Marketplace Today

Marketplace Today, Marketplace of Ideas are moving

2008-08-21T23:59:00.000-05:00

Marketplace’s Marketplace Today and Marketplace of Ideas blogs are moving to Marketplace’s home page.

Marketplace Today is moving to www.marketplacemagazine.com; for those who want to bookmark, the address is http://www.marketplacemagazine.com/blogs/blog1.php.

Marketplace of Ideas is also moving to the www.marketplacemagazine.com; for those who want to bookmark, http://www.marketplacemagazine.com/blogs/blog2.php.

Gannett announces job cuts in state

2008-08-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Gannett’s Central Wisconsin Media Group is cutting 11 full-time positions next month when it closes its Stevens Point production facility, the Wausau Daily Herald reported today.

Gannett owns that paper, as well as the Stevens Point Journal, Marshfield News–Herald and Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune in central Wisconsin. The printing, inserting and labeling work will move to Wausau, the newspaper said.

The news is the latest cutback announced by the Virginia-based media company, which said last week that it would cut 1,000 jobs nationwide, including 600 layoffs.

The Green Bay Press–Gazette will lay off eight employees, publisher Kevin Corrado said Friday. That's 2.4 percent of the paper’s 328 employees.

The Post~Crescent in Appleton will lay off eight of its 581 workers within the next week, publisher Genia Lovett said. That's 1.4 percent of its work force.

The newspaper has been forced to make cuts as advertisers reduce their spending in the poor economy, she said.

Forest managers react to emerald ash borer

2008-08-21T14:15:00.001-05:00

By Lee Bergquist
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Managers of the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest said this morning that they are further restricting the movement of firewood and would not allow visitors to bring in firewood from anywhere south of Wisconsin 29.

Wisconsin 29 bisects the state from Green Bay to Prescott on the Mississippi River.

For the past two years, the Forest Service had not allowed firewood from outside of Wisconsin.

The changes are motivated by the discovery of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle, in Wisconsin this month.

The beetle is unable to move more than a few miles on its own, but often hitchhikes a ride on firewood to travel long distances and infect new areas.

The emerald ash borer has been found in 10 states and is responsible for killing tens of millions of trees.

Tickets available for Titans–Packers Thursday

2008-08-21T13:44:00.002-05:00

A limited number of tickets are available for the Aug. 28 Packers-Titans game, the Packers announced today.

A few hundred tickets were not utilized by the Titans, according to Mark Wagner, the Packers’ director of ticket operations.

Tickets can be purchased online by going to www.packers.com/tickets/single_game_tickets. A link to Ticketmaster information is available there, as is information for purchasing tickets over the phone or in person.

Outgoing UW leader rips business lobby

2008-08-21T12:09:00.001-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Outgoing University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor John Wiley says the state's largest business lobby has been taken over by "political extremists" and has become an obstacle to economic development.

Wiley is using a 3,000-word essay in Madison Magazine to slam Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and state lawmakers for creating a “toxic” political environment that puts partisanship ahead of the state's pressing needs.

Wiley’s jabs come as he prepares to step down Sept. 1 as chancellor, a job he has held since 2001.

Wiley says WMC has become a partisan political lobbying organization that does little to create the high-income jobs the state's economy needs to flourish.

Click here to read Wiley's essay posted on the magazine's Web site.

WMC disputes Wiley's characterizations. Click here to read its response.

Oshkosh Corp. cutting workforce by 10%

2008-08-21T12:06:00.001-05:00

By Tom Daykin
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Oshkosh Corp. said today that it will cut its global work force by 10 percent, just two weeks after weak construction activity caused the heavy equipment maker to reduce its earnings forecast.

The company is making the work force reduction through layoffs, retirements and unfilled open positions, according to a statement.

The statement didn’t say how many employees Oshkosh has worldwide. The company’s latest annual report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said Oshkosh had 14,200 employees as of Sept. 30, 2007. That would translate to a reduction of 1,420 positions.

The statement didn’t elaborate on whether any cuts were occurring in Wisconsin or provide information on how many employees Oshkosh has in the state. The company has not filed any layoff notices with the state Department of Workforce Development, said agency official Jerry Smith.

The company has 2,700 employees in Oshkosh, where it is based, according to the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. It has 1,500 employees at its Pierce Manufacturing operation in Appleton, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. The company also has 250 union employees in Kewaunee, according to its annual report.

The operations in Oshkosh, which include more than 1,800 production employees, focus on defense work, which has remained a bright spot for the company. The Appleton operations are part of the company’s fire and emergency segment, which posted a 3.1 percent sales decline during the third quarter.

"To meet current economic and market-place challenges, Oshkosh Corp. is implementing global corporate-wide organizational changes that will reduce costs, rebalance inventories and position the company to respond to the slowdown in residential and commercial construction," the statement said.

96 access in Grand Chute closed through Friday

2008-08-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northeast Regional Office at Green Bay is announcing that access to Communications Drive from Wisconsin 96 will be temporarily closed for paving at the intersection beginning this afternoon, Thursday, August 21.

Access will be restored on Friday afternoon.

On Friday morning, Aug. 22, access to Mayflower Drive from Wisconsin 96 will be closed for paving the intersection. Access will be restored to traffic on Saturday morning.

This work is part of the ongoing construction project on Wisconsin 96. Motorists should remain alert and use extra caution when driving through this or any work zone.

Parade of Homes school supply drive through Sunday

2008-08-21T10:30:00.001-05:00

In conjunction with the Parade of Homes through Aug. 24, members of Valley Home Builders Association are collecting school supplies for area school children.

To donate, drop off school supplies during Parade of Homes hours, 5–8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, or 11 a.m.–5 p.m. this weekend, at any of the 39 homes in the event. If you’d like to tour the homes, Parade admission comes with a ticket purchase, with or without a donation.

School supplies will be donated to the school districts in which Parade homes are located. Locations of Parade homes, along with a list of suggested donations are available on www.vhba.com.

Those who are unable to tour the homes, school supplies may also be dropped off at the VHBA office, 920 W. Association Dr., Appleton, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wausaukee voters approve exceeding school revenue limits

2008-08-21T08:12:00.004-05:00

Wausaukee School District voters have approved a referendum to exceed state revenue limits by $675,000 for 10 years.

The 1,234–674 vote may end efforts to dissolve the school district, after a previous referendum to exceed revenue limits failed.

The state School District Boundary Appeal Board will hold hearings in Wausaukee Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on a proposed order to dissolve the school district. Future hearings have been scheduled for Sept. 30 or Oct. 1, Nov. 11 or 12, and December and January if needed. The board will decide by Jan. 15.

The referendum passed in the Village of Wausaukee and the towns of Amberg, Wagner and Wausaukee. The referendum failed in the towns of Athelstane and Silver Cliff.

School districts consider lawsuit in investment downturn

2008-08-21T08:08:00.003-05:00

By Amy Hetzner
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Five Wisconsin school districts, including Kimberly, could face combined losses of tens of millions of dollars in a complex investment scheme to help fund employee retirement benefits, according to investigators hired by the districts.

The value of district investments has declined by $120 million — or 60 percent — since the transactions were undertaken within the last two years, according to a news release from a public relations firm for the attorneys who examined the deals.

School district officials released statements accompanying the news release Wednesday, saying they were misled by a financial adviser, and that the investments were much riskier than they had been told.

"There were no documents signed by the districts or even presented to the districts prior to closing that disclosed the true risk of the deal," said Shawn Yde, director of business services for the Whitefish Bay School District. "There is no way the districts knew or could have known that they were being victimized."

School boards for the five districts — Kimberly, Kenosha, Waukesha, West Allis–West Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay — plan to vote over the next few weeks on whether to file a lawsuit to recoup their losses, said Craig Peterson, president and CEO of Milwaukee public relations firm Zigman Joseph Stephenson Inc.

"The school districts feel as though they were intentionally misled, that they were buying at least AA-rated investment products," Peterson said. An AA rating usually means that an investment is safer, although it does not earn as much money as riskier deals.

The five districts recently hired two law firms — one in Milwaukee and a Houston-based firm that specializes in securities fraud litigation — to look into their investment in complex financial instruments known as collateralized debt obligations. A chartered financial analyst also was retained.

CDOs are bundles of debt that can range from corporate bonds to subprime mortgages. They have been at the center of the global financial turmoil that has brought down some major companies over the last year.

The five districts made the investments in 2006 using borrowed money and, in some cases, district assets to help seed trusts they established to borrow more money to funnel into the CDOs. According to Wednesday's news release, the deals also involved a credit default swap, another fairly recent financial vehicle designed to transfer risk from one investing party to another.

The value of the investments has plummeted over the last year, triggering calls for millions of dollars more in collateral to avoid a drop in income from quarterly dividends.

But until recently, school officials had continued to insist that their investments were safe and that district funds were protected. Until the last fiscal quarter, they all also had been receiving surplus payments from the investments that they could use to pay non-pension retirement benefits for their employees.

Representatives from all of the districts said in statements released Wednesday that they had been sold investments far riskier than they had been led to believe by the investment banks involved in the deal.

