December 6, 2011
UBB family members want justice, not money
Lawrence Pierce
Dana Ferguson, a Labor Department lawyer, talks with Gina Jones (center), whose husband, Edward Dean Jones, was killed in the April 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. Ferguson also spoke to Judy Jones Petersen (right), his sister. Earlier Tuesday, families had been given details about MSHA's investigation.
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Lawrence Pierce
Edward Dean Jones' twin brother, Gene Jones, 51, of Charleston, said he finds it particularly disturbing that MSHA officials say the explosion that killed 29 miners and severely injured two others could have been prevented.
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Two sisters who lost their 32-year-old brother, Dillard Persinger, in the mining disaster say they do not expect to find closure from the report.

"There's never any closure," said Rita Stover, 29, of Crab Orchard. "The truth ain't out, it's still covered under lies."

Janet Reed, 42, of Crab Orchard, is Rita's sister. She found little comfort in the settlement amount that Alpha agreed to pay.

"Instead of a payout, [criminal prosecution] is what needs to be done," Reed said.

Rita Stover said she believes former Massey CEO Don Blankenship should be prosecuted.

"He's getting off," she said. "He got to retire. ... He's just as guilty as anybody else. He had to know what was going on."

Both sisters' husbands currently work in the mines.

"I'm for coal, but they need to make the mines safer," Reed said. "It's the only thing to do around here if you don't go to college."

Gina Jones said she doesn't believe anything has changed.

 "There's no difference between Alpha and Massey, they're still doing the same things Massey was doing," Jones said. "They can say they're running right, but they're going to run the Massey way."

Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.

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