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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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In The News: Mine Explosion

Michelle McKinney hugs her aunt, Jeanie Sanger, in Whitesville, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 as they talked to reporters about McKinney's father and Sanger's brother, Benny Willingham, who was among those killed in an explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine. (Andrew Russell / Tribune Review)
Michelle McKinney hugs her aunt, Jeanie Sanger, in Whitesville, W.Va. on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 as they talked to reporters about McKinney's father and Sanger's brother, Benny Willingham, who was among those killed in an explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine. (Andrew Russell / Tribune Review)

Michelle McKinney hugs her aunt, Jeanie Sanger, in Whitesville, W.Va. on Tuesday as they talked to reporters about McKinney's father and Sanger's brother, Benny Willingham, who was among those killed in an explosion at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine. (AP Photo/Tribune Review, Andrew Russell)

Jen/A Butterfly Moment:  "I was born in West Virginia and many generations of grandfathers were coal miners. Lots of uncles and cousins were, too. My dad was for a while, but realized the danger and got out early, thank goodness."

Question: Have you ever worked as a miner? Or do you have a member of your family who is a miner?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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