Officials with Royal Bank of Canada, which devised the CDOs and determines their value, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., the original broker on the deal, could not be reached Wednesday night.

"At all times we believed we were acting in the best interest of our citizens, and in accordance with Wisconsin state statutes," said Deborah Rouse, director of business services for West Allis–West Milwaukee, in her written statement. "We were victimized by these sophisticated financial institutions and we are recommending action."

Said Jason Demerath, interim executive director of business services for Waukesha: "We were unknowingly sold a risky and expensive plan . . . We are shocked and angry, and Waukesha will do everything in its power to get our money back."

Shopko donates $1 million to Concordia

2008-08-21T08:03:00.001-05:00

By Erica Perez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Concordia University has received $1 million from Green Bay-based discount chain Shopko — the lead gift in the university’s $20 million campaign to create a School of Pharmacy that would open in 2010 at the lakeside Mequon campus.

Shopko Chairman and CEO Mike MacDonald and Executive Vice President of Retail Health Services Mike Bettiga presented a check to Concordia officials Wednesday.

“Shopko is proud to be giving the first gift for the creation of Concordia’s new pharmacy school,” Bettiga said. “Shopko was founded by a pharmacist over 46 years ago, and pharmacy has been pivotal to our business ever since.”

The new school is designed to meet the growing demand for pharmacists in Wisconsin and throughout the country. That demand is expected to increase in coming years as more pharmacists retire. The state’s only pharmacy school is at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Wisconsin has the highest demand for pharmacists of any state in the country, according to the Pharmacy Manpower Project, a nonprofit corporation that develops data on the size and demography of the pharmacy workforce. Concordia plans to accept 50 to 75 students for each class. UW-Madison, by comparison, graduates about 130 students a year.

The educational model also will be different. Students who have completed two years of a pre-pharmacy program can apply to Concordia. Those who finish two years can earn a bachelor’s in pharmaceutical science. Those who stay for four years can get a doctor of pharmacy degree.

School of Pharmacy Executive Dean Curt Gielow said he’s thankful to Shopko for the gift, which shows the company’s interest in increasing the pool of pharmacists for its stores in urban and rural Wisconsin.

“It’s only a small portion of what I need, but, hopefully, it will stimulate others to make a decision as to whether or not a pharmacy school in Wisconsin — and one in the metro Milwaukee healthcare market — is of value,” he said.

The new building alone will cost about $17 million, based on preliminary estimates from Zimmerman Architectural Studios in Wauwatosa, Gielow said.

The school also needs to assemble a senior leadership team, begin the accreditation process and eventually hire 30 to 40 faculty members. The goal is to raise at least $10 million in the next six to eight months. If school leaders can’t meet that target, they will have to re-evaluate the plans to open by 2010, Gielow said

Stora Enso CEO: NewPage deal will succeed

2008-08-20T13:16:00.001-05:00

By Joel Dresang
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The head of the Finnish paper company that sold its North American holdings to NewPage Corp. said today that he remains confident that the deal would help the U.S. operations succeed.

“That unit has the best chance of success in the tough battle,” Jouko Karvinen, chief executive officer of Stora Enso Oyj, told Reuters news service in Helsinki.

NewPage, based in Ohio and part of the private equity group Cerberus Capital Management, is closing its mill in Kimberly next week in response to contracting demand for coated printing paper used for magazines and catalogs. Last month, NewPage closed a mill in Niagara, which also was part of the $2.5 billion deal for Stora Enso North America, including operations in Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Biron and Whiting.

Stora Enso still holds a 20-percent stake in the North American operations, and Karvinen said he’s counting on NewPage succeeding.

“I am even more convinced than a year ago that to divest Stora Enso North America and create NewPage was a good thing for Stora Enso and for NewPage,” Karvinen told Reuters.

EPA: Brown County violating clean air standards

2008-08-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

By Lee Bergquist
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday designated six Wisconsin counties, including Brown County, for the first time ever, as violating federal standards for fine-particle pollution.

The other five counties are Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Dane and Columbia.

The revised standard was set after the agency reviewed thousands of scientific studies on how the tiny particles affect the lungs and heart and concluded that allowable daily limits for soot levels must fall by 46 percent.

The EPA said the new levels could produce health benefits of $9 billion to $75 billion a year nationally, but many science and environmental groups said standards should have been made even stricter.

Many business groups, however, were opposed to the reductions because they will mean more regulations and higher costs for affected companies over about the next five years.

“Certainly the non-attainment designation comes with an expensive new layer of permitting,” said Scott Manley, director of environmental policy for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business lobby.

In the six Wisconsin counties, companies that expand or move into the area could be forced to purchase the most expensive pollution controls on the market and would have to find ways to cut soot levels.

In the Midwest, the EPA named 76 counties as not meeting the new standard for fine particles.

In Wisconsin, if the designations become a reality — there is still a period for public comment — the new standards will create different rules with different responsibilities in different counties.

Some counties, such as Dane, will violate standards for particulates but not for another pollutant known as ozone. Others, such as Ozaukee, will violate the standard for ozone but not particle pollution.

“It will certainly create a patchwork,” observed Al Shea, administrator of the division of air and waste management at the state Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR said the six counties could meet the new standards if utilities agree to reduce other pollutants as part of proposed mercury-reductions regulations now before the Republican-controlled Assembly.

The Assembly Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the mercury rule today. The rule aims to cut mercury levels from coal-fired power plants by 90% by 2021 if utilities agree to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, as well.

It is these other pollutants that help create soot. The tiny particles come from coal-fired power plants, cars and trucks and other sources and are 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller.

A human hair is about 70 microns.

When breathed, fine particles can eventually lead to lung disease, asthma attacks and heart problems.

Ozone, a summer phenomenon, can cause heart and lung troubles, too. But high levels of particle pollution can hit even in the winter. In December, the DNR issued an unprecedented 25-hour particle-pollution alert in metropolitan Milwaukee when emissions were so high that authorities recommended that everyone — even healthy people — cut back on strenuous outdoors activity.

DNR and Gov. Jim Doyle have said that planned reductions by utilities and industry and anticipated cuts from the mercury regulations will ratchet down emissions.

In December, Doyle asked the EPA to consider all counties in Wisconsin as being in compliance with the law.

But the EPA responded on Tuesday by designating the six counties as being in violation. In a letter to Doyle, the EPA said it could not give counties a pass, based on what they might do in the future.

Jennifer Feyerherm of the Sierra Club office in Madison agreed with the EPA action.

“The EPA is using the Clean Air Act to protect the air, thank goodness, because Wisconsin wanted to pretend that the air pollution didn’t exist,” she said.

The letter analyzed each of the six counties’ pollution picture. Racine and Waukesha counties were included in the designation because both contribute to Milwaukee’s particle emissions. Columbia County was added because a coal-fired plant there plays a role in particle pollution in Dane County. Brown County reported violations, but the EPA said surrounding counties were too small to play a role.

However, the EPA said Kenosha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties did not need to be lumped in with the others.

College leaders urge drinking age debate

2008-08-19T17:17:00.001-05:00

By Erica Perez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

David C. Joyce, president of the 1,000-student Ripon College, is the only Wisconsin college president so far to sign on to the newly formed Amethyst Initiative, a collection of about 100 university leaders who say the 21-year-old drinking age is not working and that it has created a culture of dangerous binge drinking on their campuses.

The group’s Web site does not go so far as to blatantly call for lowering the drinking age to 18, but the statement by the group’s signatories does say that raising the drinking age has had negative effects. The statement encourages public debate on the issue.

“Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students,” the statement reads. “Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer. By choosing to use fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.”

Joyce said he signed onto Amethyst earlier this year after consulting with his senior staff.

“We’ve created a culture of drinking instead of responsibility. Simply saying you can’t drink until you’re age 21 has not worked and is not working,” he said. “Probably one of the most pervasive problems we face in higher education is abuse of alcohol. That’s what I lose sleep about at night.”

The organization was started by John McCardell, president emeritus of Middlebury College in Vermont.

The list of signatories includes mostly private liberal arts schools, but it does feature some big names, including Duke, Tufts and Syracuse universities and Dartmouth College. It also includes a few big public schools, such as Ohio State University, the University of Maryland-College Park and the University System of Maryland.

Other than Ripon, however, Wisconsin’s colleges and universities were noticeably absent from the list.

Meanwhile, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the American Medical Association, the National Transportation Safety Board and other organizations slammed the Amethyst Initiative in a statement released Tuesday, pointing to studies that show raising the drinking age has saved lives.

Also weighing in against lowering the drinking age is Donna Shalala, the University of Miami president, former U.S. health and human services secretary and past chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“Signing this initiative does serious harm to the education and enforcement efforts on our campuses and ultimately endangers young lives even more,” Shalala said in a statement on the MADD Web site.

UW-Madison officials did receive information about the initiative but decided not to make an institutional commitment because of an upcoming leadership change, a university spokesman said. Chancellor John Wiley steps down in September to pass the torch to former Cornell University Provost Biddy Martin.

UW–Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells said that while he hasn’t signed the Amethyst statement, he thinks it has potential to spark much-needed debate about what types of changes in law could help curb binge drinking. He says it’s not a clear-cut issue.

