West Virginias image has been headline news for the past few weeks. Most of the stories have been negative and do not offer a true picture of how the people in the state solve problems and persevere when faced with adversity.

Coal River Rising, a biography by West Virginia author Bill Currey is a feel good story written by a West Virginian about West Virginia. The book describes how a small group of people decided to clean up a large river system that had been seriously impacted by industry. The story is important because it tells much about how West Virginia natives have historically solved their own problems.

The book describes how a couple of fishermen discover a river system (Coal River) and explore it in its entirety. The author uses his own unique and folksy style to describe in a humorous manner how he and his buddy Walhonde Willy (Bill Queen), put together a grassroots organization that eventually brought about a restoration of the Coal Rivers.

They were not sophisticated River Restoration Engineers, but they were strong willed and experienced in solving real problems in practical ways. They were not your normal do gooders and they loved a fight.

Currey, the co-founder of the Coal River Group takes the reader from the very funny grassroots beginnings, led by of a raucous, rowdy group of buddies who ultimately create an award winning Environmental group.

They developed a motto that described their project in their own terms. The motto was, “Don’t call us environmentalist; we’re just businessmen who want to restore our river.”

Practicality, individuality and hustle describe how the two guys worked their way through the morass of government regulations and brought together a very politically incorrect and diverse group of citizens to help accomplish their goal of restoration. They were fiercely independent and chose not to become a political or protest group.

The non-profit Coal River Group is now a well-respected watershed organization with over 200 members. The group established West Virginias first River Restoration, Science and Education Center, and has regularly conducted trash and tire cleanups in the rivers. They have worked for over 8 years, throughout the 840 square mile southern West Virginia watershed to address water quality issues. The CRG has expanded its efforts by creating a 100 mile recreational water trail that now hosts thousands of tourists each year. The concept they came up with to restore the rivers is unique and it worked! The documentary is a must read for all non-profit groups.

The new book is available in both soft cover and I-Pad on Amazon, www.Blurb.com and direct ship from bike1@suddenlink.net. Currey is available for telephone and personal interviews. Contact Bill Currey, Phone 304-419-4417 or Facebook at Coal River Rising- the Coal Series.