Business news digest

REGION
UCFC declares dividendof 9.5 cents a share
YOUNGSTOWN -- United Community Financial Corp. declared a quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents a share, payable March 15 to shareholders of record Feb. 28.
Also, UCFC said it will add Donald Varner to its board of directors. Varner's appointment, which will be effective March 15, fills the vacancy created by the death of board member Richard Barrett. Varner had been on the board from 1999 until he retired from Home Savings and Loan Co. in 2004. Varner, who will remain on the Home Savings board, had been secretary and senior vice president of Home Savings.
UCFC is the parent company of Home Savings and Butler Wick Corp.
NATION
Oil prices reachnew high for the year
NEW YORK -- Oil prices reached a new high for the year during a volatile session Friday, driven by tensions with oil-producing Iran and expectations of continued pressure on U.S. petroleum product supplies.
Light, sweet crude for April delivery added 19 cents to settle on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 61.14, its highest closing price since Dec. 22.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports