LOCAL

LOCAL
Agency goes Platinumfor performance
POLAND -- First Place Insurance Agency recently achieved Platinum-level status from Westfield Insurance for their top performance among the company's more than 1,200 insurance agencies throughout the country.
The Platinum status is the highest level in Westfield's FOCUS program, which is performance-based and designed to measure the levels of profit, growth, size and persistency of an agency's business with the Company.
"First Place Insurance's dedication contributes to our success, giving Westfield the edge in a competitive marketplace," said Westfield P & amp;C President Roger McManus.
Zone changes industry
HUBBARD -- Township trustees have approved a zone change for Warren Fabricating, which means the steel manufacturer can now expand the current facility. The zone change, from light industrial to heavy industrial, was approved during Thursday's meeting.
"This is very good for us because it will bring more jobs to the area," said Trustee Jonathan Dowell. "Warren Fabricating has been a very good partner to us and we hope to continue." Company officials said the expansion should bring about 250 jobs over the next five years.
Osteopathic presidentelected and installed
Dr. David Bitonte of Louisville, Ohio, a graduate of Youngstown State University, was installed as president of the Ohio Osteopathic Association at its 107th Annual Meeting & amp; Scientific Seminar in Cincinnati June 23-26.
He currently serves as medical director for Ohio KePRO, the Medicare quality improvement organization for Ohio.
Bitonte is a past president of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists, Akron-Canton Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and the Stark County Medical Society.
Bitonte, received a master's of business and administration degree at YSU, and also is a graduate of the University of Dayton and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He completed residencies at Warren General Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh.
Bitonte will represent 3,800 osteopathic physicians in Ohio.
REGIONAL
Top Heinz exec paid less than last year
WASHINGTON -- H.J. Heinz Co., one of the world's biggest food producers, paid its top executive combined salary and bonus of $2.95 million in fiscal 2005, down slightly from $3.09 million a year before, according to a regulatory filing Friday.
According to the proxy statement, the Pittsburgh-based maker of ketchup, other condiments, sauces and frozen foods paid Chairman and Chief Executive W. R. Johnson a $1.05 million salary for the year ended April 27, the same as the year before, and a $1.9 million bonus, down from $2.04 million.
Heinz also granted Johnson $772,759 in restricted stock awards, down from $3.4 million, as well as 294,363 stock options.
The options have an exercise price of $37.06 a share and expire May 19, 2014. The company estimates the value of the stock options on the grant date to be $2.75 million.
Johnson also received $560,345 in other compensation, mostly in contributions to his retirement plans, life insurance premiums and financial counseling.