The current U.S. administration’s emphasis on coal could mean jobs and industries coming soon to the Bluffton-Ada area, although not all residents are excited about it.

One of northwestern Ohio’s untouched economic payloads is an enormous vein of Anthracite coal stretching from Sidney to Bowling Green. The coal lies beneath the pumped out natural gas and oil fields, which boomed here in the 1890s.

According to the U.S. Survey of Geology, the coal is about 200 feet under the soil. The northwestern Ohio vein was never mined because of the expense involved and because it was under oil and gas fields.

With the relaxed environmental coal rules and improved technology that picture changes.

The Icon understands that “test” strip mining may take place in several area locations including:
• Acreage between the Lincoln Highway and U.S. Route 30
• Several undetermined sites along Riley Creek, and
• Bluffton village park

Each test site could involve digs involving widths of 150 feet and lengths of one-quarter of a mile long. The strip mine tests will uncover land at a minimum 200-foot depth. The unearthed soil will create large hills, in which winter ski sledding trails could develop.

Conservative estimates claim the coal fields are large enough to employee up to 200 miner working 24-hours around the clock. The coal capacity could take 10 years to completely mine out.

The coal will probably be shipped via rail to Youngstown steel mills.

Anthracite coal, mined from the planet's oldest geological formations, has spent the longest time underground. It has the highest carbon content and the fewest impurities.

The coal has been subjected to the most pressure and heat, making it the most compressed and hardest coal available. Hard coal contains greater potential to produce heat energy than softer, geologically "newer" coal.

Since you’ve read this far, please be aware that this is a certified “fake news story” planted on April First.