe Spears
D-Randolph
Earl Ray Tomblin
D-Logan
Chambers
D-Cabell
Schifano
Monongalia County
Joseph Albright
D-Wood
Albright
Westpac
Chairman considers new tax to cut unemployment debt
Charleston AP. House Finance Chairman George Farley says legislature may tax employee earnings next year to reduce the federal unemployment debt, proposing a one fourth of 1 percent tax or a benefits cut as alternatives. The task force estimates the tax would raise about 25 million toward a 250 million debt. Farley calls for an innovative program to prevent further debt growth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
House Finance
George Farley
Farley
D-Wood
Quiet library with 40000 volumes draws few patrons
Summers County library housed in a red building holds more than 40 000 books and periodicals. Don West planted the Appalachian Folklife Center and stocked the library from his own or shipments from city libraries. The rural facility faces dwindling use with fewer than six patrons weekly.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Summers County
Princeton
Hinton
Virginia Moose
David
Tim
Appalachian Folklife Center
Don West
West
Connie
Mooses
North Carolina
Florida
Auction house to employ 12 its owner says
Bluefield will gain a three story consignment auction house opening April 1. Owner Jesse B. Thomas of Athens plans 12 new jobs, 2 full time and 10 part time, with sales held daily and consignments accepted from locals and visitors. He envisions secure indoor access and a 15 percent commission with pickup delivery and setup included.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield
Jesse B. Thomas
Athens
Walnut Street
Thomas
Innovative master’s program for Mercer County teachers praised
A pilot master’s degree program for Mercer County teachers gains praise from Gov Arch Moore Jr and local officials. The initiative, funded with 15 000 dollars by the state and support from Concord College Bluefield State College and the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, aims to improve subject specific instruction writing and classroom management. The program seeks enrollment in Spring 1987 and could be replicated in other counties and states.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Princeton
Mercer County
Arch Moore Jr
Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce
Ammar
Concord College
Bluefield State
Chamber
Baker
Board of Education
Moore
College of Graduate Studies
Ron Childers
COGS
West Virginia
Jerold Dugger
Bluefield State College
Dugger
BSC
Jerry Beasley
Concord
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tazewell
Garret Mathews
Montserrat
The
Daily Telegraph
Fred Brown
Pat Cecil
Beasley