CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. (AP) - Mingo County businessman James H. "Buck" Harless isn't slowing down with age.

In fact, the 91-year-old Harless drove himself all the way from Gilbert to Chapmanville last week to attend a Boy Scouts fund raiser.

Harless is still very active in business and as a philanthropist. He was honored during the James H. "Buck" Harless Friends of Scouting dinner at the Logan Country Club last week for his 75 years as a Boy Scout.

Harless also sat on the front row of the crowd at Monday's groundbreaking ceremony for the new TransGas coal-to-gas plant that was conducted just down from his business office in Gilbert.

Harless said he intends to keep going strong for as long as he's physically able. And, right now, he's very able, he said.

Local residents were able to hear about some of the bills currently before Congress straight from one of the individuals elected to represent them in Washington, D.C.  Congressman David McKinley held a town hall meeting in Weirton's Millsop Community Center on Tuesday, hoping to discuss some of the legislation making its way through the halls of the U.S. Capitol, as well as to hear some of the residents' concerns.
The Republican has hosted two previous town hall meetings within the 1st District. There also have been three telephone town halls, one of which the congressman said included 14,000 participants.

He said many issues have been brought up during those events, but he feels they all end up pointing back to one thing.  "It's all about jobs," McKinley said. "You can call it anything, it's all about jobs."

Joy Global has agreed to buy LeTourneau Technologies from Rowan Companies for $1 billion in cash.

LeTourneau produces earthmoving equipment for surface mining and makes drilling equipment for the mining, oil and gas sectors. The company is a top manufacturer of large-wheel loaders, and boasts the industry's largest model sizes and payload capacities, according to Joy. It is the only manufacturer of electric drive loaders.

LeTourneau's mining and drilling units had 2010 revenue of $259-million and $556-million respectively.

Arch Coal Inc. says it has started $14.60 a share tender offer for rival International Coal Group. Arch says the offer that started Monday expires June 14.

The St. Louis-based coal industry giant agreed to buy ICG for $3.4 billion May 2. The deal is designed to exploit growing demand for high-priced coal used to manufacture steel. Arch says the combined companies would be the nation's second largest supplier of metallurgical coal.

Met coal commands premium prices often two or three times those charged for coal used to produce electricity. Government figures show exports grew to 55 million tons last year, from 42.5 million in 2008.

An invitation has been extended to anyone interested in playing in the First Elsie Pruett Endowment Scholarship Golf Tournament on Friday, June 17, 2011 at the White Oak Country Club.

Former Marshall University and Current NFL players scheduled to attend are Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Doug Legursky.

For more information please contact Josh Jones at 304.465.5639.