IN BRIEF
NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Muskingum College Library director Sheila J. Ellenberger was installed as the Henry S. and Katherine W. Evans Director and Distinguished Librarian at the college.
Ellenberger is originally from Bruin. She is the first recipient of this appointment.
Ellenberger joined Muskingum College in 1990 and is the director of the library and coordinator of the college's education division.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Slippery Rock University, her Master of Library Science degree at Kent State University, and her Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Ellenberger helps lead Ohio's two major academic library consortia: the Ohio Library and Information Network and Ohio Private Academic Libraries.
MSA gets new helmet contract with ArmyPITTSBURGH — MSA announced it was awarded a contract valued at more than $7 million to produce advanced combat helmets for the U.S. Army.MSA has been producing ballistic helmets for the U.S. government since 2002, and this latest contract means the company will continue helmet production into 2009.These helmets use a lightweight design that offers soldiers protection with comfort and stability, and the ability to see around the helmet.MSA also makes ballistic helmets for special branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, military forces in Europe and the Canadian military.MSA has facilities in Cranberry Township.
Dr. Sunder Rao joined Butler Health System's Cardiovascular Consultants practice.He has more than 20 years of experience in cardiovascular medicine, interventional cardiology and nuclear cardiology. He is from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he served as director of the cardiac catheterization lab at UPMC Passavant Hospital.Rao has bachelor's degrees in medicine and surgery degree from Stanley Medical College, Madras University, India, where he also earned his doctorate in medicine, specializing in internal medicine.After earning his medical degree, he served as a post-doctoral research fellow at Yale University School of Medicine. He then completed his residency in internal medicine at Worcester City Hospital in Worcester, Mass., and a cardiology fellowship from Boston University.He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and nuclear cardiology.
Butler County Chamber of Commerce will host Celebrate the Season at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 with the sponsorship of Consolidated Communications at the Succoup Conservancy, 185 W. Airport Road, Penn Township. For information or to register, call the chamber at 724-283-2222.
PITTSBURGH — Dr. Benedict Woo joined Tri Rivers Surgical Associates.Woo, with a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, will provide nonsurgical management of pain, electrodiagnostic testing for diagnosis of injuries and diseases of the nerves and muscles, and trigger point injections and sacroiliac injections to control chronic pain.He will work in Tri Rivers' Cranberry-Mars, Butler and Aspinwall offices, plus UPMC Passavant and UPMC St. Margaret.
North Allegheny chamber plans eventsThe Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the following events:• 5 p.m. Thursday — November After Hours Networking at PNC Bank Village at Pine, 11970 Perry Highway, Wexford;• 11:45 a.m. Nov. 19 — Lunch'n Learn: Zack and Miri Make a Networking Movie, at the chamber office, 5000 Brooktree Road, Wexford;• 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 — Annual benefit lunch and holiday celebration, at Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North, 910 Sheraton Drive, Cranberry Township; benefits nonprofit organizations; looking for businesses who want to donate an item for the event.For information or to register, call the chamber at 724-934-9700.
BUTLER TWP — The Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center has 14 employees who are part of the National Response Framework, which responds during times of crisis.This group was deployed in response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.Those deployed are: Sherri Craig, LPN; Debbie Bartman, health technician; Bonnie Raybuck, RN, BSN, clinical coordinator; Eddie McCray, health technician; Sarah Pfabe, food service supervisor; Daniel Slack, homeless veterans coordinator; Rose Fallecker, RN; Jeff Flowers, clinical pharmacist; Edna Bowser, certified pharmacy technician; Jack Stevenson, registered respiratory therapist; Tammy McLaughlin, LPN; Tim Evanoff, program manager, nutrition and food services; Frank Dalcamo, medical center's police chief; and Janie Franklin, medical supply technician.
WASHINGTON — The nation's unemployment rate bolted to a 14-year high of 6.5 percent in October as another 240,000 jobs were cut, far worse than economists expected and stark proof the economy is deteriorating at an alarmingly rapid pace.The new snapshot, released Friday by the Labor Department, showed the crucial jobs market quickly eroding. The jobless rate zoomed to 6.5 percent in October from 6.1 percent in September, matching the rate in March 1994.Unemployment has now surpassed the high seen after the last recession in 2001. The jobless rate peaked at 6.3 percent in June 2003.October's decline marked the 10th straight month of payroll reductions, and government revisions showed job losses in August and September turned out to be much deeper.
• The Housing Authority of Butler County received "certificates of superior accomplishment" from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs.• First Commonwealth Financial raised $115 million through a public offering of 11.5 million shares of common stock. The net proceeds of the offering were about $108.9 million. First Commonwealth is based in Indiana, Pa., and has branches in Butler County.• MSA's board of directors declared a fourth quarter dividend of 24 cents per share of common stock, payable Dec. 10 to shareholders of record on Nov. 17. The board also declared a dividend of 56¼ cents per share of preferred stock, payable Dec. 1 to shareholders of record on Nov. 17.
