Citizens Speak Out in Favor of More Stream Protection at Coal Mines

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has proposed a new rule for regulation of coal mining intended to better protect streams, fish, and wildlife from the adverse impacts of surface coal mining operations and impacts to streams from underground mining.  The proposed rule would update the nearly 30-year-old rule coal mines now…

Time To Protect the Prairie State From Coal Mining

Across the Illinois countryside, rural citizens are fighting for their livelihoods, drinking water, farms, and future, and they are asking if the State of illinois has their backs – or not.   Last week, these residents came together to call on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and his administration to end the long era of state government…

The Legend of Spanish Needle Creek and the Fight for Clean Water

Contributed by Traci Barkley, Prairie Rivers Network The dense grey fog permeated the frigid October morning around Spanish Needle Creek. No longer do deer, wild turkeys, or foxes drink from the clear, babbling brook. And the days of children splashing in the water and gleefully fishing are long gone. In past years, the Extractors systemically…

Bulldog: A Mine that Bites!

Contributed by Sue Forsyth of Stand Up to Coal Deep in the heart of East Central Illinois’ prime and productive farmland lies a predator waiting to come to life. This predator takes many forms and could be considered a shape shifter in certain circles. It even has a catchy name and logo- Bulldog Mine (Strong,…

Deer Run Mine’s Extended Halloween Celebration

WARNING:  This story is not to read by the timid or those prone to nightmares.   Once upon a time there was a clever Werewolf that convinced the leaders of Montgomery County and the City of Hillsboro, Illinois that they needed and deserved a coal mine in their city. Happy thoughts of many jobs and…

Starved Rock Stalker

What if it wasn’t the woods where the spooky ghoulish terrors lie, but out in the open right beside them? The fright of the Mississippi Sand Company Mine will have you running as deep into the forests of the Starved Rock State Park as you can. With this 315 acre sand mine, you don’t need…

Beware: A Scary Tale Forewarned

It’s Halloween and North Canton Mine is up and running at last. Everything the old hags, old folks and CACEI predicted has come to pass. The animals are gone and the trees too. The goblins can’t hide and scare you with a “boo.” The eagles fly high with no place to perch. Their nests are…

Rocky Branch Horror Story

(Apologies to Rocky Horror Picture Show) Brad and Janet found themselves lost, once again, with a flat tire on a cold and rainy late evening. Seeking a telephone, the couple walked to a nearby castle where they discovered a group of menacing and eccentric people holding a Peabody Energy corporate meeting. They were soon swept…