Coal river. Mountaineer Guardian awards luncheon. Southern West Virginia.

Event: 25th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium.
The state presents "Mountaineer Guardian" awards annually to the coal companies with the lowest numbers of mining-related injuries and casualties. These awards are presented during the annual Coal Symposium, sponsored by the West Virginia Surface Mining and Reclamation Association. The Symposium, which in 1998 charged $300 in registration fees, was held in Charleston at the Charleston House of the Holiday Inn.