State helps fund Van Zeeland expansion

2008-08-19T14:05:00.001-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The state Commerce Department announced industrial revenue bond allocations today to two companies to help fund expansions.

The state awarded $1.21 million to Van Zeeland Manufacturing Inc., Little Chute.

Van Zeeland manufactures power transmission products, including sprockets, gears and pulleys. The company is constructing and equipping a 25,500-square-foot facility that will expand its production capacity by 20%, the state said. The $1.4 million project is expected to create eight jobs.

The state also awarded a $5.1 million industrial revenue bond allocation for Traffic & Parking Control Co., Elm Grove, to acquire a production facility in Brown Deer. Traffic & Parking Control makes traffic signs and related equipment.

The company acquired a 128,000-square-foot building that it plans to equip and renovate in a $5.1 million project. The project is expected to create 15 jobs, the department said.

Schneider Logistics named Responsible Care Partner

2008-08-19T10:43:00.001-05:00

Schneider Logistics, Inc., a leading global logistics provider and part of the Schneider National enterprise, was recently approved as a Responsible Care Partner by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) board of directors.

The ACC reviewed Schneider Logistics’ application detailing the organization’s operations and processes for environmental protection, health, safety and security and approved the partner designation.

The Responsible CarePartnership Program is open to companies that have direct and substantial involvement in the manufacturing, use, formulation, distribution, transportation, storage, treatment-disposal and/or sales and marketing of chemicals. To date, only 70 companies have achieved a partner distinction with only a small number in the transportation logistics category. A Responsible Care partner status demonstrates Schneider Logistics’ long-term commitment to the chemical industry and aligns the company with customers' Responsible Care initiatives.

“Everyone who interacts with chemicals in today’s supply chain has a responsibility to move them safely and securely,” said Bill Miller, vice president for supply chain management for Schneider Logistics. “We are honored to have this tangible affirmation from the ACC, recognizing our commitment to excellence in responsibly managing our customers’ most sensitive products.”

Schneider Logistics joins an impressive list of Responsible Care members such as BASF, DOW, Honeywell, DuPont, 3M, BP Lubricants, Procter & Gamble and Mitsubishi Chemical, USA, all of which have committed to the high standards required by the ACC to maintain Responsible Care standards.

“Achieving Responsible Care partner status is a significant milestone for any company we do business with,” said Marshall Sprigg, global supply chain director for Dow Building Solutions. “We are pleased to see Schneider Logistics join this prestigious program—it shows dedication to putting the proper processes and policies in place.

“Dow has always been a strong proponent of Responsible Care,” continued Sprigg. “I can’t emphasize enough how important this program is. We are pleased to see Schneider's commitment to leadership on safety, environmental and security issues in the transportation industry.”

The Responsible Care program is well-known and respected by chemical manufacturers, but is just beginning to move deeper into the supply chain. The program has been phenomenally successful for member companies, demonstrating a 78 percent reduction in environmental releases and a worker safety record that is five times safer than manufacturing as a whole. Responsible Care partners have also achieved an over 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases and have completed 100 percent of their security vulnerability assessments.

“We are always looking for ways to enhance our service offerings,” continued Miller. “The Responsible Care certification efforts pushed us to review more than 267 processes in all areas of environmental, health, safety and security procedures. The ACC also honored Schneider National’s Bulk Division with a Responsible Care partner designation in 2007. We’re pleased to be able offer that heightened commitment to safety and security to all customers.”

Tower Tech to supply German turbine maker

2008-08-19T10:37:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Broadwind Energy Inc. said today that its Manitowoc-based subsidiary, Tower Tech Systems Inc., has signed a contract to manufacture wind tower sections for Nordex USA Inc.

Another Broadwind subsidiary, Badger Transport Inc. in Clintonville, received a contract to deliver the sections to various Texas locations for Nordex.

The contracts are the first for Broadwind with Germany-based Nordex, a global supplier of turbines.

Tower Tech said it expects to supply the first Nordex sections in early 2009. The integrated order represents the first time Broadwind has included logistics coordination in its service package. Naperville, Ill.-based Broadwind bought Badger Transport earlier this year.

Broadwind said the Tower Tech order is the largest ever for Nordex in the United States. Financial details were not disclosed.

SCA Tissue, McMahon try prairie plantings to filter runoff

2008-08-18T12:55:00.005-05:00

Two Town of Menasha business neighbors — SCA Tissue and McMahon Group — have joined forces with the town in an environmental demonstration project that will use perennial native plants to absorb water runoff along the portion of the state’s Friendship Trail that runs through their adjoining properties on McMahon Drive.

“We hope to provide a model for the use of native plants to capture water runoff from impervious surfaces and minimize the need for fossil fuel consumption,” says Michael Dillon, SCA Tissue Manager, Environmental and Risk Management. SCA Tissue North America has its Service Excellence Center offices at 1451 McMahon Dr. in the Town of Menasha.

Dillon also hopes the project’s results will serve as a learning tool and model for multiple audiences, including trail users, his municipal colleagues and eventually other area and state municipalities. Dillon, who serves as president of the Town of Menasha Parks & Recreation Commission and the town’s Sustainability Committee, approached town officials with the project idea.

“After reviewing the plan, the Town of Menasha officials, specifically Arden Tews, Jeff Sturgell, and Mike Kading, gave us approval and support to proceed with the project,” said Dillon. “We are thankful that the town has been open to exploring these alternative environmental management ideas.”

Dillon then approached McMahon Group to gauge the company’s interest in the project. McMahon Group is an affiliation of engineering, architecture, design/build and operations firms that has its headquarters at 1445 McMahon Dr., next door to SCA Tissue. Stuart Boerst, Senior Ecologist at McMahon Group, immediately became an advocate and a technical resource for the prairie-planting project.

“This project is an opportunity for us to lead by example on how to enhance the ecological value of the land in a sustainable way as well as beautify it,” said Boerst. “Not only do prairie restoration projects like this filter pollutants, improve water quality, stabilize the soil and reduce erosion, they provide food and shelter for song birds, butterflies and mammals.”

The three-year demonstration project will plant native prairie grasses and wildflowers along the north side of Friendship Trail, which runs through both company’s properties just south of U.S. 10. The Friendship Trail, a state-owned multi-use recreational trail that is maintained by the Town of Menasha, hooks up with the Trestle Trail and will eventually run from Stevens Point to Manitowoc.

Instead of flowing into the drainage ditch that runs between the trail and 10, runoff from the section of trail that passes through the adjoining properties of SCA Tissue and McMahon will be absorbed by the plants into the soil, where it will be filtered naturally and recharge the groundwater. The project area is a strip that runs north of the trail to the drainage ditch, stretching 700 feet in length and varying in width from about 10 to 40 feet.

Work already is under way on the three-phase project. The ground is being prepared for the native plants by removing the existing vegetation, most of which consists of weeds and invasive species.

“We are using different methods to prepare the ground and will evaluate and share the results to identify the best approach,” Dillon said. Those methods include spraying with herbicides, mowing and then vacuuming up the weed seeds and cuttings before spraying, and tilling under the vegetation followed by spot spraying.

This fall, seeds will be planted, utilizing a proprietary mix developed by McMahon. The mix includes approximately 50 different perennial wild flowers and grasses native to Wisconsin, including purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, butterfly milkweed and prairie blazing stars.

Next year, the project plan calls for minimum growth from the perennials and spot spraying for weeds to give the prairie plants room to grow.

In year three, the majority of plants will be producing flowers throughout the season. Little maintenance will be required from that point forward.

The native prairie wild flowers and grasses in McMahon’s seed mix have very deep roots that serve as a conduit for infiltrating water back into the soil. “Most of these plants have roots that go down five to 15 feet, compared to the very shallow roots of lawn grass and some weeds,” Boerst said. “The roots allow water to infiltrate deep into the soil for filtering and prevent the kind of quick saturation that leads to runoff into the drainage ditch and eventually into lakes and rivers, bringing fertilizer and associated problems with it. For instance, phosphorus in fertilizer produces nuisance algae blooms and lower water quality.”

The natural filtration offered by restoring native prairie habitat is environmentally preferable to channeling storm-water runoff to ditches and detention ponds where the sediment will later require removal and ultimately land filling.

The natural approach also has economic benefits over installing grass that requires mowing, fertilizing and other care.

“The entire project will cost less than $2,000, including educational signage at the sheltered picnic table along the trail,” Dillon said. “We expect that just eliminating the costs involved in mowing will quickly repay the initial investment.

“Man-made disruptions of eco-systems can often be best corrected by bringing nature back into the equation. We think this demonstration project will show the environmental and economic benefits of taking the natural approach to storm-water runoff management.”

This is not the first environmental demonstration project for either McMahon Group or SCA Tissue. Both companies have made environmental sustainability and leadership a cornerstone of their businesses.

McMahon Group has led the design and long-term management of many prairie and wetland restoration projects throughout the state in both the public and private sectors. McMahon Group is also a recognized leader in storm-water management and water resources throughout the state.

