AP reported that among the roughly 150 workers still trying to find work after losing their jobs when a central Illinois coal mine closed last month, 57 year old Roger Durbin isn't ready to give up carving coal out of the earth as his livelihood.

The mine between Girard and Farmersville south of Springfield was the last unionized one in Illinois when it closed after its biggest customer, agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co.

, didn't renew a contract.

Mr Jeremy Jones, vice president of the United Mine Workers of America's Local 12, said that only about one-fifth of the laid-off Crown III miners already have found other work, some with other mines.

Mr Jared Butler hasn't been as fortunate.

At 25, the former Crown III miner from Farmersville attended the job fair that drew some 30 groups, including potential employers, to Lincoln Land Community College's Litchfield campus.

Source - AP