Congrats to Judge Alito

YOu know, I do not understand why more Democrats are not outraged about this vote.

Seriously, You worry so much about setting everything just proving the world is ending...But do you not worry that the next time you have a Democrat President and he appoints a judge, the Republicans are not going to decide to "play politics"?

The sad part of this is, the man was qualified for the job. Probably one of the most qualified. He knows the law and bases his decisions on it. He is if anything a "law geek." but Democrats are more worried about thier personal agenda and their party, then they are for our nation. I would rather have someone I disagree with but knows the law of our land...then vote for someone based solely on do I agree with them. And the fact that so many Democrat Senators came out and said excatly this...that he is qualified, but I disagree with him makes me mad as hell.

It shows who is putting our nation first and who is not.

This is my post on Hannity.com but I want to expand on it. I have already sent Sen Bingaman a letter. I am so disappointed. And I am mad.

I am so tired of politicians not putting our nation first. And this seems to be an ongoing battle with Kerry, Kennedy and the likes of those in Congress. Since when does your party matter more then being an American First. Judge Alito was qualified.

This is from Senator Bingaman's website. His own words, he admits he is a traitor to our nation by putting his party's agenda before his nation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan 27 2006

Bingaman: Speech on the Senate Floor About Judge Samuel Alito:

Mr. President, I rise today to state my intention to vote against the nomination of Judge Alito to be the next associate justice of the Supreme Court. Let me start by saying, I certainly do not doubt Judge Alito's qualifications, his integrity, his temperament. He has served on the federal bench for over 15 years and he has demonstrated during that time that he is indeed a very capable jurist.

Nonetheless, after carefully looking at his judicial record and listening to his answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee, it's also clear to me that if confirmed, Judge Alito will move the court in what I believe is the wrong direction for our country. Judge Alito has been nominated to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She is a moderate who has been a critical fifth vote in cases impacting privacy rights, disability rights, civil rights, the environment, consumer protection, discrimination laws, access to the courts, campaign finance reforms, among others.

It's taken us years to enact legislation aimed at protecting the rights of all Americans in these areas that I've mentioned. Other justices on the court, particularly justices Scalia and Thomas, have pressed to reverse many of the advances that the Congress has made in these areas. They have pressed to limit Congressional power under the Commerce Clause and the ability of congress to enact federal civil rights legislation. I fear that Judge Alito will join justices Scalia and Thomas in this regard. Justice O'Connor's vote also has been instrumental in ensuring that we do not surrender our civil liberties in times of war.

Justice O'Connor's statement in the Hamdi decision was just quoted by my colleague from Iowa. It was a resounding reaffirmation that the president could not indefinitely detain a U.S. citizen without providing adequate due process. The quote which was just made again and has been made by many of my colleagues is that we have long since made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for a president when it comes to the rights of our nation's citizens.

At a time when the president has asserted expansive powers with regard to imprisoning U.S. citizens without charges, with regard to wiretapping without warrants, with regard to using interrogation techniques that amount to torture, it's essential that we have justices on the Supreme Court that are willing to provide a check on the authority of the executive branch.

Judge Alito's record indicates that he may not be the right person to provide this check. For example, he stated his support in varying degrees for this so-called unitary executive theory. This relatively obscure legal theory has very little support in the mainstream legal community, but it has profound implications for our understanding of the Constitution.

Just recently Congress passed a law reiterating the prohibition on the use of torture, and in signing the legislation, the president issued a statement reserving the right to take whatever action he deems necessary, as commander in chief; in effect, reserving the right to ignore the very law that he was at that time signing. The president cited this unitary executive theory as the legal basis for his power to disregard the plain text of the legislation.

We need to have a Supreme Court that's prepared to provide the necessary checks and balances crucial to our democratic system of government. I believe Justice O'Connor charted a moderate course in terms of Congress's authority to enact legislation aimed at protecting the welfare of Americans and with regard to upholding the rights of citizens' vis-à-vis their own government. And I believe it is important to maintain that same course.

