First Niles dividend

First Niles dividend

NILES

First Niles Financial Inc., the parent company of Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Niles, has announced a cash dividend of $0.05 per share on common stock and $0.06 per share on preferred class A stock for the second quarter of 2015. The dividend will be payable June 19 to shareholders of record June 5.

Home Federal primarily serves the Niles area. First Niles had $98.7 million in assets and $12.5 million in stockholders’ equity as of March 31.

Cold Stone now catering events

warren

Cold Stone Creamery, 1924 Niles-Cortland Road, is now catering graduation parties, weddings, corporate events and other special occasions with its Sundae Bar. Customers can choose up to six flavors of ice cream and up to 10 toppings. For information or to schedule your event, contact Bob Suchanek at 330-349-9070.

Ryan to speak on post office issues

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, will speak at a press conference on U.S. Postal Service issues regarding the Youngstown distribution and processing facility, 99 S. Walnut St., downtown, at 1 p.m. Monday. USPS has postponed the closure of the facility temporarily until a new date can be determined.

Cause of fire at facility determined

COLUMBUS

Investigators say a massive fire at a recycling facility in Columbus was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Columbus Fire Capt. Jeff Martin says investigators determined the cause of the May 1 fire after interviewing employees at the Phoenix Recycling complex and reviewing video of the property.

Martin says the fire started behind a concrete dock used for unloading cardboard and other recycling materials from trucks. He says several employees told investigators they were smoking in the area just prior to the fire’s discovery, in violation of company policy.

Authorities say the fire caused about $8 million in damage. The captain also noted there were high winds, dry conditions and a large quantity of combustible materials in the area.

US stock indexes end mostly higher; S&P hits new high

U.S. stock indexes spent Friday mostly drifting between tiny gains and losses, but the small moves were enough to nudge the Standard & Poor’s 500 index to its second record high in two days.

The Dow Jones industrial average also notched a gain for the second day in a row. The Nasdaq bucked the trend, closing slightly lower.

Utilities stocks were among the biggest gainers as investors weighed a mix of U.S. economic data and corporate earnings news. The price of U.S. oil fell slightly, ending a second week in a row nearly flat just under $60 a barrel.

Despite the latest milestone, it was a mostly listless day on Wall Street, as traders appeared content to hold off on major moves after Thursday’s big rally.

Staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 26.49 0.12

Avalon Holdings,3.48 -0.1

Clear Channel, .46 23.50 -0.39

Cortland Bancorp, 15.05 -0.2

Farmers Nat., .128.16 0.06

First Energy, 1.44, 35.26 0.31

Fifth/Third, .5220.36 -0.27

FirstMerit Corp., .64,19.43 -0.22

First Niles Financial, .32,8.50 0

FNB Corp., .48,13.29 -0.19

General Motors, 1.2034.91 0.26

General Electric, .88,27.36-0.05

Huntington Bank, .20, 11.07 -0.16

JP Morgan Chase, 1.60,65.80 -0.25

Key Corp, .26,14.69 -0.24

LaFarge, 18.41 0.1

Macy’s, 1.25, 66.45 3.23

Parker Hannifin, 1.92, 122.28 -2.31

PNC, 1.92,93.61 -1.35

RTI Intl. Metals,38.10 -0.28

Simon Prop. Grp.,5.20,185.71 0.95

Stoneridge 12.21 0.41

Talmer Bank, 15.67 -0.19

United Comm. Fin., .04 5.45 -0.02

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