Locomotive production to plummet in 2010, GE says

Next year will be a bleak one for freight locomotive builders, according to GE Transportation.The company expects locomotive production at its Erie, Pa., manufacturing plant to drop about 44 percent this year to 485 units, then fall another 50 percent or more in 2010 as the builder primarily works off its order backlog, GE Transportation officials recently told Dow Jones Newswire."There are no [U.S.] customers who are actively purchasing right now," said GE Transportation President and Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Simonelli. "North America, from the standpoint of purchasing locomotives, is not moving."Several Class Is have begun to bring stored locomotives back into service. Although that’s a positive trend, it won’t impact new orders until no locomotives are in storage, said Simonelli.In addition, freight volumes “going from negative 20 percent to negative 16 percent don't do much for a manufacturer," he said. Despite the near-term economic environment, GE Transportation is optimistic about the long-term transportation sector and rail industry because of global transportation infrastructure needs and rail’s standing as one of the most fuel-efficient modes, said Simonelli.
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Pizza Palace Dave competes in Orlando!

By Sara Eddy OkerlundOlean Times Herald
Dave Smith, owner of Pizza Palace Plus in Emporium, Pa., competes in the dough-stretching competition in a pizza show held recently in Orlando, Fla. Photo submitted

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This guy knows how to stretch his dough
EMPORIUM, Pa. - Yes, the United States has a pizza team - and one area resident is a member of it.David Smith, who with his wife Marlene has co-owned the Pizza Palace Plus restaurant in Emporium since August 2001, has actually been a member of the team since 2007 when his cajun chicken pizza was tagged best in the nation.
Mr. Smith once again traveled to the Orlando (Fla.) Pizza Show where the U.S. Pizza Team recently held its tryouts, and bolstered his standing among the best of the nation’s pizza industry. For this year’s culinary contest Mr. Smith submitted a stuffed-mushroom pizza, which was judged to be the ninth best pie this time.Mr. Smith reasoned, “The judges were looking for thin crust and simplicity, and mine was a thicker crust loaded with toppings.
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Red Raiders down Brockway 28-20

BROCKWAY – Two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a go-ahead 27-yard run by quarterback Jason Blose with 3:40 left in regulation gave the Cameron County Red Raiders a come-from-behind 28-20 win over the Brockway Rovers Friday night.
The Red Raiders (3-0) intercepted Brockway quarterback Derek Buganza three times. The final one, by Blose himself, set up his own TD run. Ryan Grimm caught a two-point conversion pass from Vince Summers to put the Red Raiders up

22-20 with 3:40 remaining. Cameron County added another Blose TD run with 2:42 to set the final score....MORE

photo: Hunter Bardo avoids the defense while returning a Brockway punt more photos at http://camconative.dotphoto.com/

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GE Transportation cuts more than 1,500 Pa. jobs

ERIE, Pa. - GE Transportation is cutting more than 1,500 jobs in northwestern Pennsylvania.
The company announced Tuesday that it would make permanent 1,200 temporary layoffs that were announced in February at its factory near Erie, which makes electric locomotives. In addition, 230 hourly jobs and 50 salaried jobs are being cut there. Another 200 people are losing their jobs at an engine plant in Grove City.
Human resources manager Shaun Francis says the company was hoping that orders would improve but cut the jobs when that didn't happen. Francis says employees losing their jobs will get a week's pay for every year of service and paid health care for one year.
The company will have fewer than 4,000 workers in northwestern Pennsylvania after the layoffs, which take effect in 60 days.
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Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com

ed note: GE Transportation announced a reduction of 20 jobs in the Emporium facility. 18 hourly workers, and two salaried workers, will be layed off. Some employees could take an early retirement option
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Rendell Expected To Announce Budget At 8:00 PM

Legislative leaders, Rendell reach agreement on state budgetBy Brad BumstedSTATE CAPITOL REPORTERFriday, September 18, 2009Pittsburgh Live.com
HARRISBURG — Legislative leaders and Gov. Ed Rendell today reached agreement on a 2009-2010 budget that avoids a major state tax hike and may end the longest budget impasse in at least four decades.
Rendell is expected to announce the deal at an 8 p.m. news conference.
Under the deal, the planned phase-out of a business tax would be halted, table games at casinos would be legalized and taxes would be levied on small games of chance at firehouses and clubs. More...

Unstoppable Movie Experience Not So Good For Some Residents

By GRETCHEN ROKOSKYEra CorrespondentGretchen316@yahoo.com
EMPORIUM — What should have been the most exciting day of their lives turned out to be the most disappointing for a group of high school yearbook students from Cameron County High School on Friday.The students had been promised a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the feature film “Unstoppable,” but the publicist never appeared and the students were left standing in a hot parking lot for hours. Even taking out a small cell phone camera brought down the wrath of security. The students were told to put it away immediately. More...
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