SCA Tissue added 115 solar panels to its Service Excellence Center in February, with the intent on sharing the lessons learned in alternative energy with other mills and offices. In less than half a year, those solar panels already have produced 14-megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 10 family homes for one year, and eliminated 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In addition, both McMahon Group and SCA Tissue are active members on the U.S. Green Building Council.

SCA Tissue is currently pursing LEED-EB certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its Service Excellence Center. LEED-EB, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings, is a voluntary program that certifies that buildings are designed and operated in such a way as to minimize their environmental footprints.

Thrivent Financial Bank expanding in Appleton

2008-08-18T10:25:00.001-05:00

To accommodate this growth and the need for additional space, Thrivent Financial Bank is relocating 100 employees to the City Center East office building at 122 E. College Ave. in downtown Appleton.

The new space will allow for 30 percent more room to meet future needs of the organization. Currently, bank employees are located at the branch on Milestone Drive in Appleton and the Thrivent Financial Ballard Operations Center. The transition to City Center East is expected to take place Sept. 15.

Thrivent Financial Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has achieved 43 percent growth in assets over the past five years, bringing total assets as of June 30 to $503.7 million. Total loans from Thrivent Financial Bank have increased 74.9 percent since 2003, including 11 percent in the first six months of 2008.

“Our growth is a testament to our principle of stewardship and the trust our clients put in us,” said Todd Sipe, Thrivent Financial Bank president and chief executive officer. “Due to our growth, we are thrilled to be expanding Thrivent Financial Bank with an additional location in the Fox Cities.”

Natural landscaping tours featured at Wild Ones Conference

2008-08-18T08:00:00.006-05:00

The Wild Ones will offer four tours in conjunction with their upcoming annual meeting/conference, “In Celebration of Nature,” Aug. 22–24.

The tours will be Sunday morning, Aug. 24.

The prairie restoration done by Bob and Carol Niendorf of Omro offers a spectacular view of what the shore of prehistoric “Lake Oshkosh” must have looked like. With the help of Prairie Nursery, over a period of time the Niendorfs have converted most of their yard to prairie garden. Also included in this tour will be a short stop at the Sheldon Nature Area/Oakwood Environmental Charter School restoration project in Oshkosh. Steve Maassen will be on hand to answer any questions.

A large rain garden will be the focus of Ann Rosenberg’s natural landscaping at her Neenah home. Rosenberg’s original planting was a prize for winning the Fox Valley Area Chapter of Wild Ones Extreme Yard Makeover Contest several years ago. This is also where Rosenberg carries on her raptor rehabilitation.

Introducing the restoration efforts planned at the Wild Ones new Institute of Learning and Development at 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road in the Town of Menasha will be James Havel, a wetland/restoration ecologist with NES Ecological Services in Oneida. This discussion will also include wildlife management plans.

Prairie and woodland remnants and wildlife ponds and swamp make up the natural environment found at Marilyn and Ron Stroud’s Larsen home. Of added interest is the 15-acre restored prairie planted in 1998, along with other natural things of interest on this 35 acre homestead.

For more information, call Donna, (920) 730-3986. To register online go to http://www.for-wild.org/conference/2008/ecocenter.html.

175, 10 now open; 441 work under way

2008-08-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

This week's Department of Transportation road construction update:

Brown County: Dousman Street in Green Bay is closed from Military Avenue to Platten Street through late August. U.S. 141 (Main Street) in Green Bay is reduced to one lane between Baird Street and the Fox River through October. Brown County JJ (Eaton Road) is closed between Manitowoc Road and Brown County EA through November.

Calumet County: U.S. 10 is closed at Calumet County N through October for conversion of the intersection to a roundabout and expansion of the Park and Ride lot at the intersection. The 10 detour is Wisconsin 114 and Wisconsin 55; the N detour is 55, 114 and Calumet County KK.

Door County: The Wisconsin 57 four-lane project is continuing between Door County H and South County Line Road. The intersections of 57 and Kewaunee County A and 57 and Stone Road in Door County are being reconstructed through this week. Through Friday, 57 traffic is reduced to one lane one-half mile south to one-half mile north of Stone Road. The Oregon Street Bridge project in Sturgeon Bay is wrapping up.

Fond du Lac County: Wisconsin 175 (South Main Street) is now open as part of the U.S. 151 bypass project, but the 151/175 interchange is closed until Oct. 3. Reconstruction of the U.S. 41/Wisconsin 23 interchange is continuing. Between Townline Road and Scott Street, the left lane of southbound 41 will be closed from Monday at 6 p.m. to Tuesday at 6 a.m., and the right lane of southbound 41 will be closed from Tuesday at 6 p.m. to Wednesday at 6 a.m. The U.S. 41/Hickory Street interchange is closed for reconstruction through November 2009, although the Hickory Street bridge over 41 will be open through October; lane closures will occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. through Labor Day weekend.

Manitowoc County: U.S. 10/Wisconsin 310 is closed between the Branch River and Manitowoc County R through August. U.S. 10 (Eighth Street) in Manitowoc is now open between Madison Street and Washington Street. Wisconsin 67 is being repaved between U.S. 151 and Manitowoc County AA through September. Interstate 43 interchanges at Manitowoc County V, County K and Wisconsin 147 are having work through October; 43 is open but V, K and 147 are restricted to 11-foot lane widths, and ramps will be periodically closed.

Marinette County: U.S. 41 is limited to one lane in each direction north and south of Peshtigo as part of the 41 four-lane project.

Marquette County: Wisconsin 23 is closed between Marquette County M and Ninth Avenue until Aug. 28.

Oconto County: The U.S. 41 four-lane project continues through August 2009, mostly away from the existing route.

Outagamie County: College Avenue in Appleton is closed between Rankin Street to John Street and Walter Avenue for the bridge replacement project. The signed detour is Wisconsin 47, Outagamie County OO (Northland Avenue) and Wisconsin 441. Outagamie County S is now open at 47 as part of the Ballard Road Park and Ride expansion. Wisconsin 76 is expected to be open between Wisconsin 54 and Bear Creek late this week. Wisconsin 55 (Crooks Avenue) in Kaukauna is closed between 18th Street and Seventh Street through November. Wisconsin 441 is reduced to one lane in each direction from Outagamie County CE (East College Avenue) to Outagamie County OO (East Northland Avenue) for repairs to the Fox River Bridge. Lane closures on 441 between U.S. 10 (Oneida Street) and the north 441/U.S. 41 interchange will occur between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Shawano County: Wisconsin 22 is closed between Wisconsin 156 and Wisconsin 29 through early September. U.S. 45 has lane closures and flagging operations between Wisconsin 29 and the north county line through late October.

Sheboygan County: Sheboygan County V is closed between Wisconsin 57 and Sheboygan County I until mid-September.

Waupaca County: Wisconsin 22 has lane closures and flagging operations between the Waupaca–Portage county line and U.S. 10 through Monday, and is closed between Wisconsin 156 and Lake Wagner Road until late Aug. 28. The Wisconsin 22/54 roundabout project in the 22/54 Waupaca east bypass is expected to be completed Sept. 4, with 11-foot width restrictions and flagging operations until then.

Waushara County: Interstate 39/U.S. 51 is having centerline work from Tuesday to Thursday.

Winnebago County: U.S. 45 is closed from Winnebago County G to Winnebago County II until the end of August. The 45/Winnebago County T interchange project should be complete by Wednesday. Oakwood Road in the Town of Algoma is closed between Winnebago County E (Witzel Avenue) and Wisconsin 21 through October. Wisconsin Street over the Fox River to Campus Place in Oshkosh is closed for the bridge replacement and road reconstruction project until Oct. 11. South Commercial Street from South Park Avenue to Lyon Drive in Neenah is closed until the end of August. Lane closures on Wisconsin 441 from U.S. 41 to U.S. 10 (Oneida Street) will be scheduled between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Favre’s image takes a national hit

2008-08-15T14:10:00.002-05:00

By Don Walker
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Davie–Brown Index (DBI) is an index for brand marketers and agencies that determines a celebrity’s ability to influence consumer interest in a product.

According to the most recent edition of the DBI, former Packer quarterback Brett Favre’s appeal dropped nine points among U.S. consumers between May 5 and Aug. 13. His “trust” rating also declined, falling nearly eight points.

There is some good news. In May, 70 percent of U.S. consumers recognized Favre’s name or face, according to the DBI. Three months later, thanks to the buzz surrounding Favre’s dispute with the Green Bay Packers, more than 80 percent of Americans knew of Favre.

“What transpired in Green Bay over the last 30 to 45 days has had a significant negative impact on Brett's reputation,” said Jeff Chown, president of Davie Brown Talent, a Los Angeles agency that identifies potential celebrity endorsers for major brands. “It’s taken a toll on his image; the data supports that.”

Favre’s scores also declined three to four points in “aspiration,” “endorsement,” and “breakthrough.” However, his rating as a “trendsetter” increased slightly while his “influence” score remained steady.

When he retired in March after 17 seasons in the NFL, Favre ranked as one of the highest-rated athletes in the DBI.

Statewide home values increase by just 1%

2008-08-15T14:05:00.002-05:00

By Steven Walters
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Reflecting the national economic slump and flooded real estate market, the state Revenue Department said today that values of existing Wisconsin homes increased by just 1 percent last year — the smallest increase in 21 years.

