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Dave Hicks Retires From No. 4 Mine
No. 4 Mine's Planning Manager, Dave Hicks is calling it quits effective May 31. Dave updated his JWR Faces bio for this article.

Dave was born near Birmingham, England and had never been to the United States before he came to work for JWR. "I answered an ad in the newspaper and came straight to Adger, Alabama," Dave says. "Before that, I worked for 14 years in the coal mines of England."
"The biggest surprise in coming to Alabama was all of the space," Dave continues. "England has nearly 50 million people and is smaller in area than Alabama. I just couldn't get over all of the land here."
Biggest Career Achievement:
"Installing the PLC in the hoist at No. 4 Mine in 1991. This paved the way for all of the automated controls we enjoy today.
JWR Career History: Started at No. 3 Mine in 1978 as Longwall Electrical Engineer and was soon promoted to Longwall Coordinator; 1979-80 was Senior Project Engineer at Central Mining Office; 1980-94 Electrical Engineer at No. 4 Mine; 1994-96 was Maintenance Supervisor at No. 3 Mine; 1996-98 was Planning Manager at No. 3 Mine; 1998 to present Operations Planning Manager at No. 4 Mine.
Job Duties: Manage Planning Department, oversee surface facilities including shop, hoist and fans, administer preventative maintenance system, keep equipment history.
Favorite Part of My Job: Satisfaction of keeping all equipment in good repair and operating properly. Keeping the “Flagship” ahead of the pack.
Least Favorite Part of My Job: Being interviewed by WORKINGS.
Why Coal Mining as a Career: "In England, coal mining had a good training program where you could get a college education and practical experience...and the money was good!"
Age: 63
Education: Electrical Engineering Degree - Nottingham College of Technology
Residence: Quinton (Walker County)
Wife: Nicki, Retired (worked 40 years for the Social Security Administration in Birmingham, Alabama)
Children: Between Dave & Nicki, they have six children and 14 grandchildren, 1great grandchild, due September.
Hobbies: Pleasure boating and home improvement including five rental properties to keep me busy.
Favorite Book: "None come to mind."
Favorite Movie: "Don't watch movies."
Favorite TV Show: College football
His Best Advice to Everyone: "Work hard, tell the truth and have fun."

The Coalbed Methane Association of Alabama recently completed building a new home in Tuscaloosa for Habitat for Humanity. Left to right are: Susan Bishop, Development Director for Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa and Coalbed Methane Board Members; Bob Singleton, Robert Maxwell and Charles Willis. Charles, President of Black Warrior Methane, said Black Warrior Methane and the Coalbed Methane Association participated financially and had its employees volunteer in the construction of the new home.

TRIVIA CONTEST
Win A Pair of Movie Certificates
for Cobb or Regal Cinemas
Winner picked from all correct
entries submitted.
- JWR Employees & Retirees Only -
QUESTION:
Name two famous singer/songwriters from this border state (its state flower is a lady's shoe) and neither use their real names.
Entry Deadline May 23, 2008

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Last Trivia Question and Its Winner

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Tougher Questions - BIGGER Prizes

Salaried Employees
2008 Holiday Schedule

Tuesday, January 1..................New Year’s Day
Tuesday, April 1.........................April 1 Holiday
Monday, May 26..........................Memorial Day
Friday, July 4........................Independence Day
Monday, September 1........................Labor Day
Tuesday, November 11..................Veterans’ Day
Thursday, November 27............Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 28...Day after Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, December 24............Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 25...............Christmas Day

This holiday schedule may be modified for those units that have a
business necessity to be open on certain of the scheduled holidays.

JWR VETERANS GET YOUR CAMO CAP

WORKINGS is looking for JWR employees who have served their country in the U.S. Military. Send a photo of you in uniform with your name, rank, branch of service, your age at the time the photo was taken and dates served and you will receive an embroidered JWR camo cap, and a U.S. flag pin. Your photo and military information will be shown on the www.jwrworkings.com web site. Make sure you include your JWR work location and your current job title. Send to Dennis Hall (dhall@jwrinc.com) at the Training Center. You may send digital images or prints, which will be returned unharmed. Click here to see JWR Veterans.