This is not to say that I have agreed with all of Justice O'Connor's decisions. but her swing vote has helped to maintain a balance on the Court that has kept many decisions within the mainstream. I believe that Judge Alito's confirmation will sway the existing balance on the Court in a manner that will jeopardize many of the protections afforded to the American public, many of which were the result of many years of struggle. For this reason, I am not able to support his nomination. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Not only are we not "replacing a moderate seat" there is no such thing. We are replacing a justice with a justice. A very qualified justice. If anything Alito is a law geek. He proved that in the Senate Hearing that Kennedy made a fool out of himself. Alito is the kind of justice we need more of, party affiliations aside. We need more Justices who use the law of the land to make decisions. Not thier feelings. We need people who view our constitution as a law document and rule of the land...not like Gingsburg who uses foriegn laws to govern our nation.

Today is a sad day for America, that Democrats want to put our nation 2nd to thier own agenda.

It's Friday

I guess that is a good thing. Brianna has dance tomorrow. I have to teach sunday school on sunday. Our preacher is doing a 'service in songs'. Maybe I will actually get more then 3 for youth group this week. One can hope. Not that the size matters...but... I feel like the boys get tired of it just being them. They are such good kids.

Brianna has had a long week. Just bad behavior...which has just NOT been her lately. She does have problems at times with acting out...but it has been bad this week. This morning Jake got up and cried and cried and threw a fit about everything. Last week's stress on Brian and I just got to them I think. Kate has been the real touchy child again. We all just need a vacation. A real vacation. No work involved. Just to have a little fun. Some time as a family to just enjoy each other. We are just not getting that right now.

I wish we could find a house. Maybe that would take our minds off of it all. 3 bedrooms, preferably 4. I just want to get out of this tiny house.

Anyway, that is life as I know it today.

Rainbows

This morning when I left my house, It was pouring rain. I ran the kids to the car, and set off to the school. Only to find 1/2 way to the school, that my husband never bothered to put the new wiper blades I bought him on the truck. But since Brianna tore my mirror off my van window, I had to take the truck.

So, I get behind a dump truck and follow him up the hill. Did I mention I was already 10 minutes late? I get to school, Leave the girls in the truck and it running While I walk 15 feet away to watch Jake down the stairs and into the school. We got there right as the bell rang. When He turned to tell me goodbye, He said "Mama, Look!" and there it was. A complete rainbow. It was bueatiful. He said, "See, It's God's promise mama."

God made so many promises to us. But at that moment, It reminded me that God loves me. In all the stress of the last week, we were not alone. God was there holding us close. He was comforting us and giving us the strength to carry on. God's promise.

Well, I had to then share it with the girls in the car. They oohh'd and ahhh'd all over the place. And as I drove to the store to get the milk, I followed the rainbow and God's promise of love. I will carry it with me all day. A little sunshine in my pocket, bright colors to remind me that thier is sunshine after the rain, and every cloud has a silver lining.

Mid Week Epistole "A Pain Filled Shout"

Our Preacher who welcomed into our newest church home, retired last year. He still does a weekly mid week epistole. I want to share this week's with you. Jim is a great guy and we miss him and Charlotte dearly. He always seems to know what is speaking right to my heart.

------------------------

A Pain Filled Shout
There is a story told about a young boy named Billy who was attending his first day at Junior High. It began with an opening assembly, one feature of which was the introduction for all the home room teachers. First to be introduced was Miss Smith, and the 9th graders, knowing Miss Smith to be an easy grader and not much of a disciplinarian, all began to cheer: "Yah, Miss Smith! Right on, Miss Smith!"
The next to be introduced was Mr. Brown, who was a young and popular teacher and a special favorite. This time, the 8th graders joined in the thundering approval: "Yah, Mr. Brown. Hurrah for Mr. Brown!"
By the time the next teacher was introduced, even the new 7th graders were getting into the spirit of things. Then they introduced Mr. Johnson, an older teacher who was reputed to be the hardest grader and least sympathetic teacher in the school.
The cat calls began: "Boo, Mr. Johnson, hiss, hiss, boo! Mr. Johnson." The pain was evident on old Mr. Johnson's face.
Suddenly Billy stood up in the middle of the bleachers and shouted, "Shut up! He's my father!" The noise instantly died down, as the word was passed -- "Hey, cool it, Johnson's son is here."
I can just imagine how the pain in Mr. Johnson's heart began to subside when his son spoke up, but can you ever imagine the strength that was needed by the son to call to the attention of the whole Junior High, how great his love was for his father.
If you were in the arena of the world and they were jeering Your Heavenly Father, would you stand up and witness who you are? "Hey, cool it, one of God's children is here."