And, the agency reported in its annual report on property values, the value of all property statewide went up in 2007 by only 3 percent — about one-third the average increase in each of the past five years. By law, the Revenue Department must update property values as of Jan. 1 to reflect sales over the past calendar year.

The values of existing Wisconsin homes had gone up by an average of 5 percent in each of the last five years. That growth pumped up the tax rolls of schools, cities, towns, villages and counties, helping them pay for municipal services through property taxes levied on those higher values.

The 1-percent increase in home values statewide last year will make the 2009 budgets of local governments even harder to prepare.

But state Revenue Secretary Roger Ervin said Wisconsin homeowners should be glad that the values of their single biggest asset didn’t go down, as it has in other regions of the nation. The Office of Federal Housing Oversight has predicted that average home values across the United States will drop slightly, Ervin said.

Wisconsin’s 1-percent increase in the value of existing homes, and a 2-percent increase in new home construction statewide, was a signal of a “relatively stable” real estate market, he said in a statement.

Home values in many other states — including California, Arizona and Florida, which have some of the highest foreclosure rates — have seen “extreme” drops in their values, Ervin said.

The overall 3-percent growth in the value of all Wisconsin land and buildings made the value of that property an estimated $514 billion on Jan. 1. Homes made up 72.3 percent of that $514 billion; commercial property, 17.7 percent; manufacturing, 2.4 percent; and farmland, forest and other types of property made up the rest.

Home values in Milwaukee and five of the state’s other larger cities either did not go up or fell slightly last year, according to the report.

The value of homes in Milwaukee did not change in 2007. The value of those homes had gone up by 4 percent in 2006.

The report also said average values of existing homes also did not change in Waukesha, Green Bay and La Crosse in 2007. Waukesha home values had gone up 4 percent in 2006; it was the second straight year of flat values for Green Bay homes.

Values of existing homes fell by 1 percent in Kenosha and Superior last year, according to the new report. Kenosha home values had increased by 4 percent in 2006.

In three other large Wisconsin cities — Madison, Racine and Wausau — average values of existing homes went up by 1 percent last year, the Revenue Department said. That was the same growth in Madison as in 2006; Kenosha homes had gone up an average of 3 percent in ’06.

Lafayette County in southwest Wisconsin led the state in 2007 with a 14.2-percent increase in property values, the Revenue Department reported. Other counties with the biggest one-year growth were: Juneau, 8.8 percent; Clark, 8.5 percent; Waushara, 8.3 percent; Menominee, Marquette and Green Lake counties, 7.7 percent each; Jackson and Portage counties, 7.1 percent each, and Rusk County, 7 percent.

One of Wisconsin’s 72 counties — Barron County in northwest Wisconsin — lost value in 2007, but the drop was less than 1 percent.

Nationwide crackdown on drunken driving begins Friday

2008-08-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

Approximately 305 law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin will join a nationwide crackdown on drunken driving from Friday, Aug. 15 through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

The “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” crackdown will combine intensified law enforcement with a federally funded media campaign to deter impaired driving.

Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunken driving in the nation. More than 26 percent of Wisconsin adults who were surveyed admitted they had driven under the influence of alcohol in the previous year, according to a nationwide study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released in April. Last year, alcohol-related crashes in Wisconsin killed 337 people and injured 5,552, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol Bureau of Transportation Safety, which is sponsoring the crackdown statewide.

“We hope that people will voluntarily make the responsible decision to never drive while impaired,” said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. “But if they make the irresponsible choice to drive while under the influence of alcohol, we’ll be ready to arrest them. We also ask that drivers report any drunken drivers they see to a law enforcement agency. Too many people, too many families, and too many communities are devastated every day by drunken drivers. And this careless disregard for human life must be stopped.”

To prevent drunken driving, the Wisconsin State Patrol offers the following suggestions:

Choose a sober designated driver before you start to drink.
If you’re feeling buzzed, you probably are over the 0.08 blood/breath alcohol limit and should not drive. Take mass transit or a taxicab or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
Some taverns and restaurants have programs to provide patrons with a safe ride home. (Visit www.tlw.org for more information.)

Road America breaks ground on admin building

2008-08-15T13:55:00.001-05:00

Road America has broken ground on a new 5,500-square-foot administration building.

The building will be located on the Road America grounds, just east of the current farmhouse office on Wisconsin 67, two miles south of Elkhart Lake.

The building’s design will reflect the farming heritage of the rural Elkhart Lake area while recalling elements of existing buildings located on Road America grounds. The frame building will combine simple geometric forms, traditional gabled roofs, wood clapboard siding, and double hung windows to create a building which is unique yet compatible with the 19th-century Victorian buildings found throughout rural Wisconsin.

Completion of the project is set for spring 2009 under the guidance of two Wisconsin companies, Milwaukee-based Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc., and Kaukauna-based construction company James J. Calmes and Sons, Inc.

441 work starts Saturday

2008-08-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Northeast Regional Office in Green Bay is announcing that work is scheduled to begin Saturday, Aug. 16 on a project providing repairs at various locations on Wisconsin 441, the Tri-County Freeway, in Outagamie County.

The project involves concrete pavement repairs, shoulder repairs, and expansion joint replacement on the Fox River bridge. Epoxy pavement marking and refacing roadway signs are part of this project.

Wisconsin 441 will remain open to traffic during the project. The Fox River Bridge will be restricted to one lane in each direction between Saturday at 6 a.m. and Friday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. Other lane and ramp closures will be restricted from 6 p.m to 6 a.m. Some off-peak daytime closures may occur. Consecutive ramp closures will not occur the same night. Changeable message boards will announce closures in advance.

Project cost is estimated at $1.9 million and is scheduled for completion by the end of September for repair work and November for marking and signing.

EAA Gathering of Eagles exceeds $2.88 million

2008-08-15T07:00:00.006-05:00

EAA President Tom Poberezny announced Thursday confirmed total donations at EAA's major annual fundraising event, calling the event's outcome a call to action for the EAA community of aviation enthusiasts.

“The success of our Gathering of Eagles validates and reinforces the EAA community’s mission, and challenges us to do even more,” said Poberezny.

The evening’s auction and matching-contribution activities generated more than $2,880,000 in support of EAA's philanthropic aviation-outreach work. It took place in the EAA Museum’s Eagle Hangar July 31 as part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008, EAA’s annual fly-in, air show, and member convention renowned as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

Although the more than 1,000 Gathering of Eagles attendees represented diverse interests, Poberezny underscored their shared purpose. “We were all bound together by a common passion for flight and an understanding of aviation’s enormous value as an inspirational and motivational tool,” he said. “This outpouring of support raises the expectation that the EAA community will further grow its outreach programs to benefit youth, general aviation, and society at large.”

The live-auction segment of the Gathering raised more than $1 million. This amount included a $500,000 bid to purchase a one-of-a-kind Ford Mustang, named the AV8R by the top designers and engineers at Ford Motor Co. who gave the car its unique styling and features. The car, which Ford created and donated specifically to headline the Gathering of Eagles auction, sported a full-glass roof and interior appointments reminiscent of the P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft of the World War II era. (Pictured are auctioneers Amy and Spanky Assiter with the AV8R Mustang.)

Ford Motor Co.’s Edsel B. Ford II was accompanied by renowned automobile-industry and -racing personalities Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby in helping to auction the automobile. Collector Tom Gonzalez secured the top

Also drawing generous bids were a Rolls–Royce London travel experience offered by Rolls–Royce North America President Jim Guyette and a stay in Jackson, Wyo., including dinner with actor Harrison Ford. Other items donated and auctioned included trips, flights with the world’s top aerobatic pilots, a limited-edition Harley–Davidson motorcycle, artwork, and an assortment of aviation-oriented items.

A matching-donation activity called “Raise the Windsock” gave donors an opportunity to challenge each other by meeting or exceeding previous pledges. Contributions that helped to vault the matching-donation total to more than $1 million included donations from legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, actor Harrison Ford, Cessna Aircraft Co. Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer, Cessna President and CEO Jack Pelton and wife Rose, and Florida-based highway contractor Bill Bachschmidt.

Harrison Ford, chairman of EAA’s Young Eagles Program, kicked off the evening with an appeal for the continued growth of the program, which aims at not only using the exhilaration of flight to inspire youth to pursue and achieve their dreams, but also engendering goodwill toward general aviation. He urged the pilots among the roughly 1,000 attendees to “fly kids and make friends.”

Since the EAA Young Eagles program’s commencement in 1992, more than 40,000 EAA-member volunteers have provided inspirational flight experiences to 1.4 million youth. In addition to supporting the organization and administration of this nationwide program, proceeds from the Gathering also support the EAA Air Academy, EAA’s online AeroScholars program, its world-class museum honoring innovation in aviation, and the operation and touring of historical aircraft.

During AirVenture, Ford met with EAA Young Eagles volunteers, recognizing individuals who had provided extraordinary service to the program in the past year. In these discussions, he underscored the grassroots volunteers’ contributions, observing that their collective donation of time, talents, aircraft usage, and fuel surpasses the contribution of any other single donor.

