Ohio, Valley gas prices soften

Ohio, Valley gas prices soften

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio gasoline prices have dropped by more than a dime after two weeks of increases.

The state’s average price for regular gas was $3.33 per gallon in the latest survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That compares with about $3.45 last Monday and $3.04 this time last year.

In the Mahoning Valley, gas averages $3.39 per gallon, down about two cents compared with last week.

Chesapeake reveals 2012 funding plans

OKLAHOMA CITY

Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Monday announced capital expenditure funding plans totaling about $10 billion to $12 billion for 2012.

Plans include an anticipated $2 billion infusion from two transactions expected in the next 60 days, which could include a joint-venture transaction in the Mississippi Lime and Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico.

The company said it would sell all of its 1.5 million acres in the Permian Basin should it receive a “compelling offer.” A joint venture and sale could bring in $6 billion to $8 billion, the company said.

Chesapeake also anticipates $2 billion in proceeds for its midstream and service company assets and miscellaneous investments.

Chesapeake also said it will begin a public offering of $1 billion of senior notes with a maturity date of 2019.

Changes at Sparkle

YOUNGSTOWN

The city’s longtime Sparkle Market on the West Side is still open and still under the same ownership but has undergone drastic changes.

The store no longer bears the Sparkle name and is no longer a full-service grocer. It is now a convenience market.

It’s staff has been cut from about 30 to about 10, and its workers say their hours have been cut as well.

The store underwent the changes Monday; store hours remain 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Workshops at St. E’s and St. Joe’s

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning and Trumbull County high-school juniors and seniors interested in health-care careers are invited to a free Healthcare Career Exploration for Teens workshop beginning Feb. 23 at St. Elizabeth Health Center or Wednesday Feb. 29 at St. Joseph Health Center.

Workshops are from 5:45 until 8:30 p.m.

The program targets high-school students interested in health care, including advanced-degree health professions.

Subsequent workshops at St. E’s, 1044 Belmont Ave., will be March 13, April 17 and May 15. At St. Joe’s, 667 Eastland Ave. Warren, workshops will be March 29, April 25 and May 23.

To register, contact Ron Shadd, NEO HealthForce coordinator, at 330-965-1787, ext. 7143, or Noreen Moderalli, Eastern Ohio Area Health Education Center director, at 330-941-2491.

From staff reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 22.38 .31

Avalon Holdings,3.85—.15

Clear Channel, .77 69.00 .96

Cortland Bancorp, 7.15.00

Farmers Nat., .125.30 —.15

First Energy, 2.20, 43.03.38

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.13 .10

First Niles Financial, .32,7.30.00

First Place Fin., .90.20

FNB Corp., .48,11.99.17

General Motors,25.34—.16

General Electric, .68,19.07.20

Motors Liquidation, .04.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 5.90—.01

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,38.30.69

Key Corp, .12,8.09.15

LaFarge, 10.69 .22

Macy’s, .80, 35.80.12

Parker Hannifin, 1.56, 90.252.74

PNC, 1.40,60.09.42

RTI Intl. Metals,23.701.13

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.60,136.881.07

Stoneridge 10.07 —.23

United Community Fin. 1.27—.02

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Monday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.