Newport’s MSA secures $45 million contract for ballistic combat helmets
MSA (NYSE: MSA) announced today that it has been awarded a two-year $45 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) to supply U.S. military forces with Advanced Combat Helmets. Delivery of the helmets will begin in the third quarter of 2009, pending first article testing and certification.MSA began producing ballistic helmets for the U.S. military in 2002 and, in partnership with the U.S. Army, developed the concept for the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH). The ACH incorporates a lightweight design that offers soldiers advanced ballistic protection with greater comfort, stability and situational awareness. Since adoption by the Army as the standard basis of issue, the ACH has been credited with saving numerous lives in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.”Following the completion of several long-term ACH contracts, this award represents a new and exciting phase of ACH production at MSA,” said Bill Lambert, MSA President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re grateful for the trust the U.S. military has placed in MSA and for the opportunity to continue to serve as a partner in the effort to provide our fighting men and women in uniform with the highest level of protection possible.”Lambert noted that the ACH award represents particularly good news for MSA employees located at the company’s manufacturing facility in Newport, Vt. “Our associates there have done an exemplary job in meeting the ballistic helmet needs of the U.S. Army since we began production there in 2002. This latest award gives MSA the opportunity to continue ACH production at Newport and leverage the broad ballistic protection expertise our associates there have attained over the past several years.”U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), senior member of the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus, was equally pleased with the military’s decision to have ACH production continue in his home state. “The men and women at MSA of Newport have delivered tens of thousands of expertly made helmets to the U.S. Army,” Senator Leahy said. “These Vermonters have put their skill and energy and dedication into those helmets, which have saved soldiers’ lives during hard deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. This long-term sustainment purchase secures Newport’s place as a preferred military helmet supplier for the next two years and, I hope, beyond. “MSA also provides ballistic helmets to special branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, military forces in Europe, and the Canadian Military.Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people’s health and safety. Many MSA products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company’s comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, oil, gas and petrochemical industry, homeland security, construction, mining and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, ballistic body armor, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand. MSA has annual sales of approximately $1 billion, manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and more than 40 international locations. Additional information is available on the company’s Web site at www.msanet.com(link is external).PITTSBURGH, March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/SOURCE MSA
Tennessee’s annual Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT) is going virtual this year. During the virtual month-long event, which takes place September 1- 30, riders can log their miles on lovetoride.net as part of the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee Cycling Club. The goal is for participants to ride 688 miles, the distance from Bristol to Memphis, in the month of September. Because this year is the 31st annual BRAT, the club has a goal of 31,000 miles collectively. Tennessee State Parks to host virtual bike ride across the state The brook floater, a state-endangered freshwater mussel, was recently reintroduced into waters it hasn’t inhabited in more than 100 years, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said in a news release. In July, agency biologists stocked approximately 350 brook floaters downstream of Lake James in the Catawba River. The last time a brook floater was documented in this stretch of river was 1919, shortly before the impoundment of Lake James. Photo: Night scene with starry sky and meteorite trail over forest. Long exposure shoot by Eshma Biologists introduce freshwater mussel into Catawba River after an absence of 100+ years “This is a great event for cyclists across our state, and the virtual format will allow everyone to participate while still practicing social distancing,” Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said in a news release. “It’s a way to maintain personal goals but still follow safety guidelines in light of COVID-19.” Mussel species have a high extinction rate, especially in the last few decades. In North Carolina alone, there are 48 species of mussel, 30 of which are listed as endangered, threatened or special concern. “Mussels are important because they help keep our waters clean,” said T.R. Russ, the lead Commission biologist.
