The Southern Appalachia team, with members from Eastern Associated Coal Corporation’s Harris No. 1 mine, Pine Ridge Coal Company’s Big Mountain No. 16 mine and Rivers Edge Mining’s operation in Boone County, WV, took first place in Mine Rescue and Combination competition.

The Federal team, whose members are from Eastern Associated’s Federal No. 2 mine in Monongalia County, WV, placed third in Combination.

Southern Appalachia EMT team’s of Harvey Ferrell and Clarence Dishmon and Jackie Repass and Wayne Stafford took first and second respectively in the First Aid competition. Federal teams took fourth and fifth.

Federal’s Harry McGinnis placed first in the Bench competition and Dave Blankenship from the Southern Appalachia team placed fourth.

The contest involves four competitions including mine rescue (rescue problems in a simulated mine environment); first aid (demonstration of correct methods of caring for an injured miner); combination (mine rescue arid first aid); and bench (participants inspecting and quickly repairing rescue equipment).