Loving Father, forgive us for the times in which we have failed to be brave enough to stand before the world and proclaim our love for you. If we have been neglectful and let others feel alone and defeated, then let us boldly stand this day and tell the world who we are.
Give us that courage and strength, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

I'm Rev. Jim Massey, next week we will talk about half and half. Be sure that your voice today offers the praise that is worthy of a child of God. Grace and Peace.

A Poem by Anon

Around the corner
I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy,tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

One Story From One Brave Soldier

This is a real story from him...http://www.hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49504

I have finally been cleared by my S-2 to tell you this......


A few nights ago I was going through my usual routine. I retired to my little corner of my room sectioned off by three poncos for some privacy. I had finally changed into my pt's and had planned on relaxing for a bit and maybe do some reading. After about an hour into a book, the Battle captain comes into our room and tells me that we have a mission in 30 minutes. I do not bother to ask what it is, I do what is necessary to prepare for the mission. I gear up....make a pot of coffee (good coffee which tony from Boulder sent....thanks bro) and head outside to to some PCI's on the soldiers.

We received our convoy brief and were told that our Iraqi counterparts on the other side of the wall had some intel on an Alqaeida cell in the the local town. The rest of the NCO's gave each other the "another dry hole" look, but did what every good NCO does and put on their game faces, and made the soldiers do the same. We got in our 1114's and rolled to the other side of the wall to the Iraqi side of the FOB. We were met by the Iraqi "SF" (not anything close to SF mind you). I looked at their medic to be sure he was ready for the mission. I asked him to open his bag so I could do a PCI on him. As I opened it I saw nothing. I saw some open bandages and just useless crap. I asked him through an interpreter where the supplies I had gave him the other day was. He responded that he used them on his buddies. I knew that was crap because I track all their casualties, and they had had none in the past few days. At least nothing that required the supplies that I gave him. I always come prepared so I just told him to go to his truck. I really didn't expect what was to come in the next four hours.

