Our Board of Directors
Officers:
Pete Runyon - Pike County, KY - President
Vicky Evans - Martin County, KY - Vice President
John Burchett - Mingo County, WV - Treasurer
Mark Kemp - McDowell County, WV - Secretary
Directors:
Dustin Estep - McDowell County, WV Grace Williams - Mingo County, WV
David Hatfield - Mingo County, WV Jennifer Justice - McDowell County, WV
Madison Mooney - Martin County, KY Nina McCoy - Martin County, KY
Ex Officio Members of the Board of Directors:
Christy Bailey - National Coal Heritage Area Authority
Sara Prior - WV DEP, Southern Basin Coordinator
Nathan Alexander - KY Division of Water, Big Sandy Basin Coordinator
FotTFR's Treasurer Named Volunteer of the Year
WV DEP's REAP Program named John Burchett Volunteer of the Year for his work over the last six years. Burchett began, and still leads, FotTFR's "Tire Tug of War" waste tire recovery project that has, to date, led to the removal of 16,183 illegally dumped tires from the waters of the Tug Fork River.
"Through his coordination with state agencies, local businesses, community groups, and passionate individuals, Burchett has played a vital role in the cleanup operation that has successfully removed over 16,000 tires from West Virginia's Waterways", DEP REAP Field Supervisor Greg Rote stated
King Coal Festival 2024
Thank you, City of Williamson Events Committee for selecting Friends of the Tug Fork River to receive the 2024 King Coal Festival Community Service Award.
Vice President Vicky Evans with Board of Directors Members Grace Williams and Madison Mooney accepted the pre-award certificate at a beautiful outdoor awards banquet. President Pete Runyon, Secretary Mark Kemp, and Treasurer John Burchett are shown with the award during the festival.
Congratulations to us!
Watershed Group of the Year 2024
August 25, 2024
Friends of the Tug Fork River Board of Directors Members Madison Mooney, John Burchett, and Pete Runyon traveled to Morehead, KY yesterday to accept the Kentucky Waterways Alliance Watershed Group of the Year award. The award was presented in recognition of the work we have been doing to restore the Tug Fork River.
The award was accepted with thanks and recognition for all of the help and support we have received from the entire Tug Valley community in both Kentucky and West Virginia. The work we do would not be possible without the support of local volunteers, state, county, and municipal governments, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations. Working together, we can accomplish great things!
Big Sandy Conservation and Recreation meeting
May 2, 2023
A contingent of FotTFR board members was hosted by a new group, Big Sandy Conservation and Recreation, at the historic lock and dam in the Big Sandy River between Fort Gay, WV and Louisa, KY. We then attended a Fort Gay City Council meeting and accepted an invitation to a private residence in Pritchard, WV for a cookout and boat tour of the river. The group hopes to promote the historic area around the dam and the entire river for tourism purposes. It is both an interesting and beautiful area to visit. Thank you Mayor Joetta Hatfield and Paul Heaberlin for all the incredible hospitality.
The Big Sandy River starts at the confluence of the Tug Fork and Levisa Fork then flows 29 miles to the Ohio River.This lock and dam is just downstream of the head of the river. Built in the late 1800's, it was the first needle dam in the United States and aided in river transportation of people and commerce until the railroads were constructed several years later.
Above:
FotTFR Board Members: John Burchett, Pete Runyon, Grace Williams & Vicky Evans
Below:
Soon after constuction was complete in the late 1800's
From the Kentucky side looking to West Virginia
The upstream end of the lock chamber showing the gate.
FotTFR Board of Directors Dinner
February 25, 2023