Central Electric reports promotionPARKER — A Butler High School graduate who has worked for Central Electric Cooperative since 1998 has been promoted.Sheila Morrison will serve as purchaser and warehouse supervisor, the company said.Morrison holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana (Pa.) University, and lives in Emlenton with her husband, Bob. She has two stepchildren, Jess and Cass, and two grandchildren, Cooper and Parker.Central Electric serves about 25,000 customers in Butler, Allegheny, Armstrong, Clarion, Forest, Mercer and Venango counties.

Boscov chairman says he has cancerREADING — Department chain chairman Albert Boscov says he has been diagnosed with cancer. In a letter Wednesday to employees of Boscov’s Department Stores, 87-year-old Boscov said “I have pancreatic cancer and there is no cure. I don’t have a lot of time.”His nephew, Jim Boscov, CEO and company vice chairman, said the chain would continue to operate as usual — and he said his uncle was still at work Wednesday morning, reviewing proposed advertisement layouts and copy.Albert Boscov expressed confidence in the company’s leadership. He said other retailers have had losses and store closures, but Boscov’s last month announced plans to open two new stores.He said he wanted this year to be “our best possible year” and wished his co-workers good luck, saying “I love you all.”

Merck tops 4Q profit forecastsKENILWORTH, N.J. — Merck is reporting fourth-quarter earnings of $1.18 billion. The Kenilworth, N.J., company said today that it had profits of 42 cents per share.Earnings, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions and non-recurring costs, were 89 cents per share. The results beat Wall Street expectations. Merck expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.72 to $3.87 per share.From staff and wire reports