IN BRIEF
JEFFERSON TWP — Butler resident Lynn McKinnis, a physical therapist with Concordia Lutheran Ministries, was recently recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association for her literary contributions to her profession.
At an awards ceremony in Baltimore, McKinnis received the Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Literature.
McKinnis wrote the textbooks "Fundamentals of Orthopedic Radiology" and "Fundamentals of Musculoskeletal Imaging," educational study courses and a CD-ROM on medical imaging in rehabilitation.
In addition to working at Concordia, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Montana and St. Francis University in Pennsylvania.
FREEPORT — The Penn State University Electro-Optics Center was granted $18.5 million in multiple contracts for support of U.S. Department of Defense programs.The EOC was awarded:• A two year, $11.5 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for next generation radar devices;• Three contracts with the U.S. Army for $4 million to develop force protection and surveillance systems;• $3 million from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to integrate and troubleshoot high performance sensors for missile flight experiments.
Marmon/Keystone announced Anthony Wolf is the assistant general manager of M/K Express.Wolf has 19 years of experience in the transportation industry and attended Youngstown State University.M/K Express is a trucking subsidiary of Marmon/Keystone, a wholesale distributor of tubular products based in Butler.
MARS — Matthew Roach joined Mars National Bank as a commercial banking manager.Roach has 25 years of banking experience. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in finance.He serves as a director of the Western Pennsylvania Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Financial Industries Network.He and his wife, Maria, live with their three children in Marshall Township.
CRANBERRY TWP — Westinghouse Electric announced its sponsorship of middle and high school grants for science, technology or mathematics hands-on student projects.The contest is open to all middle and high school students in a district where Westinghouse has an office. Five schools will be awarded $1,000 each for the proposed projects.To get an application and learn more about the contest, go to www.westinghousenuclear.com. Look for "Communities," then click on "School Grant."
ZELIENOPLE — JEDCO announced the appointment of D. Scott Rife as vice president.In this position, Rife will help the company increase demand for its QT Plus wear steel and ChromeWeld 600 TM chromium carbide overlay plate used in applications such as breaker plates, truck bed and bin liners, chutes and specialty wear kits.Rife brings more than 20 years of mining and business experience to his new position, including positions at Kennametal as director of global mining; underground manager, mining sales Americas; and manager of mining product engineering.He also was vice president of sales for McConway and Torley Group.
WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor said Thursday it plans to end production in March 2010 at a California joint venture where it has built vehicles with General Motors.The decision would mean the shutdown of the sole auto assembly plant on the West Coast if no other carmaker emerges to keep it going.Toyota's board voted early Thursday to end the company's production contract at Fremont, Calif.-based New United Motor Manufacturing, spokeswoman Cindy Knight confirmed.California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the state was working to "ensure appropriate employee severance, proper environmental remediation and assistance in transforming the site to alternative uses."From staff and wire reports
• Dr. John Chips announced his son, Dr. Timothy Chips, is joining his dental practice with offices in Gibsonia and UPMC Passavant in the North Hills.• Richard Musko was named to the New York Life Insurance Company's Million Dollar Round Table for the 10th consecutive year. Musko owns a New York Life office in Center Township.
