Tag: Raliegh County

Appalachian Bible College Founded: Sept. 5, 1950

Appalachian Bible College—originally known as Appalachian Bible Institute—opened at Sylvester in Boone County on September 5, 1950. The nondenominational, independent Christian college was the brainchild of Raleigh County minister Robert Guelich.

Before the school opened, southern West Virginians had to travel all the way to Pikeville, Kentucky, if they wanted to take advanced Bible studies.

Guelich persuaded the Rev. Lester Pipkin of Minnesota to relocate to West Virginia and open a Bible college. They converted a vacant two-story building in Sylvester into a dormitory, dining hall, and office, and furnished it with war-surplus materials. They set up classrooms in the basement of Guelich’s church at Pettus, four miles away—earning the school the nickname of “the longest campus in the world.”

By 1954, the school’s student body had reached 40, and more space was needed. The school bought a 95-acre farm near Bradley in Raleigh County and opened its new campus in 1956. Today, enrollment at Appalachian Bible College is about 300. Its campus features a combined chapel and music hall, an administration-library-dining complex, women’s and men’s dormitories, a classroom building, and a gymnasium-conference center.

Mine Safety Academy Opens: August 17, 1976

The National Mine Health and Safety Academy opened at Beaver, near Beckley, on August 17, 1976. The 80-acre campus, which can accommodate 600 students, is the largest in the world devoted solely to mine safety and health.

It is the central training facility for federal mine inspectors and mine safety professionals, with a stated goal of reducing accidents and improving miners’ health and safety.

In addition to coal miners, the academy also serves those who mine sand and gravel, gold, silver, copper, uranium, and other minerals.

The academy is operated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. About 28,000 students attend annually—an average of 200 to 300 daily. In response to growing international concern about mine health and safety, the academy has expanded to address the health and safety of miners worldwide. Cooperative programs allow representatives and inspectors from other nations to participate in health and safety classes, training programs, and activities. International visitors to the National Mine Health and Safety Academy have included delegations from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, China, Thailand, and South Africa.

Raleigh School Official Calls for More Calendar Flexibility

A Raleigh County school official says counties need more flexibility to meet the state’s instructional time requirement.

Board of Education President Rick Snuffer says the current system isn’t equitable.

The state requires counties to provide 180 days of instruction. Snuffer says counties should be allowed to count minutes and hours as instructional time.

The Register-Herald reports that Snuffer made the comments in a statement issued Wednesday. On Tuesday, Raleigh County attendance director Spanky Francis told the board that the district’s attendance rate was about 93 percent for the 2014-2015 school year.

School districts across the state had to make up instructional days lost because of a harsh winter. Raleigh County’s school year didn’t end until June 22.

Francis said June’s attendance was just under 89 percent.

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