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Kathy Mattea Tours WV Coalfields Save Email Print
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com
17 comments
A | A | A

Country Music Star Kathy Mattea is flying around West Virginia Tuesday to get a closer look at Mountaintop Mining.

The Cross Lanes native boarded a plane Tuesday morning at Yeager Airport in Charleston to get an aerial tour of the coalfields near Charleston. Mattea says she wants to see for herself what's happening in her home state. The first stop is in Boone County.

A press conference is planned for 5:00pm Tuesday at the State Capitol. That's when Kathy Mattea will share her thoughts on what she got to see.

Both of Mattea's grandfathers were coal miners. Her current music project is a collection of songs about coal.

She's from cross lanes.
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Posted by: Jeff on Jul 13, 2007 at 02:48 PM
I'll bet the scene of her sobbing on the plane will be in a video. Her agent or producer is reeeeeal good. I just hope WSAZ didn't provide her with a tape of the report. She is one of those celebs that don't know anything about whatever "cause" it is they're talking about. If she would go to the areas that have been reclaimed, maybe she could name one of her songs on the new CD "Reclaim To Fame". Little does she know, WV has won national awards for the reclaimation of surface mines.
Posted by: Ron on Jul 11, 2007 at 09:16 PM
I agree with you Amanda, why doesnt Kathy Mattea disappear for another 20 some years, she wasnt concerned about WV then, and now she is?, thats a bunch of bull. I think her career is fizzing out, and she returns home looking for popularity
Posted by: Mason on Jul 11, 2007 at 08:22 PM
When was the last time Kathy Mattea was in WV?...and the tears--she's supposed to be a singer, not an actress. She's just trying to promote her new CD, personally, if she was giving them away I wouldn't take one.
Posted by: Amanda on Jul 11, 2007 at 03:51 PM
I'm right there with you Jane...You go Girl!
Posted by: Amanda on Jul 11, 2007 at 03:10 PM
Obviously they have no knowledge of Mountain Top Removal, and apparaently they have not seen a MTR site. I would like to thank each and every coal miner who risk their lives everyday, including my husband. There is a long line of miners not only in my family but my husbands also. We are very proud to be from WV. Obviously Kathy Mattea is ashamed of her family heritage. It amazes me. Why don't she disappear for another 20-30 years.
Posted by: Jane on Jul 11, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Did Kathy Mattea get the full picture of the Mountain Top Removal. Did she inquire about the Tax Base the mining companies provide. I wonder if she noticed all the Mountain Top Removals that have shopping centers on them that sell her records. I sure want to be fair!! I for one will not be buying Kathy Mattea records any more. I know where my bread is buttered!!!!
Posted by: Debbie on Jul 10, 2007 at 11:50 PM
Kathy has never cared about WV so why does she think she can fool people into thinking "she cares" all of a sudden. Does anyone know of any of the millions she has made being brought back to WV? If so, I would like to hear about it.
Posted by: R.E. on Jul 10, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Why does Ms. Matteas even care about WV now? She could care less about WV, 10-15 years ago. Seems like she was ashamed of her heritage, now all of a sudden she wants put a halt to one of our most vital ways to make a living. To see her on the news, and act like she was in tears, what a put on. I for one will never listen to her music. She didnt care then, I dont believe she cares now.
Posted by: Matthew on Jul 10, 2007 at 10:03 PM
God bless you Kathy, you are doing God's work. Four generations of my family were Union underground coal miners. They lived, worked and raised their families in the mountains because they loved them. They did not destroy the very mountains they loved in order to sustain their families. They would be appalled at the devastation wrought by mountaintop removal. What will be left for our children once the coal is gone? A wasteland? No development is occurring on these former MTR sites, and none will in the future. We need to save our mountains, our water and diversify our economy right now. Kathy Mattea is bringing the scourge of mountaintop removal to the national stage and I commend her for her efforts and courage. Only massive public outrage can save southern West Virginia from its bought-and-paid-for politicians and government.
Posted by: Greg on Jul 10, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Phillip do you own a car? If you do, do you drive it? If you drive it, do you drive it on the roads and highways? If you do drive on these roads and highways, (you might want to sit down before you read this next part)guess what, they were built by changing the landscape of Our State. Farms were taken, mountains cut through, streams moved etc... And what about the lakes in Our State. Heck, Stonewall Jackson took my great Aunt and Uncle's dairy farm. Matter of fact unless you live in a hollow tree, I would guess the construction of your dwelling changed the landscape. I love Our Mountains, but I also love to see people have good jobs. I respect you opinion, but sometimes I think people over look some of the things we use every day, and how we got those things.
Posted by: Brett on Jul 10, 2007 at 02:27 PM
I agree who cares what she thinks. Like she could make a difference. She has never done anything for West Virginia anyways. Does she even still sing? Who cares.
Posted by: Phillip C. Smith on Jul 10, 2007 at 01:18 PM
First, only by some convoluted reasoning can it be called "mining." It ain't. All those warm fuzzy ads saying "Well gee, see this here new school, strip mall, airport, yada-yada-yada is here because we made this mountain look like a miniturized version of Kansas", etc. doesn't wash. Just how many airports, strip malls, schools and so forth can you build and make financialy sound and productive in Mingo, McDowell, Logan and some of the other coal field counties? Plus, how can you live anywhere if you don't have decent water to live on? Sadly, West Virginia is still one great big Company Town and out-of-staters still own the store. Mother Jones, where are you when we really need you?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 10, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Wonder if she ever thought about what keeps her lights on? My guess would be coal. I guess since her career is slowly playing out, she has to take on other projects to get her name out. I dont recall there being any coal mines in Cross Lanes, so apparently mining didnt affect her very much.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 10, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Who cares what the big K has to say ?
Posted by: Michelle on Jul 10, 2007 at 12:42 PM
I'm very confused. Why does it matter what Kathy Mattea thinks about mountaintop removal?? Last time I checked she was sa singer, not an environmental expert. My father works at a mountaintop mine and they do what they can to reclaim the land. His salary put me through college and supports our family quite well. Humans have to coexist with the natural structures of the earth and I think that they do a good job at that.
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