The success of this year’s Gathering of Eagles fundraising effort will also help to advance EAA’s development of more educational and experiential activities for young people motivated to pursue an interest or career in aviation. ConocoPhillips and Embry–Riddle University have partnered with EAA in this effort.

Cessna Aircraft Co. served as hosting sponsor of the Gathering for the fourth consecutive year, and has pledged to host next year’s event.

Lawrence receives $1.6 million gift

2008-08-14T16:26:00.002-05:00

A gift of more than $1.6 million from the trust of a family with deep roots to Lawrence University will help future generations of students interested in the theatre obtain a Lawrence education college officials announced today.

The gift from the estate of F. Stansbury “Stans” Young will be directed to the F. Theodore Cloak Scholarship. It was the second gift of more than $1 million for scholarship support Lawrence has received in the past month.

The Cloak Scholarship, established in 1969, honors former professor Ted Cloak, the founder of Lawrence’s theatre department and supports theatre arts majors with financial need on the basis of talent and promise. Beginning in 2009, approximately 10 to 15 students a year will be awarded Cloak scholarships.

Cloak, who taught at Lawrence from 1929 until his retirement in 1969, was a close friend and mentor to Young, who enjoyed a long career with Thilmany Pulp & Paper Co. in Kaukauna. Young died in 2003.

“The Young family’s ties to Lawrence span nearly the entire history of the college,” said Calvin Husmann, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Stans’ years working at Thilmany and staying in touch with his alma mater and his home town prompted his desire to carry forward his family’s impressive tradition of giving to the college. We are deeply grateful for Stans’ years of generosity and this ultimate gift to benefit students studying theatre at Lawrence.”

Young, who earned a degree in chemistry from Lawrence in 1936, has extensive family connections to Appleton and the college dating to his grandparents. Emory and Mary Anne Phinney Humphrey Stansbury were both trustees of Lawrence in the late 1800s. In 1859, Mary Anne Stansbury became the 24th graduate in Lawrence history — and at age 16, also its youngest.

In 1996, Young established the Carmen N. and F. Stansbury Young Scholarship in honor of his wife, a 1931 Lawrence graduate. Young went on to name a space in Lawrence’s new Science Hall in the late 1990s. Young’s uncle, Karl Stansbury, established several funds at the college, as well as named the Stansbury Theatre in Lawrence’s Music–Drama Center.

Nuclear plant owner seeks license renewal

2008-08-14T15:53:00.003-05:00

By Thomas Content
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Dominion Resources Inc. (D) today asked federal nuclear regulators for permission to keep the Kewanuee nuclear plant operating for another 20 years.

Dominion filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the operating license for Kewaunee, now set to expire in December 2013. The renewal would allow the 568-megawatt plant on Lake Michigan to operate until December 2033.

Dominion has owned the plant 25 miles east of Green Bay since 2005, after buying the plant from Wisconsin Public Service Corp. of Green Bay and Wisconsin Power & Light Co. of Madison. The NRC has already given permission allowing the state’s other nuclear reactor, Point Beach, to continue operating until the early 2030s. Together, Kewaunee and Point Beach supply one-fifth of the state’s electricity.

Dominion said its other three nuclear plants, located in Virginia and Connecticut, have all been granted license renewals.

Green Bay, Two Rivers Aurora hospitals honored

2008-08-14T11:49:00.004-05:00

Two Northeast Wisconsin Aurora Health Care facilities are among top U.S. hospitals identified by Thomson Reuters as having demonstrated the fastest, most consistent improvement over five consecutive years.

Aurora BayCare Medical Center of Green Bay was ranked in the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders in the medium community hospital category, while Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers was listed under small community hospitals. Aurora West Allis Medical Center also was listed in the medium community hospital category.

“It’s an honor to have our Aurora facilities recognized by Thomson Reuters as top performers,” said Patrick Falvey, Ph.D., Aurora senior vice president and chief integration officer. “Providing the best outcomes for our patients remains a top priority that continues to receive national attention but this designation specifically recognizes the pace at which we have improved. The caregivers at these three medical centers reflect our culture of rapid adoption and quality improvement.”

Thomson Reuters reports that overall, U.S. hospitals struggled to improve their performance from 2002 to 2006, the period covered by the study, but the winning hospitals illustrate that rapid, across-the-board improvement is attainable.

The study — Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders — examined the performance of more than 2,800 U.S. hospitals on a variety of clinical, financial, operational and patient safety criteria to identify the 100 winners.

The hospital assessment project, which dates back to 1993, was formerly called the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals program.

“We are continuously working to achieve the best quality measures and rapidly adopting new technologies for the benefit of our patients,” said Paul Summerside, M.D., chairman of the board of directors for Aurora BayCare Medical Center. “We are honored to receive this recognition.”

“Being recognized for this achievement further solidifies our dedication to improving the care that we provide to the community,” said Steve Long, chief administrative officer of Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers.

“This study identifies superior leadership, based on the success of hospital executive teams’ long-term strategies for strengthening performance,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters. “These are true ‘Good to Great’ leadership teams that have focused on improving quality, efficiency, use of evidence-based medicine, and financial stability in order to better serve their patients and communities.”

The study rated hospitals on eight factors — patient mortality, medical complications, patient safety, length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, and use of evidence-based medicine. Researchers evaluated 2,867 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals in five categories: major teaching hospitals, other teaching hospitals, large community hospitals, medium-sized community hospitals and small community hospitals.

The study analyzed publicly available Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare data set.

In March, Aurora West Allis Medical Center and Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center were on Thomson’s list of the nation's 100 top hospitals in clinical outcomes, patient safety, financial performance and efficiency. Aurora West Allis was one of only 16 sites to be on both the 100 Top Hospitals and Performance Improvement Leaders lists.

For more information on the lists, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

Neenah Paper gives gift to Natural Heritage Corps

2008-08-14T11:16:00.001-05:00

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s professional AmeriCorps program, the Natural Heritage Corps, recently received a big boost from Neenah Paper, Inc.

The company made a three-year commitment with a gift that will support the Foundation’s “boots on the ground” land management and conservation program.

In presenting the gift, Rodger Ferguson, Director of Environmental Services for the company, noted a shared commitment to protecting Wisconsin’s natural treasures. “Neenah Paper is proud of its Wisconsin roots and we are pleased to support the work of the Natural Resources Foundation,” said Ferguson.

The Natural Heritage Corps program puts college graduates in the field to help protect, promote and restore natural landscapes throughout Wisconsin. In addition to helping train the next generation of professional conservationists in Wisconsin, Neenah Paper’s gift will support conservation efforts throughout the state, with an emphasis on the Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area near Kenosha.

“The Foundation’s work developing conservation professionals will help ensure that Wisconsin’s public lands, waters and wildlife will continue to be protected and promoted for years to come,” said Ferguson.

David Clutter, director of the Natural Heritage Corps program, appreciates Neenah Paper’s gift to the Foundation. “Their gift strengthens our program and demonstrates their commitment to protecting the natural treasures that make Wisconsin such a great place to live,” said Clutter. “We are grateful for their support.”

Appleton awarded training grant

2008-08-14T11:14:00.000-05:00

By Joel Dresang
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Gov. Jim Doyle said today that the papermaker Appleton has received an $85,000 state grant to train 80 employees on new equipment the company is adding as part of a $7 million project to rebuild three coating machines.

Employee-owned Appleton is the leading manufacturer of carbonless paper and also makes other specialized papers and packaging materials.

Lean Manufacturing Certificate Series in Appleton starting in September

2008-08-14T10:56:00.003-05:00

A Lean Manufacturing Certificate Series is being offered in Appleton this fall to help area manufacturers rev up performance and competitiveness.

Free information sessions will be held at the D.J. Bordini Center at Fox Valley Technical College Wednesday, Aug. 20 and 27 and Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 8 to 11 a.m. Participants will get a brief introduction to lean manufacturing and learn more details about the Lean Certificate Series. For more information, call Dick Welsch, (920) 980-6862.

“Lean is a powerful strategy to eliminate waste, reduce costs, boost productivity and engage your employees in the success of your organization,” said Welsch, manufacturing specialist for the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. “It is transforming businesses here and around the globe.”

The Lean Manufacturing Certificate Series is a collaborative offering from WMEP and Fox Valley Technical College. Classes are:

Sept. 30: Principles of Lean 102.
Oct. 14: Lean Enterprise Culture.
Nov. 4: Value Stream Mapping.
Nov. 18: 5S/Visual Workplace.
Dec. 2: Quick Changeover & Kaizen Principles.
Jan. 6: Total Productive Maintenance.
Jan. 20: Lean Manufacturing Project.

The day-long classes are taught by WMEP’s lean experts, who typically have 20+ years of private sector manufacturing experience.

Classes will be held at the D.J. Bordini Center at Fox Valley Technical College. Cost for the series is $2,100, or $1,800 for a group of three or more employees. Participants must complete all seven classes and a project to receive a Lean Manufacturing Certificate.

To register, call (920) 831-4317 or visit www.fvtc.edu/swreg.

