Hosier joins staff at Schneider

The Schneider Corporation announced the hiring of former Portland Mayor Bruce W. Hosier.
Hosier joins Schneider as a director of business development for the firm’s government team.
Hosier served as a police officer for Portland as well as serving two terms on the Portland City Council and two terms as mayor. The city contracted with Schneider Corporation for engineering on several projects under Hosier’s administration.

Earnings up
Allegheny Technologies Inc. — parent company of Portland Forge — reported net income in the first quarter of 2012 was up 10 percent compared with the same period in 2011.
Net income was $56.2 million, or 50 cents per share, on sales of $1.35 billion.
“The first quarter 2012 was consistent with our expectations,” said Rich Harshman, chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.
“Demand remained strong for our titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based and specialty alloys, and forged and cast components,” he said.
ATI is one of the largest and most diversified specialty metals producers in the world.
It has about 11,500 full-time employes worldwide.

Two awards
A Fort Recovery resident and farm each received awards from the Ohio Poultry Association.
Jim Zehringer was selected to receive the Golden Egg Award, which is given to an individual who has provided extraordinary service to Ohio producers.
Zehringer, a former poultry farmer, state representative and Ohio Director of Agriculture, is now serving as the state’s director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Meiring Poultry Farm, which was formerly owned by Zehringer and now by Bill and Janet Knapke, was awarded the OPA Environmental Stewardship Award.
Meiring farm has undergone several environmental upgrades including installation of field borders and filter strips, creation of wetlands and planting of trees. The farm is also monitoring surface and tile runoff to analyze amounts of phosphorous in the water.

Lowest rate
Mercer County held the lowest unemployment rate in Ohio for the fifth straight month.
The Mercer rate was down .6 percentage points to 4.9 percent in March. The rate is the lowest unemployment has been since before the national recession.

Atlanta trip
Local economic development officials traveled to Atlanta to meet with site selectors.
The Energize-ECI group included Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley, as well as representatives from Delaware and Grant counties.
The visit included updates on the new Right to Work legislation that was passed during the last legislative session.

Tax abatements
The Berne City Council approved tax abatements for EP Graphics and FCC-Adams.
The EP abatement will be on a $6 million investment for new equipment that should create 10 new jobs.
The council also approved four abatements for FCC for real estate and equipment, which will add 20 new jobs to the already 200 employed by the company.

Rate hike
Indiana and Michigan power has been holding public hearings around the state as it plans a nearly 25 percent rate hike.
Commercial electric rates could increase by 10 percent.
The company has held public hearing in South Bend, Fort Wayne and Muncie as it looks to pass increases to help pay for environmental upgrades being mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gas hike
Ohio Valley Gas is looking to pass a rate increase, the first since 2007.
The increase would range from about 12 to 13.5 percent, depending on usage.
The increase is being reviewed by the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, with a hearing scheduled for Aug. 28.
The rate increase process takes nine months to a year to be completed.

Retiring
Robert “Bob” Bell is retiring from First Merchants Bank.
Bell, the eastern region president, joined First Merchants in 1977 and held various positions before becoming president and overseeing operations of branches in the Portland, Decatur and Wabash areas.
During his time with the bank, Bell also served as a member of many community organizations including the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Extension Board, Jay County 4-H Council and Jay County Development Corporation.
He will remain a member of the First Merchants Bank Eastern Region Advisory Board and Youth Service Bureau.

New president
Dwane Sautbine has been named the new president of the Portland market of First Merchants Bank.
Sautbine began with First Merchants in 2001 and has 31 years experience in banking. He was also recently named senior commercial lender for the eastern region.
Sautbine holds degrees from Manchester College and Wisconsion School of Banking.
He’s a member of the Jay County Public Library Board, and the boards of Jay County Hospital Foundation, Jay County Development Corporation and Jay County Chamber of Commerce.[[In-content Ad]]