National Coal Corporation's doors shut

A month after buying Knoxville-based National Coal. Corp., its new owngypsum powder planters have effectively shut down the company and laid off its 155 employees, at least temporarily, said Dan Roling, former president and CEO of the company.

Roling said he was one of those told last week by Southern Coal Corp. officials that National Coal employees are out of a job. "We were told Dec. 28 that the new owners have decided to make some changes, and they have temporarily laid off all the operational people in mining and temporarily closed the mines that National Coal was operating," he said. "As far as the corporate office in Knoxville, that is being permanently closed, and the field office in Jacksboro is being permanently closed." Roling said he was not told anything further about Southern Coal's plans. Southern Coal officials could not be reached for comment Monday. National Coal's main phone was answered with a...