SALEM, Ore. - Next week, Sprague High school's R.J. Pena will look to do something very few high school wrestlers have ever done: he's gunning for his 3rd straight state title.But even if he accomplishes that impressive feat, the Junior wrestler will probably walk off the mat wondering what else he can do to get even better.It's easy for teammates to describe Sprague's Pena on the mat. They usually use one word: dominant. And so far Pena has been just that. He won the 112-pound state crown as a freshmen, the 125-pound title last year and so far this year in the 140-pound division, he's undefeated. "Ever since I was little I wanted to be a four-time state champion," Pena said. "That has been my goal, my dream and of course if I win this year I'll have one more year and I'll have my goal."Coach Kary Hadden has confidence he can do it.

Product innovation continues to drive Croda’s business

MILL HALL — As Croda International grows, the head of their North American operations says product innovation will continue to be a key driver for their business. Kevin Gallagher, president of Croda, Inc., the division that oversees the company's Mill Hall manufacturing facility and other North American operations, spoke recently to members of the local plant's Community Advisory Council. Gallagher said the past year-and-a-half has been a time of change for the company with the acquisition of Uniqema, a firm based in the United Kingdom which manufactures products similar to Croda but which has strengths in different markets. “The acquisition of Uniqema has more than doubled the size of Croda International," said Gallagher. “And it has strengthened our position as a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for the cosmetics, toiletries, homecare, healthcare and pharmaceutical, plastics, food and industrial specialty markets.

Novacta Receives 3.5 Million Pounds Strategic Translation Award From ...

Novacta Biosystems, a UK-based anti-infective therapeutics company, announces that the Wellcome Trust, the UK's largest medical research charity, has awarded it £3.5 million as part of the Trust's Strategic Translational Award programme. Novacta will use the award to progress development of a drug which, it is hoped, will help combat hospital-based Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) infections.

C. Difficile infections (CDIs) are a growing and serious problem and have, for example, been associated with twice as many deaths in UK hospitals last year as MRSA. Cases of C.difficile infections, which occur in the lower digestive tract, rose by 22 per cent in the past year and affected more than 15,500 people over 65 in the first quarter of 2007. New anti-infective drugs are needed to target C.difficile without depleting other beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Churches Wary of NFL Policy Sack Super Bowl Parties

The biggest game of the year will be on television screens across the country this weekend as the undefeated New England Patriots take on the New York Giants. But the much-anticipated football game won't likely be showing on screens inside the churches this year.