Mine Safety Executive Director Appointed

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Freddie Lewis, who worked for nine years in the Pikeville regional Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, as a mine safety analyst, mine inspector, mine rescue team member and an instructor, was appointed Thursday as executive director of the state agency charged with enforcing laws that keep coal miners safe. He most recently served as manager of safety and training for Alliance Coal Co. Lewis said Thursday his one focus is to do the very best he can to see to it that each and every coal miner goes home to his family at the end of his shift. Lewis comes with endorsements of Tony Oppegard, one of the nation's best known mine safety advocates, and Steve Earle, a regional vice president of the United Mine Workers of America. Lewis replaces Johnny Greene, who retired in December.