Bankrupt mines finally sold

GILLETTE, W.Y. — Hope was raised for hundreds of miners in Wyoming that they may be returning to work now that the sale of two bankrupt mines has been finalized.

F-M Coal of Alabama is the new owner of Blackjewel’s Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines near Gillette.Those mines were the fourth and fifth most productive coal mines in the U-S last year. Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy 4 months ago.

A furloughed heavy equipment operator at Belle Ayr, Rory Wallett, says he got a call on Saturday asking him to return to work, so there is a cautious optimism among the workers.