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WORKINGS Editor - Dennis Hall

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com	Last JWR Poll Question Results What is your biggest concern in the 2008 Presidential election?Economy............32% Energy Prices........8% Global Warming....2% Health Care..........6%Immigration.......44% Give me a break!..8%
Belated Retirement Gift H.L. Hayes, Jr., better known as just Junior, celebrated 40 years with JWR and a belated retirement lunch in April. Junior was presented a miner's lamp and 40 year watch during a steak cook-out at the Training Center. Junior, Area Training Manager, began his career at Bessie Mine and moved to the Training Center in 1979. You can find him at the Brookwood ballpark watching his grandchildren if you want to give him a shout.
BHS JROTC CLEANS UP Each year the Brookwood High School's JROTC cleans Highway 59 from the Training Center to Highway 216. This year they filled over 125 bags with trash. Our thanks to these fine young citizens. Let's all keep our community litter free.
JWR OFFERS LOWEST PRICES ON ALABAMA ADVENTURE SEASON & DAY PASSES Regular Season Pass $76.29 JWR PRICE $65.39 Regular Day Pass $34.87 JWR PRICE $24.00 JWR EXCLUSIVE OFFER For every ticket to Alabama Adventure purchased from JWR, your name will be entered in a drawing for two backstage passes to meet Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical star) on August 1, 2008. Your kids will love you for it! Purchase your passes at the Training Center or send your check made payable to JWR/BHS Adopt-A-School to Dennis Hall
Hillcrest High Beauty Pageant Steve Patrick, Prep Plant Foreman at No. 7 Mine, escorted his daughter Haley, at Hillcrest High School's Beauty Pageant. Haley was named First Runner-Up in the pageant. She is a senior with a 4.0 GPA in all advanced classes. She is SGA President, a Hillcrest Ambassador, Treasurer of the National Honor Society, a Top Senior, Academic All-Star, Class Favorite, and is nationally recognized among the top high school students in Who's Who Among High School Students. Haley plans on attending The University of Alabama in the fall and major in nursing. She hopes to become a nurse anesthetist.
Four Retire From No. 7 Mine click photos for larger view It's not everyday 116 years of experience retires at the same time but that's what happened on a beautiful spring day in March. Co-workers, family and friends gathered at the Cypress Inn on the Black Warrior River to give a retirement farewell to Carolyn Mathews, Betty Meadows, Elizabeth Hollyhand and Grady Covin. Carolyn Mathews (aka Mama Carolyn) started at No. 7 Mine in 1980 and stayed there her entire career with JWR. "I think I have trained more Mine Managers than anyone else, and some of them twice," says Carolyn who was the secretary and all-around go-to person at No. 7 Mine. "Each mine manager had a different style of management and I enjoyed all of my years there," she continues. "I plan on enjoying life and doing more church activities during my retirement." Betty Meadows started at the CMO in 1980 in the Accounts Payable Department and worked there two weeks before she went to No. 4 Mine. "At No. 4 Mine I worked in Accounts Payable, Personnel and as a Secretary until I went to No. 7 Mine in 1998," says Betty. "I worked in payroll there until my retirement." Betty says she has been impressed by the closeness of people in the coal industry. "There were some tough times I witnessed during my career here," recalls Betty. "I am still touched by the family atmosphere in times of crisis." Betty says during her retirement she will enjoy her new pool, camp in her travel trailer and continue to go to church every Sunday. Elizabeth Hollyhand spent almost all of her time at No. 5 Mine as Payroll Clerk. "I started in 1979 and didn't move to No. 7 Mine until 2007," Elizabeth says. "I have enjoyed working with everyone, they have been super nice to me. It's was like a family at No. 5 Mine, I got to see everyone's children as they grew into adulthood." Elizabeth says she will do some traveling with her sister, visit one of her sons in Boston and continue her hobbies of furniture refinishing, cross stitching and reading. Grady Covin started work at No. 7 Mine in 1977 and retired as Prep Plant Coordinator. "I worked on the Longwall and Sections before taking a job in the Prep Plant," Grady said. "I have seen so much change in technology and safety during my career it's hard to believe." What's more difficult to believe is during Grady's career and raising a family, he earned a degree in Finance from UAB and later a BA degree from Southeastern Bible College. His retirement plans include being the Pastor at Mountainview Church in Chelsea. "The Lord called me to preach when I was 17," Grady says laughing, "But I didn't take Him up on it until I was 40."
Workers' Compensation Association of West Alabama presents their annual RABBIT RUN May 10, 2008 8:00 AM Click poster for larger view Contact Vann Wilhite for more info