Media Advisory

MEDIA ADVISORY September 2, 2005

Contacts: Larry Gibson (304) 542-1134, Bill Price (304) 389-8822, Vernon Haltom (304) 222-1630

When: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 3.

Who/What: Relatives and friends will gather at the Stanley Heirs Park at 10:00 a.m. and then at 11:00 go to the Stover Family Cemetery, where they intend to exercise their human rights in visiting ancestors' graves. Access to the cemetery is blocked by a guard shack and locked gates placed by a coal company.

Where: Stanley Heirs Park and Stover Family Cemetery on Kayford Mountain.

Directions to Stanley Heirs Park: From Charleston, I-64E to Exit 79 (Sharon-Cabin Creek). Right at bottom of ramp, then immediate left onto Cabin Creek Rd. From Beckley, take I-64W to Exit 79 (Sharon-Cabin Creek) onto Cabin Creek Rd. Go 7.5 miles to the "Y" at Leewood and take the right fork. Go 3.5-4 miles and come to blacktop and dirt. At lefthand corner take the one lane bridge across the creek. Stay on this road for 1.5-2 mi. and go right up the hill. Follow guardrails and bear to your right past cemetery for 1/10th of a mile to Stanley Heirs Park.

Why: The Samples Coal Mine has denied relatives access to the cemetery since the Fourth of July weekend, according to Larry Gibson, whose great-grandparents are buried in the cemetery. "This is about the right to visit a family cemetery; it's about respect for our heritage," said Gibson. "In five weeks I've made arrangements to visit three times, but the coal company keeps backing out. I spoke to them Thursday, and they said to call back Tuesday. Why won't they let us in? I'm worried about what they're doing to my ancestors' graves."

Gibson's home on Kayford Mountain, surrounded by mountaintop removal coal mining operations, was vandalized on July 30. This was the most recent in a series of threats to Gibson over several years.

What else/What's next: This will be the first part of a two-day Labor Day celebration. Friends and relatives will gather at Stanley Heirs Park for food, fun, and fellowship both Saturday and Sunday. There will be entertainment and singing Saturday at 1:00 and gospel singing Sunday at 1:00. ###