---- —
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — President Barack Obama declared Gulf Coast beaches clean, safe and open for business Saturday as he brought his family to the Florida Panhandle and promised residents that the government wouldn’t forget them once efforts to stop the leak are finished.
Obama is in the region for a brief weekend trip with first lady Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha (her sister Malia is at summer camp) and the family dog, Bo. Their 27-hour stop in the Sunshine State is as much a family vacation as it is an attempt by the president to convince Americans that this region, so dependent on tourism revenue, is safe for travel — and that its surf is clean.
The president’s trip came as the government’s point man on the Gulf spill said he wants additional testing before he orders BP to finish drilling a relief well that will allow the oil giant to plug the well for good.
Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen told reporters on Saturday that it could be late Monday or early Tuesday before officials know the results of those tests.
Business
Obama: Gulf is open for business
Officials hope visit boosts tourism
- Business
-
-
GE, Kazakhstan to build locomotives in partnership
GE Transportation said Wednesday the company signed a “memo of understanding’’ to create a joint venture with a Kazakhstan company to build a $90 million locomotive engine plant in that nation.
-
Company sues ex-exec over 2nd job
An Emlenton company has sued a Liberty Township man claiming fiduciary breach and fraud because he held a second job with a competitor.
-
Greenville Wood Products preps for statewide cable TV debut
The Pennsylvania Cable Network will take their cameras to Greenville Wood Products on Tuesday. The company, which has been fabricating custom wood projects in Pymatuning Township since 1971, will be featured in an upcoming episode of “PCN Tours.”
-
Supervisors extend permits for construction of Walmart
Springfield Township supervisors have agreed to extend the letter of credit and highway occupancy permit for the proposed Walmart Supercenter, but they still don’t know when the store might be built.
-
Debra Koenig named chairman of Quaker Steak
Quaker Steak & Lube is getting a bit of the golden arches in its new chairman.
-
Judge: Aborted land sale shows evidence of fraud
A judge recently dismissed civil charges filed against the owner of a North Hermitage Road property who allegedly reneged on a sale, but let stand charges against a real estate agent, his company, and a man associated with the owner.
-
FNB says earning up in Q1 due in part to Parkvale buy
FNB Corp. reported Monday its first quarter earnings were up 20.4 percent in the first quarter in large part due to its purchase of Pittsburgh-based Parkvale Financial Corp. FNB’s Parkvale purchase closed on Jan. 1.
-
Tower owner: Permit limits add up to denial
A company that owns a communication tower in Jefferson Township and a firm that wanted to install equipment on that tower have sued Jefferson Township, saying the supervisors attached so many conditions to their approval of a permit that they essentially denied it.
-
PM Kalco Inc. sues ex-owners, employees of metals maker
A Wheatland metals company has sued its former owners and several ex-employees alleging they have illegally started a competing business.
-
Advance Auto eyes site at State, Maple
Another national auto parts chain is planning to open a store in the Shenango Valley.
- More Business Headlines
-
GE, Kazakhstan to build locomotives in partnership