I saw them lead this man out of the holding facility. He was in hand cuffs, and there was a sack over his head. They put him in the lead vehicle and we took off following our Iraqi counter parts. We drove on for what seemed like too long. I had noticed that we passed the same houe four times. I noted to the TC of the vehicle making a joking reference to National lampoons European Vacation "Look kids Big Ben". Then I noticed that it was all wrong. Why were we circling the block several times. There is no element of surprise with the obvious diesel sound of a 1114 Hmmmv. If there was anything to happen in this neighborhood then whoever we were to encounter was preparing for us. We stopped at a "T" intersection and did our usual checks and remained on the alert. Five minutes after we had stopped we heard automatic gunfire. I saw several of my team mates moving back to their vehicles. The automatic gunfire strated hitting the lead 1114. Nothing was happening thatnks to the armor plating. I then saw what motivates any soldier. One rarely gets to see a .50 caliber used in a fight, but I did. This baby rock and rolled. That brave pfc put him self up out of the 1114 and peppered the building with gunfire. I heard the usual chos that ensued over the radio. The calling of grids, and reports of contact. I then heard that there was an Iraqi down. I was in the third vehicle and over the radio I heard " Doc stay put". I think the Major knew I was going to get out. The .50 ran out of ammo so they pulled my truck up to the support by fire position to lay down fire with the 240B. I exited from the opposite side and moved over to the casualty who had an Iraqi medic kneeling over him. The medic was crying and had this horrified look on his face. I yelled at him to get to work but he just stood there frozen. Rounds started hitting the pavement near us, and he did the expected. He ran. So I was left alone with this wounded Iraqi. I dragged him behind the Hmmmv for some cover and started some treatment on him. He had the "Paper Mate Pen" sized hole just below his right nipple, and a hole the size of a can of copenhagen as the exit wound. After I stabilized him, I saw that they had dragged two more casualties to the previous spot. I ran to them and again all alone (my team was laying suppressive fire and they were keeping the fire off of me). Then there was this one Iraqi soldier his name is Ali Jassem Ali. He is an SF soldier. He came to help me. I pointed to a court yard about 25 meters away that had a metal gate and a high fence that made good cover, and a good casualty collection point. He helped me drag the two wounded Iraqis into the courtyard. I began the necessary treatment on the wounede, when one more came. I assessed him and noticed that they started taking the wounded that I was treating and put them in to the back of pick up trucks and were hauling them off. I was working on my fifth casualty when I looked at jis face and it was Ali. I felt crushed. I told him inmy best butchered Arabic that I was going to treat him and I promised that he would be ok. He had two gun shot wounds to his chest. I treated them quickly and did some vitals....good vitals, he was a strong man. They hauled him off quickly and took him away. When the fight was over and I left the courtyard I saw the bodies in the back of a pickup. Four Iraqi soldiers stacked there like cord wood. In the back seat lied the body of the informant...oh well inshallah.
We hit the mother load. Four members of the cell were dead and one captured. The Cache we recovered was enormous. Hundreds of AK's, Hundreds of RPG rockets and launchers....C-4, electronic IED making materials. Good stuff.
The next day I wanted to check and see how the casualties were doing. I went to the Iraqi S-2 and was told that they were in an Iraqi hospital in medical city as they call it. They knew that four of the five were doing well, but Ali took a turn for the worse. I spoke to his brother through a translator and asked what was going on . He told me that the Iraqi medical facility was a butcher shop. His brother had lied there without care for the entire night and he didn't think that he was going to be seen. I spoke to my Major and had a plan. He laughed and approved. I told Hammid to go to the hospital and "snatch" his brother and bring him back to the FOB. HE gave a puzzled look, I told him to trust me. An hour later they arrived. Ali in the back of the car looking like death. I took him out of the vehicle and put him on a litter. I looked at Hammid, smiled and winked. I made the shape of a gun with my right finger and said pow and looked at my buddies and said "MAN DOWN" call in a medevac bird. I removed the dressings I had put on the night before and put on new ones. The medevac bird came and I doctored the paperwork a little and said that the wound had just happened. He took Ali away and they flew off. He was now in the hands of the Americans. He will be ok.
As I spoke to the rest of my team at the evenings BUB. The major apologized to me that he couldn't write up any paperwork on the incident because of how I handled it. He approved of the way I did it, I had to improvise. This soldier covered my "6" when all of his buddies ran. Due to his bravery we recovered a major arms cache that was going to be used against the Americans. I told him "so what sir if they find out what is the worst they can do......send me home?" Besides I don't need anymore medals. The look of trust on the Iraqi soldiers faces told it all. They knew we are for real and we will fight side by side with them. They still need us over here. I saw it myself when several ran, but eventually went back to their posts when they saw the dicipline and bravery of the americans. Were making progress.....slowly but were doing it.

Doc D. out......

This is the "official report" http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2006/20060112_3908.html

"Losing Forums"

I found out today, the forum I post on 2nd to most often lately is going away. I am a little bummed. Because the one I post on most often is well, one I only really debate on. It is not a "personal" thing. And I hate to lose the group I post on a support board for Christians there. It is nice to talk with people who are walking in Christ shadow as you are.

The problem with being online so long, you keep "losing" people. First it was the BBS's. I really miss Auggie. I miss the people there. I miss the easy conversation, and talking about nothing. I miss a lot of those people who I feel had a real impact on my life and I miss them. I miss the goofy things they say and do. And how, even when I disagree with them....I miss the friendship. But Auggie, although it lasted longer then most....died with the BBS. People do not use telnet anymore. And the online forum's now are "easier".

Then there was Parentsplace. and the people who run the site there made a habit of "running people off". Not once, did great controversy...but several big events over several years, ran people off in large numbers. It is amazing to me that so many people still go there. But they too shall learn.

