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Quick takes

INDUCTED: Dale Featheringham of Cedar One Realty was one of six Realtors inducted into the organization’s inaugural hall of fame during the recent East Central Association of Realtors membership meeting and banquet.

Featheringham, of Bergholz, is a broker at Cedar One Realty and owner of Featheringham Auction Co.

He has been involved in real estate since 1971, starting his career in Columbus before coming back to Jefferson County. He had his own real estate company for years before joining forces with Joe Luckino at Cedar One Realty, but he maintains his auction company.

He has a master’s degree in economics and minors in mathematics and school administration.

NEW CFO: Denny McMaster, former vice president and senior leader at Washington and Jefferson College, will serve as Bethany College’s new vice president for finance and chief financial officer.

McMaster began his new responsibilities on Nov. 12.

“I am excited to welcome Denny to Bethany’s senior team during this historic time of forward-thinking and strategic planning on our campus,” said the Rev. Tamara Rodenberg, college president. “Denny’s more than two decades of experience in executive fiscal management and leadership across higher education and several industry sectors will help propel our vision and prepare the way for an even more innovative future at Bethany College.”

For 17 years, 13 on the senior cabinet, McMaster served Washington and Jefferson College, holding such posts as associate vice president for business, vice president for business and finance/chief financial officer and interim president.

A certified public accountant in the state of Pennsylvania, McMaster began his career in public accounting with Deloitte, working out of the company’s Pittsburgh office.

McMaster earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and finance from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He and his spouse Chris have two children.

“Bethany’s vision for its future is both inspiring and exciting,” McMaster said. “I am honored to join President Rodenberg’s senior team and look forward to partnering with my colleagues and the entire Bethany community as we turn this vision into reality.”

OIL SLIDE: Energy companies led a slide on Wall Street Friday morning as the price of U.S. crude oil tumbled to its lowest level in more than a year. Traders are worried that a slowing global economy could hurt demand for oil. A slide in technology and internet stocks also weighed on the market. Retailers were mixed as investors monitored Black Friday for signs of a strong holiday shopping season.

The S&P 500 index fell 7 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,642 as of 11:43 a.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 84 points, or 0.4 percent, to 24,379. The Nasdaq composite dropped 4 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,967. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks picked up 9 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,498.

The benchmark U.S. crude contract slid 6.3 percent to $51.21 per barrel in New York. That is the lowest in more than a year. The contract gained $1.20 on Wednesday. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 5.9 percent to $58.94 per barrel in London. It lost 88 cents the day before.

Experts say the U.S. is increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia and OPEC to not cut production, as the Saudis had indicated they would, at their meeting on Dec. 6. President Donald Trump may have some leverage by not sanctioning Saudi Arabia over the death of a dissident writer. With oil supply already ample, that could push prices down further.

The slide in oil prices weighed on energy stocks. Marathon Oil dropped 3.8 percent to $15.80.

From staff and wire reports

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