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‘Buy American’ could doom it, Duferco says
Wheatland Tube a company forced to buy elsewhere
FARRELL — Buying American has always been a proud trademark of the local region. But Duferco Farrell Corp. said that could result in its demise.
Duferco already has lost one local customer because of the concept — Wheatland Tube Co.
Due to the “buy American’’ provision in the $787 million national stimulus package, Wheatland Tube acknowledged Friday the company can’t buy steel from the Farrell steelmaker which is just several hundred yards from its local offices. The provision is being interpreted that steel used for public projects must be melted in the U.S.
Duferco’s Farrell plant buys slabs, which it said are generally not available in the U.S., overseas and then rolls them into coils.
Bill Kerins, president of Wheatland Tube, said his pipe and tube company had little choice in dropping Duferco a few weeks ago.
“We’re prepared to do business with Duferco Farrell when they’re able to be in compliance with the buy American provision and we hope they’re able to work that out,’’ Kerins said. “The reason we have to follow the buy American provision is that more and more of our customers are requiring us to do that. This requirement just isn’t under the stimulus package, but under other federal and state guidelines that 100 percent of the steel used in projects must be made and melted in the United States.’’
Pennsylvania, Kerins said, has a requirement that steel used in certain government projects must be entirely melted in the U.S. He added Wheatland Tube has met all of its contractual purchase obligations with Duferco.
Wheatland Tube supports the buy American provision, Kerins said, because it provides opportunities for American workers.
“We also support Duferco Farrell and we have been a longtime customer of theirs and hope to continue to be a longtime customer of theirs. They provide a quality product,’’ he said.
Messages left at Duferco’s Farrell office were not returned Friday. However, in an interview with the Washington Post, Duferco Executive Vice President Bob Miller said the provision has been so harmful that the mill could close, resulting in 600 workers losing their jobs.
For much of the year Duferco has had rolling layoffs for most of its workers.
Imports has been a touchy subject with Wheatland Tube.
The company has long said it has been hurt by pipe imports, particularly those from China which resulted in the closing of its Sharon pipe plant several years ago. Last year Wheatland Tube and other U.S. pipe producers won a landmark trade case against Chinese pipe products which the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled were being dumped on American shores.
Dumping is when a producer sells a product below the price it cost to produce, which violates American and international trade laws.
Wheatland Tube and other American producers currently have another trade case before the ITC in which the companies allege Chinese producers have dumped larger pipes used in the oil industry on American shores. A ruling in that case is expected later this year.
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Hood surfer back home, recovering
Natalie Huff, the 17-year-old girl critically hurt in a hood-surfing accident, made it home Friday for the first time since she was run over by a friend’s car last month.
David Huff, Natalie’s father, said she was in excellent spirits.
“She just wants to come home,” he said. “She wants out of the hospital. She’s doing really well.”
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Kelly: Jobs are the key to restoring economy
When businesses are healthy, they hire people, and everyone wins, according to Congressional candidate Mike Kelly
The Republican challenger announced his “Pathways to Prosperity” job plan Friday in time for Labor Day weekend at JFS Wealth Advisors in Hermitage. He also made stops in Butler, Crawford, and Erie counties.
Kelly, who faces U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie, D-3rd District in November, said he’s been up and down the county and hears about two concerns: jobs and the economy.
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Couple restoring a local landmark
The gardens were renowned and the house was a resting stop for future presidents.
Now, Dan Briceland and his wife Kristin are restoring the structure at 379 state Route 7 in Brookfield to its original glory.
Built in 1816 by Navy Capt. James Christy, the dilapidated house went up for sale this spring. The Bricelands, who have always wanted to restore an historic house, put in a bid and won.
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Cleanup planned for 2nd city neighborhood
The Irvine Avenue cleanup in Sharon was so successful that similar efforts are being planned for another part of the city.
The Sharon Beautification Commission is organizing a cleanup for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 for Meek Street and several surroundings streets, Sharon City Manager Tom Lavorini told council Thursday.
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Lock up vehicles, police urge
Residents should be alert for suspicious activity and keep their cars and homes locked in the wake of a recent rash of thefts from cars — some of which were left unlocked, Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Chief Riley Smoot said.
The most recent thefts were reported Wednesday in the Dogwood Lane, Oak Hill Drive and Kiwanis Road area of West Middlesex.
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Blue Streak thrills again
“It was great. What else can I say?” Dave Hahner said Thursday, just moments after taking his second ride on the Blue Streak.
That’s right. For the first time since 2006, Conneaut Lake Park’s historic roller coaster is back up and running. Once again ready, as Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, put it, “to bring thrills and chills to children of all ages.”
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3 Ohio men in county jail accused of Walmart theft ring
Three Ohio men are in Mercer County Jail for allegedly running a theft ring that stole video games and systems from Walmart stores and then sold them for cash.
Thomas “Tommy” Hamilton, 42, of Ashtabula; Alex Plitt, 34, of Jefferson; and Christopher Patton, 25, address unknown, were caught Aug. 25 after hitting up Walmart stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania for at least several months, Hempfield Township patrolman Daniel McCloskey said Wednesday.
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Blue Streak may be winner
The trustees of Conneaut Lake Park have invited the media and members of American Coaster Enthusiasts to the park today, where they are expected to announce that they will be awarded $50,000 in the Pepsi Refresh contest to help refurbish the Blue Streak roller coaster.
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Funding dries up
For two decades, Farrell Mayor Olive McKeithan has been an advocate for the city and its minority community. Now, one of the programs that’s near and dear to her heart is facing a funding crunch that could cause the Minority Health/ERASE Anti-Drug Coalition to cease operations at the end of the year.
Mrs. McKeithan helped start Minority Health 16 years ago when she worked for Sharon Regional Health System. It began as a way for the hospital to educate and serve the local African-American community, and since 1994 it has offered programs geared toward improving the health of blacks in the area.
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Hood surfer back home, recovering