Forbes college rankings: Lawrence 68th

2008-08-14T10:39:00.003-05:00

Forbes.com’s first rankings of U.S. colleges puts Lawrence University in Appleton on top of Wisconsin schools and 68th nationally.

Ripon College ranked 109th, and St. Norbert College in De Pere ranked 140th.

The rankings, in conjunction with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, are based on student evaluations of classes and instructors from RateMyProfessors.com, the percentage of alumni listed in Who’s Who in America, average amount of student debt at graduation, percentage of four-year graduation, and the percentage of students and faculty who have won nationally competitive awards, including Nobel Prizes and Rhodes Scholarships.

U.S. Oil Open raises $1,253,000

2008-08-14T10:15:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday, 608 golfers gathered to raise funds to help people in the Fox Valley, Green Bay and Oshkosh regions who are struggling to meet their basic needs.

The participants, representing more than 250 businesses, organizations and foundations, golfed at four area courses: Mid Vallee Golf Course in De Pere, Countryside Golf Club in Kaukauna, and Wander Springs Golf Course in Greenleaf and Fox Valley Golf Club in Freedom, and then gathered for dinner at Van Abel’s Supper Club in Hollandtown.

All money raised at the event benefited the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs established at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.

“We set our goal this year at $1,150,000, knowing that would be a stretch,” said Bill Schmidt, event founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Combined Locks based company. “Going into the day, I knew we would beat our goal. We received such a tremendous response from area business who came out to sponsor the event. Our success today is really a testament to the generosity right here in this community. We’re extremely grateful and very proud to host this event.”

Organizers of this one-day event hoped to raise $1,150,000 this year, a $150,000 increase over the 2007 total. In the past 23 years, the outing has raised $8,958,877. In that time, more than $5 million has been given in grants to nonprofit organizations in the Fox Valley and Green Bay regions.

Former Packers announcers Paul Hornung and Jim Irwin joined the group to pay tribute to long-time event participant and supporter, Max McGee.

“This is a great event,” said Marla McGee, Max’s oldest daughter. “My dad loved this event and the people he got to know here. I’m really honored to represent my family today and continue the legacy of my dad’s work to cure diabetes.”

Following her remarks to the crowd, Marla McGee was presented with a check for $100,000 for Children’s Hospital and Health System to support a $1.5 million campaign to raise funds for the Max McGee Clinical Research Chair for Juvenile Diabetes.

As the host of the U.S. Oil Open, U.S. Oil Co., Inc. pays for all of the expenses of the event. Every dollar contributed by participants and sponsors goes directly to the endowed funds established at the Fox Valley, Green Bay and Oshkosh Community Foundations.

The U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs makes grants to nonprofits working to help people struggling to secure basic life needs such as housing, health care, and job skills. Funds are managed by advisory committees at each of the Community Foundations, with 10 percent of the fund balance being given to nonprofit organizations in grants annually.

Highlights of the event included the announcement of the continuation of a grantmaking partnership between U.S. Oil Co., Inc. and the J.J. Keller Foundation, Inc. In fiscal year 2008, the J.J. Keller Foundation, Inc. matched the grantmaking dollars available through the U.S. Oil Open Fund for Basic Needs with a gift of $550,000. The partnership granted $1.5 million to nonprofits in May. Beginning this fall, the partnership expects to have $1.5 million available again for local nonprofits, thanks to a $750,000 contribution from the J.J. Keller Foundation, Inc.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership,” said John Schmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Oil Co., Inc. “It has had an amazing impact on this event and the community. The Keller family is a group of generous people who truly want to make this community an even better place to live. We really hope that this partnership will inspire other businesses and families to create collaborations to address the needs of our community.”

NTSB finds no problems with plane in EAA crash

2008-08-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

The National Transportation Safety Board found no pre-existing problems with the engine or airframe of a plane that crashed during AirVenture 2008, killing two people.

The agency’s preliminary report indicates the homebuilt Moser Georg Lancair Legacy was on a final approach to Wittman Regional Airport’s east–west runway when the plane banked suddenly, landed inverted and slid to a stop July 31.

The report says no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from Carnegie, Pa., earlier that morning.

The victims were the plane’s owner, 62-year-old Roger Bock of Carnegie, Pa., and 56-year-old John Linden of Washington, Pa.

S.S. Badger to resume service Friday

2008-08-14T09:54:00.001-05:00

By Sharif Durhams
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The S.S. Badger should resume its twice-daily crossings of Lake Michigan Friday after a damaged part took the ferry out of commission last week.

Crews discovered Saturday that the vessel, which carries cars and passengers from Manitowoc to Ludington, Mich., had a damaged stern bearing and took it out of service. Company officials sent passengers around the lake by school bus.

The 410-foot boat can carry 620 passengers and 180 vehicles and is one of two ferries across the lake.

Companies in port cities on both sides of the lake were being squeezed economically by the S.S. Badger’s absence during the height of the tourism season, according to Lake Michigan Carferry, the company that portages the 55-year-old vessel.

There wasn’t room to repair the boat in the dry dock, so the company flew in a team of divers from California to make the repairs.

St. Norbert CEO series starts Sept. 17

2008-08-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

The 2008–09 St. Norbert College CEO Breakfast and Strategy Series will begin with University of New Mexico Rust Professor of Business Ethics John Ackerman on “Ethical Choices in Organizations: What’s the Problem?” at St. Norbert’s Bemis International Center Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 a.m.

Ackerman is chairman emeritus of the Public Service Company of New Mexico. Ackerman spent more than 30 years in the corporate world, first as a design and development engineer at General Electric, and then moving up the ranks to become president, CEO, chairman and chairman emeritus of Public Service Company of New Mexico. Ackerman teaches in the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management, where he was named Rust Professor of Business Ethics in 2003.

Ackerman’s presentation is sponsored by the American Foundation of Counseling Services.

An extended workshop on “Integrating Ethics into Organizational Culture” will be held immediately following the CEO Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is included; additional cost for the workshop is $60.

Other speakers in the series (all breakfasts start at 7:30 a.m.):

Heidi Moore, diversity consultant, Northwestern Mutual, “Incorporating Diversity into Your Corporate Strategy,” at Riverview Country Club in Appleton Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Randy Rose, president and CEO, Enzymatic Therapy, “Case Study: Enzymatic Therapy, Progress after Pain — Creating a Single ‘Can Do’ Culture from Four Separate Entities,” at St. Norbert Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Jim Rivett, president, creative director and principal, Arketype, Inc., “Building Your Organization’s Authentic Brand Identity,” at St. Norbert Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Lou Gentine, CEO and president, Sargento Cheese, “Planning for the Next Generation: Leadership Succession in a Family Business,” at Riverview Country Club in Appleton Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Mark Radtke, president, Integrys Energy, “Energy Outlook — What Today May Be Telling Us about Tomorrow,” sponsored by Performa, Inc., at St. Norbert Tuesday, April 21.
Dennis Long, vice president, retirement and investor services, Principal Financial Group, “Achieving Financial Liquidity and Business Succession with an ESOP,” at Riverview Country Club in Appleton Wednesday, April 29.
Mike Langenhorst, CEO, Sanimax, “Navigating in Times of Change,” sponsored by The New North, at St. Norbert Wednesday, May 20.

New North diversity award applications accepted

2008-08-13T15:29:00.001-05:00

The New North, Inc. is now accepting applications for the 2008 People, Possibilities, and Progress Diversity Award, sponsored by Kimberly–Clark.

The award recognizes companies in Northeast Wisconsin that have demonstrated a commitment to embracing diversity through management, marketing, and vendor selection practices, as well as community leadership and company values.

“This award is a great opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the companies in the New North that are truly committed to diversity,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc. “With so many companies in the region that have great work environments and outstanding business practices, we’re looking forward to evaluating this year’s nominees.”

This year’s award is the second annual for the New North. In 2007, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin received the honor for its efforts to attract, retain, and recruit a diverse workforce. Appleton, Wisconsin Public Service, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College were the other three finalists for the award.

The submission deadline is Oct. 15, and the 2008 award winner will be announced at the annual New North Summit Dec. 8.

Companies of all sizes in all industries are eligible and encouraged to apply. For more information, or to download an application, please visit www.thenewnorth.com.

Ariens CEO elected to Packers board

2008-08-13T09:59:00.001-05:00

The Green Bay Packers Board of Directors elected Dan Ariens to the organization’s Executive Committee at Tuesday’s quarterly meeting.

Ariens, president and CEO of the Ariens Company, has been a member of the Board since 2005. He replaces Bob Gallagher, who has reached age 70, the mandatory retirement age under the Packers’ bylaws.

“We’re delighted to bring Dan Ariens onto the Executive Committee,” Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said in announcing the addition. “Dan has served the organization well on the Board and as the chair of the marketing committee. He has a very successful background in business and also has served in a variety of roles in the community. We look forward to his continued contributions to the success of the Packers.”

The Packers’ Executive Committee, elected from the team’s Board of Directors, directs corporate management, approves major capital expenditures, establishes broad policy and monitors management’s performance in conducting the business and affairs of the corporation.

Ariens, 49, was named president and CEO of the Ariens Co., a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment for both consumer and commercial use, in 1998. The company was established in 1933 in Brillion, where it remains headquartered.

