Cooknick

Amy Cooknick, 22, is a new reporter with the Butler Eagle.

She handles obituaries and does other news coverage.

Cooknick is a 2010 graduate of North Hills High School and received a degree in journalism from Kent State University in December.

While at Kent State, she worked on the student newspaper and was the paper's managing editor this past fall semester.

She also did a one-year news internship with WKSU public radio in Kent.

Cooknick is a member of the St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Allison Park. She replaces Megan Sperling.

VALENCIA — Bill Kennihan, owner of Kennihan Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, was given the 2014 NCI Chairman's Award by the National Comfort Institute at it annual conference in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 25 and 26.This award is presented to individuals who are supporters of NCI's mission to help heating and air conditioning contractors deliver performance of the highest possible quality and value to their customers. The winners also contribute their time to sharing their knowledge of the industry with others.Kennihan is a family owned and operated business that has been serving the northern Allegheny and Butler counties since 1969.NCI has 350 members.

BUTLER TWP — West Central Equipment will relocate to 170 Pittsburgh Road, which is Route 8, early next month.The outdoor equipment store is moving from its Alameda Plaza site to the former Zanotti Harley- Davidson building.It will open there April 7.Joel Slezak, the store manager, said the new location will be more like a dealership with designated service and sales areas.Slezak said the store also will be more visible along Route 8.West Central Equipment took over ownership of the store last November. It was formerly Maple Mountain Equipment.

CRANBERRY TWP — Baierl Toyota has won the Toyota President's Award for the second time.This award recognizes Toyota's top dealerships.To qualify as a President's Award winner, dealerships must excel in many categories, including customer sales and service satisfaction.Owner Lee Baierl said, “We are very pleased to have won this award for the second time. ..... Our mission is to guarantee that our customer's ownership experience is second to none.”

BUTLER TWP — Ritenour Equipment returned last month to the township.The tractor supplier opened at 520 Evans City Road, which is the former location of PowerUp Equipment, which relocated to a new store west on Evans City Road.Ritenour Equipment was open at the same location from 1993 to 2006, according to Harold Stahlman, a sales manager with the store. Rick Ritenour, the store owner, sold the business to PowerUp Supply in 2006.Ritenour sells a variety of tractors and other outdoor equipment.The business has six employees.

BUFFALO TWP — Oberg Industries recently hired Mark Pelo as director of manufacturing to better align the company for growth, according to a news release.Pelo will oversee the manufacturing operations of Oberg's “turning” disciplines, as well as developing and maintaining the quality, delivery and continuous improvement processes. He will report to chief operating officer Rich Bartek.Pelo has more than 28 years of experience as an engineer and in manufacturing process development. He most recently worked for Medtronic Spinal & Biologics.

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — PowerUp Equipment has moved to a new location along Evans City Road.The tractor and outdoor equipment dealership opened at 620 Evans City Road, which is directly across from the Butler Farm Show Grounds, last month.The new store is about a quarter mile west from its previous location next to Butler Agway.The move was made because the new store is larger and offers a better layout for the tractor dealership, according to the company.PowerUp Equipment sells a variety of tractors, specializing in the Kubota brand, as well as other outdoor equipment.

Northwest Savings Bank was recently named one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America in 2014 by Healthiest Employers, an organization that tracks employee health analytics, best practices and benchmark data.To attain this recognition, Northwest's wellness programs were assessed through a yearlong, nationwide process that surveyed companies of all sizes from all regions and industries. It was awarded because it achieved sustained success through corporate wellness programs and employee initiatives.It has four offices in Butler County.

WASHINGTON — Sales of U.S. existing homes slipped in February to their lowest level since July 2012 as severe winter weather, rising prices and a tight supply of homes discouraged buyers.The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that sales declined 0.4 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.6 million. That was the sixth decline in the past seven months.Freezing temperatures and snowstorms likely kept many buyers from visiting open houses. And higher mortgage rates have weighed on sales since last fall.