| Following years of protests by environmental groups over Massey Coal's construction of a coal processing silo within feet of Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County (and the proposed construction of a second plant), with a billion gallon slurry dam resting on a mountain just above the school, the school was finally closed and a new school has been built.
Raleigh County school officials and Marsh Fork residents are celebrating the opening of a new elementary school, although most of the parents had stuck with Massey over the nearby presence of the operations, claiming they were not a threat to the health and safety of their children.
Many of the parents of the children made their living working for Massey.
The new school was opened last week.
Raleigh County Board of Education president Rick Snuffer said the project shows what can be accomplished when political differences are put aside and students are put in mind.
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