Paul, who is listed as questionable for Game 1, is as tough as they come. Pound for pound, he’s probably the toughest you’ll find in the NBA.• More Paul: Gutsy performance keeps Clippers alive in playoffsHe’ll plead and argue and promise his hamstring is strong enough to carry him. He’ll point to the MRI he underwent Sunday, which came back as good as can be expected, and say that’s more than enough proof he’s OK to play. He’ll get mad and throw a tantrum and demand he takes the court with the rest of the Clippers.As he should. He’s wired to compete, especially with the stakes so high.He’s never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs, and you just know he’s itching to reset the narrative painting him as a player incapable of leading his team on a prolonged postseason run. Even if it means driving his body into dangerous territory. But that’s where you, his boss, need to step in and save him from himself.If you have to lock Paul in the locker room at the Houston Toyota Center before Game 1, do it.• Preview: Clippers look to ride momentum vs. rested RocketsIf you have to tie him to the bench, or make Glen “Big Baby” Davis sit on him to keep him from checking into the game, by all means, do it.Just make sure he stays on the sideline, or back in the locker room, getting the treatment he’ll need to help insure he can play the balance of this series rather than just a fraction of it.Game 1 is important.But no one ever advanced to the conference finals leading 1-0. And no one was ever eliminated going down 0-1, either.No matter what happens Monday, nothing gets settled.Think long range, not short.It’s one thing when the Clippers closed their eyes, rolled the dice and prayed Paul’s ailing left hamstring wouldn’t completely rip as they leaned on him in Game 7 against the Spurs.With tomorrow no longer an option, the Clippers had no choice but to ask Paul to forget the biting pain, play through the severe limitations and somehow, some way will himself to hit the biggest shot in franchise history and slay the defending champions to advance to the second round.There were no other options. When it’s win or go home, you do whatever it takes. Even if whatever is putting your best player in harms way.“I don’t think we win that game,” Clippers guard J.J. Redick said of Paul’s influence. “Down the stretch, you see what happens in a lot of games in this series where it comes down to a couple of possessions. We needed CP to have the ball in his hands at the end of the game.”Said Jamal Crawford: “It was unbelievable. We talked — myself, J.J. (Redick), DJ (DeAndre Jordan) and Blake (Griffin) — we talked about how we were here last year when he was out for six weeks. That’s when we leaned on each other. Obviously Chris commands so much attention. So we were just trying to bide our time before he came back in. When he came back, it was magical.”It sure was.Paul got through it. The Clippers survived it. And we all lived to see another day.But it’s time to be thankful, not stupid.So let Paul sit and watch Game 1.Not saying another day or two of rest means he’ll be 100 percent the rest of the series. It’s wishful thinking at this point to assume he’ll be his MVP-candidate self at any point against Houston.He’s hurt. That’s obvious.And utterly unfair, a sentiment expressed all over Paul’s face as he limped to the locker room upon hurting himself.“There was a lot of things going through my head,” Paul said. “You think about all season long, I think about Blake, D.J., a lot of guys on our team, we do everything we can to prepare for a game. You get your rest, you train, you work out, you eat right, try to take care of your body, and I was just overcome with emotion because I was frustrated, because I was like, all this time, all season long, and then Game 7 my body is going to let me down.”Paul came back. Asked his hamstring to go above and beyond. And it obliged.But now it’s time to be smart.Four straight days of round-the-clock rest, treatment and therapy ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2 seems a helluva lot more prudent than 48 hours. If you have to err on the side of caution, so be it.Besides, the Houston Rockets are good. But they aren’t San Antonio Spurs good or smart or experienced.Even without Paul in Game 1, it’s a winnable situation considering the broad shoulders Blake Griffin offered and used to carry the Clippers during the first round.Crawford can be counted on in a spot start. And as good as Dwight Howard is, he’s no Tim Duncan.The Clippers can win one game without Paul.But even if sitting him means taking a loss in Game 1, that’s still better than risking losing him for the remainder of the series by rushing him back.Be prudent, Clippers.You need Paul for the long haul, not just one game.vincent.bonsignore@langnews.com @DailyNewsVinny on Twitter HOUSTON >> Don’t do it, Clippers.Don’t get mind tricked by the pressure of a second-round playoff series and do something you’ll regret.Don’t rush Chris Paul back from the left hamstring injury he suffered in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs Saturday. Don’t risk further injury by playing him in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Monday against the Houston Rockets.And whatever you do, don’t let him hoodwink you into believing he’s good to go for Game 1.
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