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After 22 years in this business, one would probably think I would have run out of new experiences. That's not the case, though. There's always something new to cover, and there's always the possibility of encountering something I've never experienced in the midst of the job.
Monday morning, I received a call from a staffer in Sen. Joe Manchin's office informing us the senator would be in town Tuesday afternoon to meet with officials and employees at Cleveland-Cliffs. Local media were told there would be time following the events and invited to attend.
Knowing there has been a great deal of attention this year on Cleveland-Cliffs' anti-dumping filing before the International Trade Commission, I figured that played into the trip.
The next morning, I received the official advisory (and a follow-up phone call) revealing Sen. Manchin would be joined in the visit by Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio. Media also were informed we would be able to join the senators and other VIPs on a tour of part of the Cleveland-Cliffs facility.
My family, as with many in our area, has a long connection to what once was Weirton Steel. My father worked there for more than 25 years. Both of my grandfathers worked there, and even a couple of my great-grandfathers, along with numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. It's a safe bet to say, without that mill, I wouldn't be here. I know that's the case for much of the local population, as well.
My dad never wanted me or my siblings in the mill, though. From a young age he encouraged us to find other opportunities. So, I had never stepped foot inside any of the manufacturing or finishing operations of the plant until this past week.
It's rare for media, even local journalists, to be allowed inside, so the closest I've ever been in my two decades plus has been the union hall or standing outside a couple of the gates.
While the VIPs were escorted into a nice-looking charter bus, myself and some of my colleagues from the local television stations were loaded into a passenger van and taken into a portion of the tin plant. We had been provided with safety jackets, glasses and hard hats labeled "Media."
Once inside, the senators and some others were shown golf carts they would ride through the area while the rest of us walked.
Going through, I knew it would mostly be a photo-op situation, so I looked around and took in what I could see from our established path. The machinery was running, although much quieter than I anticipated, finishing and coating the sheets of tin before they were eventually rolled into coils and then stored.
Everything appeared to be clean and well-maintained, which is always good as it provides hope there are plans to keep things going here.
The senators, along with company and union leadership chatted (thanks to some radio headsets), and then took pictures together and with a group of employees. Once finished, we were taken back to the van and returned to the administrative building where a tent had been set up to allow for comments.
Cleveland Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves, USW 2911 President Mark Glyptis, Sen. Brown and Sen. Manchin each offered a few comments, and then the senators departed without taking any questions. Apparently, they had a plane to catch. That's understandable given all the chaos taking place in D.C. right now. Still, it would have been nice to have a few minutes to chat on a few other topics.
There are sure to be opportunities to interview the senators at some point in the future. A plant tour, even a quick one, isn't likely to happen again, so I appreciated the chance.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)