BUSINESS DIGEST || 1st Halcon drilling permit in Mahoning

1st drilling permit

NORTH JACKSON

Halcon Operating Co., a division of Houston-based Halcon Resources, has secured its first permit to drill for oil and gas in Mahoning County. The company has been active in Trumbull County, where it has permits in Hartford Township and Lordstown.

Halcon was granted a permit in Jackson Township this month. Oil and gas operations have grown slowly throughout Mahoning County since 2011. To date, five wells have been drilled and nearly 20 permits issued, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources records.

Meanwhile, Chesapeake Energy, the largest leaseholder in the Utica Shale play, will sell 94,000 acres in Stark and Portage counties, across an area thought to be rich in wet gas. The company announced it would sell billions in assets this year to help pay down debts.

New stores at mall

BOARDMAN

Southern Park Mall is preparing to welcome two new retailers this month.

Sleep Number, which sells a line of adjustable-firmness mattresses with air-chamber technology, as well as bedding accessories, will open its newly renovated and expanded location in mid-April. The store remains in the mall’s center court near Macy’s. Also midmonth, Crazy 8, the newest addition to the Gymboree Corp.’s family of brands, offers girls’ clothing and boys’ sizes newborn to 14. The new store will be at center court.

Boeau Belle Salon and Spa will open near Buffalo Wild Wings court in the mall in late April. The salon and spa will offer a variety of pampering services including eyebrow threading, microdermabrasion and other beauty services.

New furniture store

BOARDMAN

Pennsylvania Hill, a new furniture store featuring American and Amish-made furniture, will have a formal ribbon-cutting Friday to open its business at 6971 Southern Blvd.

There will be storewide discounts during the grand- opening event. The owners plan to open a second location in Hermitage, Pa., in the near future. Regular store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and closed Sunday. For more information, visit www.pennsylvania-hill.com.

Repossessions fall

LOS ANGELES

The number of U.S. homes repossessed by lenders last month fell to the lowest level in more than five years, the latest evidence that the nation’s foreclosure crisis is abating amid an improving housing market.

Though some states saw increases in homes taken back by banks, nationally home repossessions fell 3 percent in March from the previous month and were down 21 percent from a year earlier, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday.

Thirty-four states posted annual declines in completed foreclosures. Among those bucking that trend: Arkansas, Maryland, Washington and Pennsylvania.

All told, lenders repossessed 43,597 homes last month, the lowest level since September 2007.

Vindicator staff/wire reports