Statement from Alliance Coal on the death of Sebree Miner

“We are saddened to report that a miner at Sebree Mining, LLC’s Onton Mine was fatally injured in an accident that occurred on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at approximately 2:00 a.m. CDT. The miner has been identified as Rickey Thorpe, Jr., age 29, of Dawson Springs, Kentucky.  Mr. Thorpe and a fellow Onton Mine employee were performing maintenance work on a piece of mining equipment underground when an unexpected movement of the equipment resulted in fatal injuries to Mr. Thorpe.  Appropriate governmental agencies were notified and investigations of the accident by the agencies and Sebree Mining are ongoing.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thorpe family.  Sebree Mining asks that you join us in extending support to Mr. Thorpe’s family and his fellow Onton miners during this extremely difficult time.”

David Ross, the Vice President of Operations for Sebree Mining, LLC—Onton #9 Mine.

Mining Fatality in Sebree UPDATE

UPDATE
by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
The Division of Mine Safety has release the name of the miner killed in this morning's accident at Sebree Mine.

29-year-old Rickey Thorpe, of Dawson Springs, and another employee were performing maintenance work on a continuous miner when the equipment fell, killing Thorpe.

Investigators with the Kentucky Division of Mine Safety are on-site investigating the accident and have closed the mine until further notice.

Alliance miners from Sebree Mine reassigned to other locations

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Employees at Alliance Resource Partners’ (ARLP’s) Sebree Mine learned on Friday that a number of employees at the Webster County operation, which ARLP has owned since 2012, would be reassigned to other mines in the area.

On Monday, Sebree Mining LLC General Manager Dan Durham confirmed those reports.
“It’s our way of adjusting to the present condition of the coal market,” Durham said. “In a way it’s a big deal, but it’s really not.”

Durham confirmed that approximately 50 full time miners were offered positions at other mines in the area.

Vandals Target Cemetery

by MATT HUGHES
J-E Editor
Cullen Cemetery just outside of Providence is a place of beauty and peace, with grave stones dating back over a hundred years. But in recent weeks the little cemetery has become the target of vandals.

“These weren’t all done at the same time,” said local resident Stan Nall, pointing out two markers that he said he knew were knocked down more than a week apart. “That one belongs to my friend Willie Brown. The one next to it is his father’s.”
In all more than a half dozen gravestones have been turned over, with the oldest dating back to 1891.