Pontius

Sandy Pontius is a new reporter for the Butler Eagle, covering educational issues.

Pontius, who is a Butler High School graduate, has been a communications consultant for a number of companies in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Canada.

She also worked in public affairs for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and Burson-Marsteller, both in Pittsburgh.

Pontius, who lives in Butler, has a bachelor's in journalism from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., and a master's in journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

She replaces Megan Duncan, who is attending graduate school at the University of Florida.

The Butler Health System won a national silver Aster Award for its Ortho Force television commercial.The health system was recognized in the category of single series television advertisement.The advertisement was developed in partnership with the Fitting Group agency. The ad portrays a team of orthopedic surgeons as a super hero team that solves muscle, bone, or joint issues.The Aster Awards are presented to health care organizations that excel in medical marketing.This is BHS' third Aster award in the past two years.

GROVE CITY — Grove City College has hired a new director of multicultural recruiting and retention.Lorie Johnson-Osho, who is also an assistant professor of education, will coordinate the college's multicultural recruiting.Most recently, Johnson-Osho worked at the University of Pittsburgh as assistant dean in the School of Arts and Science.

SEVEN SPRINGS — Amerikohl Mining of Butler was one of eight coal mining companies honored this month by the Pennsylvania Coal Association at its annual banquet.These companies were honored because they surpassed the federal and state requirements to correct pre-existing mining conditions and to protect the environment for the future, according to an association news release.Amerikohl's work was in Black Township Somerset County; Springfield Township, Fayette County; and Toby Township, Clarion CountyAll the sites were chosen in cooperation with the state Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mining and Reclamation.

PITTSBURGH — Three companies in Butler County are finalists in the 14th annual Tech 50 awards sponsored by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.Winners will be announced at the council's annual dinner on Oct. 14 at the Hilton Pittsburgh.The three companies are:• U.S. Liner of Cranberry Township in the advanced manufacturing category• McKesson Automation of Cranberry in the high-rise category• Netronome Systems of Cranberry in the information technology categoryEach year, the Tech 50 event honors technology companies that demonstrated the strongest growth and advancement in product or sales success, financial strength, corporate citizenship, job growth and retention, and innovative product or technology.This program covers counties in the Pittsburgh region.