Chesapeake Gets New Well Permit for Columbiana
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved a new horizontal well permit for Columbiana County last week, while another well is slated for Mercer County in western Pennsylvania, records show.
Chesapeake Exploration LLC, a division of Chesapeake Energy Corp., was awarded a new permit March 7 for the Briceland Trust property in Franklin Township, ODNR reported.
The well, the Briceland Trust 24-14-4-5H, is the 66th well permitted in Columbiana County that targets drilling in eastern Ohio's Utica shale.
Exterran Plant to Ramp Up Production in April
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The first product from Exterran Energy Solution Inc.'s new 60,000-square-foot plant on Salt Springs Road is scheduled to roll out April 1, a company executive said Monday.
"We're excited," Michael Grimland, director of manufacturing at Houston-based Exterran, told some 200 business leaders attending the Ohio Shale Development: Economic Opportunities Forum at Mr. Anthony's. "We've got a plan this year that we think will take us somewhere around $15 million in annual revenues" at the new plant, Grimland added.
UCFC Provides Details of Stock Rights Offering
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – United Community Financial Corp., holding company of the Home Savings and Loan Co., Monday provided more details of the rights offering of up to $5 million it would extend to existing shareholders.
UCFC announced the offering Jan. 15 as part of its plan to raise $47 million in new capital.
CHS, Cleveland Clinic Form 'Strategic Alliance'
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Community Health Systems, the Tennesee-based parent of the Youngstown-based ValleyCare Health System, and the Cleveland Clinic today announced they have formed a “strategic alliance to enhance the quality of patient care, improve access to health-care services, reduce costs and drive operational excellence.”
The hospital systems will remain independent entities, according to the announcement, which they describe as a “groundbreaking alliance.”
'3 Minutes With' U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson
Tuesday, March 12, 2013WELLSVILLE, Ohio -- In today's "3 Minutes With" video, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-6 Ohio, discusses the emerging shale industry and how additional federal regulations would hinder oil and gas exploration. Johnson was interviewed Monday following his tour of the Wellsville Intermodal Park (WATCH DAILY BUZZ) and discussions with officials with the Columbiana County Port Authority.
Pig Iron Occupant to Redeem Building, Halt Sale
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The occupant of a downtown building that sold for $90,000 at auction a week ago said he intends to redeem the building, stopping the sale to a pair of area developers.
Jim Villani, owner of Pig Iron Press, said he plans to pay the remainder of the tax bill on the 26 N. Phelps St. building to American Tax Funding of Jupiter, Fla., which purchased the tax lien on his property, from Mahoning County. Villani had owed $6,238 in back taxes but paid $5,000 prior to last week’s sheriff’s sale of the building.
Area New Vehicles Sales Up 15.5% in February
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Auto dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties collectively saw sales of new cars and trucks rise more than 15% in February compared to the same month last year, says the monthly report of the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio released Monday.
Auto dealers in the Mahoning Valley report they sold 1,766 new vehicles compared to 1,528 sold in February 2012, a spike of 15.5%.
Dem Senate Leaders Address Kasich Proposals
Tuesday, March 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Proposals in the state budget that Gov. John Kasich put forth could be particularly harmful to communities near the state’s borders such as the Mahoning Valley, said state Sen. Eric Kearney.
Kearney, D-9 Cincinnati, who serves as minority leader, and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-33 Boardman, assistant minority leader, outlined objections to various proposals by the governor during a meeting Monday with Business Journal editorial staff.
Workers' Comp Discount Plan Open for Enrollment
Tuesday, March 12, 2013COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Enrollment is under way for Destination: Excellence, a workers' compensation discount plan that rewards Ohio employers for helping prevent injuries in the workplace and getting injured employees back to work. The plan was introduced by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation last year.
More than 100,000 employers have chosen to participate in at least one of the seven programs that are part of the cafeteria-style plan, and they are expected to achieve an aggregate savings of $28 million to $41 million, said Steve Buehrer, bureau administrator/CEO.
Will He or Won't He Run? Not Even Ryan Knows
Monday, March 11, 2013BOARDMAN, Ohio -- “I’m thinking in the next few days I’ll have something for you,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, when asked Monday afternoon if he’s going to run for governor
“Do you want to give us a hint?” a reporter followed up.
“No,” Ryan replied.
With that short exchange -- news cameras rolling before the start of today’s forum on shale development at Mr. Anthony’s -- the seven-term Democratic congressman again left the question hanging.
As 2013 began, Ryan said a decision would be forthcoming in January.
Today, it’s “the next few days.”