Tragedy

We've all seen the pictures, the video, the heart-wrenching sadness and anger in the faces of family members in West Virginia. I don't really know who to blame for the miscommunication of facts in the mining town of Tallmansville, WV but it's a tragic turn of events none-the-less. In this business you learn very quickly to check your facts before airing them. But, in this day and age of internet immediacy and closing deadlines maybe someone forgot about Journalism 101. Then again, the more I read, it seems the timing was the major factor in all of this. Newspaper's deadlines are typically just after midnight and sometimes earlier so they can begin printing. It seems the family and media were not informed of the correct information until around 2:30am. No matter the blame, the thoughts and prayers should go out to the family members and friends of those involved. Nothing can be done about the mistakes in those excruciating final hours but now the families need help.

Back on the home front, I trecked up the side of a mountain in Wilkes County to document the MOST dangerous job. According to U.S. Labor Statistics, loggers have a death rate of nearly 120 killed on the job out of every 100,000. This puts them at the top of the list for the most dangerous jobs. Brent Campbell and I set out to find some loggers and several phone calls later we were on the road to the woods of Wilkes County.

We met up with Sonny Greene, owner of Greene Land and Timber. Sonny's been logging for over 25 years and his son is part of his team. After an interview with Sonny, it was time for me to make it to the top of the hill where the cutting was taking place. A quick ride on a skidder and I found myself watching tree after tree fall at the hands of one man with a very sharp chainsaw.

As the trees fell they were dragged down a makeshift road by aforementioned skidder.

At the base of the mountain, Sonny worked a loader as he placed the logs on a truck to be taken to the mill.

Now, I just want to know when photojournalist will be added to the list of 10 most dangerous jobs. Just kidding.... well, kinda.