The prospect of hundreds of high-paying jobs at a re-opened coal mine in western Kentucky has miners scrambling to sign up.

Saint Louis-based Armstrong Coal said last summer that it would re-open the Big Run Mine in Centertown, about 30 miles south of Owensboro.

The company says there would be about 900 jobs with a starting pay of $19 an hour.

Ohio County's career center has taken 100 phone calls a week from people asking about the new coal jobs.

Armstrong has formed a human resources department to handle applications.

So far officials say about 500 people have brought résumés to the company's Madisonville office.

But company officials say applications must be filled out at career centers in Ohio, Daviess and Muhlenberg Counties.