Now there is The Parents perspective and it is going away. It really I guess did not have a long term chance of lasting. It was privately funded. And the controversy there was constantly coming up again and again. But it is still sad to see it go.

I just know what happens when groups "change forums". You lose people. They go away and become part of the mass community. It is like when a neighbor moves across town. You may run into them now and then...but it is never the same again.

In some ways, I think this online relationship change situation has led to how I react to groups IRL now too. Again, part of that being online longer then some boards last.

I hope to keep in touch, but I know what will happen. The same thing that has happened before. People just fade from that situation.

Boy, I tell you. I have already been really "down" lately. This has not made my day/week/new year any better.

My biggest Personality Flaw

ROTFL. This is one that those who debate with me on a certian site will about die laughing from. It is often religious issues that we end up debating.

Televangelist You are 0% Rational, 85% Extroverted, 28% Brutal, and 57% Arrogant.

As the Lord as my witness, I swear upon the good book that you are indeed the TELEVANGELIST! Characterized by extreme arrogance, self-assurance, and extroversion, you would make a very charismatic leader (or a very despotic one). On top of that, you are also more intuitive than rational, predisposing you to a more spiritual or emotional outlook on life. Thus, you are thoroughly irrational. You also tend to be rather gentle and considerate of others' feelings. Clearly, you would make the perfect televangelist. Emotional, extroverted, arrogant, and gentle, you annoy the hell out of people who have to listen to the feel-good, intuitive shit spewing from your mouth. Not only that, but people may look down on you as a self-centered asshat. So while you are gentle and genuinely care about others, it is quite clear that you still care about yourself MORE. Why is your personality flawed? Because you are too damned extroverted, emotional, and arrogant. So preach your irrational message, brotha-man! I assure you, no one will be listening! To put it less negatively: 1. You are more INTUITIVE than rational. 2. You are more EXTROVERTED than introverted. 3. You are more GENTLE than brutal. 4. You are more ARROGANT than humble. Compatibility: Your exact opposite is the Spiteful Loner. Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Hippie, the Starving Artist, and the Robot. * * If you scored near fifty percent for a certain trait (42%-58%), you could very well go either way. For example, someone with 42% Extroversion is slightly leaning towards being an introvert, but is close enough to being an extrovert to be classified that way as well. Below is a list of the other personality types so that you can determine which other possible categories you may fill if you scored near fifty percent for certain traits. The other personality types: The Emo Kid: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Starving Artist: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Bitch-Slap: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Brute: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hippie: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Televangelist: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Schoolyard Bully: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Class Clown: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Robot: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Haughty Intellectual: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Spiteful Loner: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Sociopath: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hand-Raiser: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Braggart: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Capitalist Pig: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Smartass: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant. If you like good humor, be sure to take my girlfriend's Mullet Test, because it is much more awesome than this test.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 0% on Rationality You scored higher than 88% on Extroversion You scored higher than 24% on Brutality You scored higher than 62% on Arrogance

Link: The Personality Defect Test written by saint_gasoline on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

A "test"

You are a Social Conservative (28% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (73% permissive) You are best described as a: Republican Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Proud to be from WV today

Over the years, People have told me that if I did not "lose the west virgnia drawl," I would never be taken seriously. That people would always treat me like a redneck. Even my husband likes to pick on me. He often tells me, "Your family tree is not a tree, its a wreath." Or "You are related to 1/2 the state of West Virginia and most of that is because of imbreeding."

My family is from one of those small WV towns. (Terra Alta) Even my mama is buried on a mountian top in a small WV town. (Elk Garden)

My grandma used to tell stories about what it was like growing up in Vindex, Md. That is the mine my great grandfather worked in most of his adult life. She would talk about how they would walk or catch a ride over to Terra Alta to pick up boys. Not only was Grandpap Newt a miner there, but many of his cousins and siblings were as well. Mining is a family tradition. My mom's uncles were miners, and thier sons were miners. Thier daughters married miners. At my grandma's funeral...several of the people present were married to miners or were daughters of miners. And my grandma was too the daughter of a miner. She used to love that old song, "Coal miners daughter." She would say that was a story of her life.

