News

Class Visits Black Beauty Coal Mine

The 2009-2010 Leadership Knox County class prepares to tour an underground coal mine in Knox County.


The newest class of Knox County Leadership participants kicked off their year in September. For two days, the class of twelve all traveled to Camp Pyoca in Brownstown, IN for the fall retreat. This retreat allowed the class to learn more about what the leadership class would hold and what to expect, as well as time to network and make new friends. For the next nine months, the group will meet monthly and focus on Knox County¹s culture, history and business.

The class met back in Vincennes on October 13th for a firsthand experience of the mining industry. The group traveled to Black Beauty Coal Mine in Verne, Indiana. Black Beauty Coal Company, which began production in 1993, is a subsidiary of Peabody Energy and employs about 370 people. For most everyone, this was the first time visiting and learning about this prominent industry located in Knox County.

An hour was spent learning about safety procedures, including how to don a SCSR, or self-contained self-rescue device. This portable device allows for 60 minutes of oxygen in case of emergency. Participants also were dressed in all the required personal protective equipment, including hard hats with lights, goggles, gloves, reflective vests, belts and toe protectors. After training, the group traveled via a "man trip" or a cart that transports workers from the surface to the underground region.  The man trip traveled down a slope approximately 275 feet underground to the mine.

The sights and sounds of the mine were eerie and intriguing for the group. A conveyor belt ran constantly in the background and a sparse amount of dim lights hung overhead. Other than that, the tunnels were silent and pitch dark. The mine's safety director, Mike, led the group down a tunnel to explain the process of coal mining. After an hour underground, the Leadership Knox County participants resurfaced to discuss their experience.

Andy Anderson from PACE was one of the participants to visit the mines.  He said, "I was amazed how many miles the mine actually ran; and connecting to the other mine in Wheatland was something I wasn't aware of."  The mine connects areas from Monroe City to Wheatland. The coal is shipped to the surface via a 19-mile long underground conveyor system. The entire group agreed they gained a better understanding and appreciation of the mining industry after seeing firsthand the process and what goes on behind the scenes.

Leadership Knox County is an educational program supported by the Knox County Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Vincennes University. Look for upcoming articles about future class activities, including the November meeting which focuses on historical Knox County.

Local Youth Embark on New Journey

Local Youth Embark on New Journey

Becoming leaders will be a benefit to the community

Recently twenty-three Knox County high school juniors embarked on a new journey, the journey to become a leader.  The students are members of the Youth Leadership Knox County program. 

This class, Vincennes University’s Introduction to Community Leadership, will introduce the students to leadership skills, develop an understanding of local government and create community pride.  Students will have case studies emphasizing, maintaining and improving quality of life issues in their community.  Skills they develop through the course will aid them as they complete a class project for the community.

Students will attend class once a month on the campus of VU as well as at locations (local businesses and industries) throughout Knox County.  Students will become involved in many activities throughout the community and immerse themselves in local history, arts and culture, attend local governmental meetings and volunteer in the community.  A graduation ceremony will take place at the end of the school year.

The class is possible thanks to the efforts of a group of Leadership Knox County graduates.  Steve Beaman, Fred England, Cher Goodwin, Jen Holscher, Michelle Pitcher and Shannon Pepmeier, all graduates of the Class of 2008, along with instructor Susan Brocksmith, Chair of VU’s Department of Business Management, devised a curriculum and program that would challenge students as well as provide them with basic principles and skills to be quality leaders.  The program is modeled after the Adult Leadership Knox County Program.

Students participating from North Knox High School include Blake Buckthal, Rebecca Chalfant, Hannah Mackey, Zach Rawles and Megan Schaefer.  Attending from South Knox High School are Kelsey Cummins, Allison Hacker, Drennan Lyon, Chase Marchino, Alex Meyer, Zach Nash, Chelsea Rehwald, Andrew Thomas and Brianna Webb.  Attending from Vincennes Lincoln are Daniel Ashby, Jake Beaman and Brandon Goodwin.  Attending from Vincennes Rivet are Katelin Bahr, Cassandra Brocksmith, Amber Fowler, Mallory Niehaus, Erin Wehrheim and Sara Young. 

For more information regarding Leadership Knox County and the Youth program, please visit our website at www.leadershipknoxcounty.org .