Submitted photo State Rep. Keith Hall, (D-Phelps), speaks to more than 100 seventh-graders at Meece Middle School in Somerset about the benefits of coal to Kentucky. Hall had been invited by a social studies teacher at the school to provide balance on the issue of coal. An opponent of many coal mining practices is scheduled to speak to the students later this month.

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Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

SOMERSET, Ky. — State Rep. Keith Hall (D-Phelps) traveled to Somerset Tuesday to talk about the benefits of the coal industry with more than 100 of seventh-graders at Meece Middle School, marking his second visit to the school in a little more than a year.

Hall was invited back to the school by social studies teacher Jenny Beasley after a similar discussion with her seventh-graders during the 2011-12 school year proved to be so successful.

“I want to thank Mrs. Beasley for giving me another opportunity to talk about all of the good things the coal industry provides,” Hall, who is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the coal industry, said. “I could easily tell that she has done a great job of educating these students, too. They were very informed and open-minded.”

Hall spoke to the students for nearly 90 minutes, with topics ranging from the different methods of coal mining and how sites are reclaimed to the value of projects funded by coal severance revenue. He also discussed his work in expanding Kentucky’s coal exports, like India, and the number of new jobs he says its bringing back to the state.

As before with Hall’s last meeting, and to educate students on both sides of the argument, a person who opposes some current coal-mining methods is scheduled to speak to the students later in the month.