Even my cousins that I grew up, they are now miners. Boys that used to torture me for fun. Cousins who thought it was thier job to teach me dirty nursery rhymes, and laugh when they had me sing them to my mom. Who would steal drinks of my grandpap's beer....or steal one of his cigerattes to smoke it. Family.

Profiles of 8 of the 13

Capsules on Some of Trapped W.Va. Miners

By The Associated Press

Brief profiles on some of the 13 people who were trapped in an underground mine in Tallmansville, W.Va.:
___
Alva Martin Bennett
Alva Martin Bennett's father was a coal miner and his only son also worked at the mine. As far as relatives knew, it was the only job "Marty" ever had.

"He loves it, that has been his life," Marie Bonner said of her 50-year-old nephew.

Bennett's brother-in-law, Roger Perry, was one of at least five miners who got out of the mine after the explosion.

"Marty was very knowledgeable and such a good worker he could do just about anything," Bonner said.
___
Jim Bennett
Donald Marsh never understood how his half-brother, Jim Bennett, could stand to make a living underground.

"He wouldn't quit," Marsh said of Bennett, 61, of Philippi. "Hell, he loves the mines."

Bennett, a coal miner for several decades, also was a religious man, relatives said.

"Everyday he would come home and pray for who was going in (the mines)," said his son-in-law Daniel Merideth.

Bennett didn't talk about work much but had planned to retire this year.

"Right now he is probably in there witnessing to people," Merideth said earlier. "He would be organizing and praying."
___
Jerry Groves
Jerry Groves had been a coal miner for more than 30 years and followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and another brother, relatives said.

Groves, 57, of Cleveland, who had hopes of retiring soon, was married with two adult children, said his brother, Raymond.

"Times are pretty hard here in West Virginia," Raymond Groves said.

"(Mining) is about all you can do to make a living."
___
Terry Helms
A coal miner for 35 years, Terry Helms would not let his 25-year-old son become a miner.

Nick Helms said his family never discussed what his father did for a living because "he never wanted us to worry."

Helms, 50, of Newburg, who had worked at the Sago mine about six months, was a fire boss. He was the first one to enter the mine Monday morning for inspections, according to Helm's sister, Judy Shakelford.

Virginia Moore described her fiance as an avid hunter, golfer and fisherman who never really expressed any fears about working in the mine.

"He didn't talk too much about his work, he pretty much left it at the mine," she said.
___
David Lewis

David Lewis started working in the mines 2 1/2 years ago so he could be home at night with his three daughters while his wife, Samantha, worked on a master's degree in health care administration.

Lewis, 28, of Philippi, had worked in the timber industry and construction but those jobs kept him away.

"This was a good way to make a living until we could find something different," Samantha Lewis said. "It's just a way of life. Unless you're a coal miner or you have a college degree, you don't make any money."
___
Randal McCloy (sole survivor)
The sole survivor, Randal McCloy, wanted to quit mining, his wife said.

"It was too dangerous," said Anna McCloy, who met him in grade school. The couple has been together for 12 years.

Randal McCloy, 27, drives an hour each way from his home in Simpson to make money for his family — 4-year-old Randall Jr. and 1-year-old Isabel.

McCloy was a licensed electrician, but the money in the mines was just too good to pass up, family members said.

"You do what you've gotta do to take care of your family. Everything is a risk nowadays," said his aunt Pat Miles.
___
Martin Toler
Martin Toler, a mine foreman, had worked in mines most of his life, relatives said.

The 50-year-old previously worked with his 29-year-old son in a different mine for about four years before Chris Toler was laid off.

"I am going to tell him to retire when he gets out," Chris Toler said earlier.
___
Fred Ware Jr.
A coal miner for six years, Fred Ware Jr. always told his fiancee, Loretta Ables, he was going to die in the mines.

Ware, 59, an operator from Tallmansville, had previously broken his ankle in the mine when a rock fell off a rib.

Ables said she and Ware had been engaged about six years and were planning a Valentine's Day wedding.

"He's given me 35 gray hairs sitting here worrying myself over him," she said earlier.

Ware had worked through the holidays except for Sunday and had considered taking Monday off too.
___