AN OHIO COMPANY THAT IS TRYING TO AQUIRE AN ABINGDON VIRGINIA COAL MINING FIRM IS URGING ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO REJECT THE OVERTURES OF A HEDGE FUND INVESTOR. THE BRISTOL HERALD COURIER IS REPORTING THAT CLEVELAND-CLIFFS ISSUED A LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS EARLIER THIS WEEK DECRYING THE EFFORTS OF HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS TO TRY AND GAIN ADDITIONAL SHARES AND THEREBY SCUTTLE PLANS TO ACQUIRE ABINGDON BASED ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES. CLEVELAND-CLIFFS AND ALPHA JOINTLY ANNOUNCED THE PLANNED 8.1 BILLION DOLLAR MERGER BACK IN JULY.