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Community Concerned About Future Of 911th Airlift Wing

MOON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- There's an air of sadness in Moon Township after the Air Force announced plans to close the 911th Airlift Wing in the next two years.

At Kip's Ice Cream on Thorn Run Road, owner Teresa Ware said the community would get hit hard by the closure.

She estimates 50 percent of her business comes from base personnel.

Armstrong's restaurant is another local business that believes they'll be hurt by the closure.

Manager John Faggioli says they get a good lunchtime crowd and perhaps half the business comes from the base on any given weekday.

The announcement from the Air Force is part of a plan in hopes of saving more than $8 billion nationwide.

Congressman Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, says he's meeting with Air Force officials next week to begin efforts to save the base.

Closure would require congressional approval.

This is not the first time the base has been on the chopping block. Washington tried to close it in the 90s and in 2005.

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