There is a duality in mining and with miners. Mining is a dirty, ugly, dangerous profession full of darkness and tragedy. However ask many old timers and they will tell without batting an eye, they loved the job.

The Atlas is exploring some of the tragic history of mining in relation to some of the machinery used. There will be two new additions to its machinery exhibit, including a bucket similar to the one pictured above, and Big Bertha, a mine locomotive.

    The Atlas is exploring this juxtaposing relationship with mining and the machinery they used. Again, miners will wax lyrically about their truck or cutters, or locomotives. These are the same tools they saw claim brothers and friends in tragic accidents.
    “We have a better understanding than we did a couple years ago about how these machines that miners loved so much had a dark side and were implicated in a number of miner fatalities and lots of accidents that weren’t fatal,” said Linda Digby, executive director for the Atlas Coal Mine. “Through our research we learned that we have some machines that are really linked to some of those stories.
    Digby explains the seed for this display came last year when the museum received a small quarter-ton bucket used to hoist men, coal and tools in and out of the mine. It was donated by Ed Cheney. They were questioning whether this was the same bucket that played a role in a well-known mining fatality, and explored what other equipment may have had a darker history.
    She said much of this equipment stands on its own as artifacts, however the stories add another element. One she is excited about is Big Bertha.
    “She is a mine locomotive who has been in the mine boneyard ever since the mine closed in 1956. She is much beloved by many coal miners.  Many miners we have spoken to, love her and cannot say enough about what a great machine it was, but she was implicated in one fatality at the Atlas Coal Mine. So that is one linkage to that story,” said Digby.
    This idea became the central theme to the revamped machinery exhibit. The Atlas has been selected to receive $3,000 from the World Largest Dinosaur legacy to put together the new exhibit. This includes adding new equipment to its displays, interpretive panels, and conservation efforts to protect the artifacts.
    Digby hopes the revamped displays will be ready for next July.

    Carbon-born curler Rebecca Pattison is a name to watch for in national curling circles.
    Last week, Pattison, 23, and her curling team were in Kitchener, Ontario, to compete in the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar. The tournament is part of a road leading to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
    The top two men’s and women’s teams from the tournament, which was broadcasted nationally, win a spot at the 2013 Tim Horton’s Roar of the Rings. From there, the winners will represent Canada at the Olympics.
    “It was really exciting to be there, rather than always watching on TV. To have played is an amazing feeling,” said Pattison.
    Pattison was competing on Team Crocker, led by 22 year-old skip Laura Crocker, with 25 year-old third Erin Carmody, and 23 year-old lead Jen Gates. The team was the youngest at the competition. They qualified after a successful first year together in 2012.
    “The really good thing is the other curlers were almost double our age, so it’s really encouraging that way. Hopefully we can get even better over the next few years,” said Pattison.

The members of Team Crocker include skip Laura Crocker (left),  third Erin Carmody, second and Carbon native Rebecca Pattison, and lead Jen Gates. The team was in Kitchener, Ontario, last week to compete in the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trials. Team Crocker were seeded second and won their first game of the tournament, but lost some very close games and were eliminated. They were the youngest team at the national event, meaning their curling future is still ahead of them.

    Team Crocker was one of the highest qualifying teams in the tournament and were seeded second. In their first game, they defeated the team led by Tracy Horgan. They were then defeated in their remaining games.
    “We had a few really close games. We’re happy to have gotten to that point at such a young age. We could have performed better, but that’s the way curling goes. We had fun and a lot of years ahead of us,” said Pattison. “Some teams had two games under their belts before we even practiced, because we had the bye.”
    The team will be heading to Spruce Grove and Lloydminster to compete for a spot in the provincial playdowns.
    Pattison has been curling since she was 10 years-old with her sister Hayley. Over the years, she has racked up a number of championship titles, including the Alberta Junior Curling Championships in 2011. Her passion for curling endures.
    “As you get older, you get more experience and it makes you want to keep curling even more,” said Pattison.
    She continues to train with her team at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton on weekends, while also working as a petroleum geologist for Black Swan Energy in Calgary.
    “My boss is very understanding. At the interview, I gave them my best case curling scenario and they were okay with it. It seemed to go pretty smooth,” said Pattison.
    Hayley won gold at the Winter Universaide Games in Torino, Italy in 2007.
    “They both have done so well, and to think they came out of little Carbon,” said mom Shelley Pattison. Shelley and father Peter travelled to Kitchener to watch Rebecca in action.