$190,000 awarded for SIC fire science program

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Despite misgivings about the bill it came from, U.S. Rep. John Shimkus presented a $190,000 check to SIC to finish the burn tunnel.

The tunnel will be used in the fire science program to train coal miners and mine rescue personnel. It simulates conditions commonly faced in a coal mine fire.

"We've trained over 600 miners in the makeshift facility we've been using," Dr. Dana Keating, vice-president of academic and student affairs, said.

The makeshift tunnel was set up in 2003 in the fire science area. Since 2006, local mine operators and SIC officials have been lobbying for a more permanent structure.

The funding came from am omnibus spending bill opposed by Shimkus.

"This is one of those evil earmarks," Shimkus joked.

But "this is a great one," he said.

Shimkus has long been a supporter of coal mining as part of the country's energy plan.

"There is a struggle in Washington about whether we use coal anymore, and I say 'yes,'" Shimkus said.