Originally elected to the Packers Board of Directors in July 2005, Ariens serves as chair of the Board of Directors’ marketing committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas (Minn.) in 1981 and also has studied at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Active in the community, Ariens has served on a number of community boards and professional associations, including the Weidner Center Presents, Children’s Hospital–Fox Valley, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Wisconsin Economic Development Advisory Board, Milwaukee School of Engineering and New North.

WMEP reports $226 million impact

2008-08-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Despite some strong headwinds in the economy, Wisconsin manufacturers report that assistance they received from the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership produced an economic impact of $226 million, most of it in sales growth and business expansion.

The fiscal year 2008 economic impact is based on 185 surveys completed by WMEP-assisted companies and compiled by an independent national research firm.

“This year’s impact sends a strong message about the substantial gains that can be realized by manufacturers who invest in change and transformation,” said Michael Klonsinski, executive director of WMEP, a non-profit organization that provides expertise and business assistance to help small and mid-size manufacturers grow and succeed. “Clearly it’s another sign that Wisconsin manufacturers can compete and win in the global economy.”

WMEP-assisted companies reported:

$128 million in increased or retained sales.
$16.9 million in cost savings.
$81.3 million in investment, including new plant and equipment.
1,235 created or retained jobs.

In addition, state tax revenues are projected to increase $11 million as a result of higher sales and job creation.

Regionally, manufacturers in Northeast Wisconsin — Brown, Calumet, Door, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago counties — reported a $58 million economic impact with 433 jobs created or retained. Manufacturers from these counties reported $47.2 million in increased/retained sales, $5.6 million in cost savings, and $5.8 million in investment.

This year’s statewide survey data on business investment — the highest ever reported at $81 million — bodes well for future growth. “Many manufacturers are investing in new technology and expanding their plants to accommodate increased demand for products and services from customers here and around the globe,” Klonsinski said. “That’s good news not only for the manufacturers, but for their employees, communities and local economies.”

The investment impact includes expenditures on new plant and equipment, information systems and workforce practices.

In the past year, WMEP has significantly expanded its services to promote growth and innovation. Another core area of services — lean manufacturing — remains an essential strategy to promote efficiency, flexibility and lower costs for Wisconsin manufacturers.

WMEP’s impact data is compiled by market research firm Synovate for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership. WMEP is an affiliate of NIST MEP, a national network of more than 60 centers that provide assistance to small and midsize manufacturers. During the past five years, WMEP-assisted manufacturers reported impact of $931 million with 8,635 jobs created or retained.

WMEP provided services to 531 state manufacturers last year. Among them:

Racine Metal-Fab Ltd. says WMEP has been instrumental in helping the company adopt lean manufacturing and achieve double-digit sales growth in each of the past three years. Racine Metal-Fab has cut lead times 25 percent, reduced inventories by more than 60 percent, and embraced a lean culture. “WMEP’s lean classes provided the building blocks for lean in our organization, and helped our employees understand their role in the success of our operation,” said Tim White, director of operations. Morale is improved, and employees have gained new skills and flexibility with cross-training in other areas of production. Racine Metal-Fab is a supplier of highly-engineered light gauge metal fabrications and assemblies; its primary product, light gauge segmented reflectors, can be found in sports stadiums such as Camp Randall, Lambeau Field and commercial buildings.

Madison-based Saris Cycling Group has increased sales and productivity as a result of a lean assistance from WMEP. An industry leader committed to innovation, Saris manufactures bicycle racks, parking systems, indoor cycles, trainers and bicycle power meters that give cyclists real-time performance measurements. Dramatic improvements in production floor organization of tools and materials helped the company cut travel time of dies used in manufacturing by 80 percent, and increased throughput for one product line by 30 percent. The efficiency gains allowed Saris to bring back production of a part that had been outsourced to China. “We’ve improved to the point that we’re able to produce the part here at a lower cost,” said Mike Root, production manager. Root says employees have embraced the lean concepts of 5S/Visual Workplace, and have been quick to replicate improvements in other production areas.

Gary Lofquist, CEO of Pulaski-based MCL Industries Inc., says the company’s lean journey has led to new business and improved performance throughout all areas of the company, including finance, human resources, engineering and sales. “WMEP gave us the ability to look at manufacturing processes and problems with a different set of glasses,” he said. The company used lean techniques to reduce lead times, which led to new business. “Our ability to perform in this new lead time environment resulted in significant new opportunities that are now the core of our future growth plans,” Lofquist said. MCL, which specializes in the engineering and manufacture of electrical assemblies for heavy-duty and on- and off-road vehicles, has done more than 30 improvement projects with WMEP.

Manufacturing contributes $47.7 billion to Wisconsin’s economy and employs nearly 500,000 people. In the past five years, manufacturing’s contribution to Wisconsin’s economy has grown $5.9 billion, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

WMEP is a private, nonprofit organization committed to the growth and success of Wisconsin manufacturers. WMEP is a leader in lean manufacturing, growth services, strategic business planning, quality systems and supplier development. WMEP receives financial support from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and partners with many public and private organizations to serve Wisconsin manufacturers. For more information, visit www.wmep.org or call 1-877-856-8588.

Steel, oil prices boost Navy ship cost

2008-08-12T16:37:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Lockheed Martin Corp. says a double-digit jump in the cost of steel and rising oil prices have helped propel the final price tag of its Wisconsin-built warship for the Navy to more than double the initial estimates.

Navy officials earlier this month told lawmakers the service's initial estimate of $220 million per ship had ballooned to as much as $550 million, which they blamed on design changes that occurred during construction.

While the cost of the first two Littoral combat ships — one each being built by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Corp. — is not allowed to breach a congressional cost cap of $460 million per vessel, the ceiling does not apply to run-ups in inflation. Littoral combat ships are designed to move speedily in shallow, coastal waters to assist in retrieving Marines and other missions.

Lockheed Martin's LCS-1 is being built at Wisconsin's Marinette Marine Corp., while General Dynamics' LCS-2 is being built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Tufco expecting lower earnings

2008-08-12T16:34:00.003-05:00

By Joel Dresang
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Consumer wipes maker Tufco Technologies Inc. (TFCO) said today that its fiscal fourth quarter won't look as good as it did last year because of economic slowdown.

The Green Bay-based customized converting company reported increased net income and sales for the third quarter and through the first nine month of its fiscal year but said that it doesn't expect to beat the fourth quarter of 2007, when it benefited from stronger demand and the launch of two new products.

For the three months that ended June 30, Tufco had a net income of $331,000 or 7 cents a diluted share on sales of $30.7 million, up from net income of $287,000 or 6 cents a share on sales of $29.8 million in the third quarter of 2007.

Through nine months, net income was $562,000 or 12 cents a share on sales of $85.1 million, compared with $465,000 or 10 cents a share on sales of $84.4 million the year before.

Before the announcement, Tufco's share price closed up 8 cents at $6.

Plexus to close Massachusetts plant

2008-08-12T14:58:00.002-05:00

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press

Plexus Corp. said Tuesday it will close its Ayer, Mass., manufacturing plant and transfer work to other facilities, primarily in Neenah, where the company is headquartered.

Plexus says it expects to close the Ayer plant by March 2009, resulting in the loss of about 170 jobs.

Chief financial officer Ginger Jones says the company expects to save $4 million to $5 million annually by closing the plant.

Plexus provides electronic manufacturing services, including mechanical, electronic and software design.

Marketplace Today

Marketplace Today, Marketplace of Ideas are moving

Gannett announces job cuts in state

Forest managers react to emerald ash borer

Tickets available for Titans–Packers Thursday

Outgoing UW leader rips business lobby

Oshkosh Corp. cutting workforce by 10%

96 access in Grand Chute closed through Friday

Parade of Homes school supply drive through Sunday

Wausaukee voters approve exceeding school revenue limits

School districts consider lawsuit in investment downturn

By Amy HetznerMilwaukee Journal Sentinel

Shopko donates $1 million to Concordia

By Erica PerezMilwaukee Journal Sentinel

Stora Enso CEO: NewPage deal will succeed

EPA: Brown County violating clean air standards

By Lee BergquistMilwaukee Journal Sentinel

College leaders urge drinking age debate

State helps fund Van Zeeland expansion

Schneider Logistics named Responsible Care Partner

Tower Tech to supply German turbine maker

SCA Tissue, McMahon try prairie plantings to filter runoff

Thrivent Financial Bank expanding in Appleton

Natural landscaping tours featured at Wild Ones Conference

175, 10 now open; 441 work under way

Favre’s image takes a national hit

By Don WalkerMilwaukee Journal Sentinel

Statewide home values increase by just 1%

Nationwide crackdown on drunken driving begins Friday

Road America breaks ground on admin building

441 work starts Saturday

EAA Gathering of Eagles exceeds $2.88 million

Lawrence receives $1.6 million gift

Nuclear plant owner seeks license renewal

Green Bay, Two Rivers Aurora hospitals honored

Neenah Paper gives gift to Natural Heritage Corps

Appleton awarded training grant

Lean Manufacturing Certificate Series in Appleton starting in September

Forbes college rankings: Lawrence 68th

U.S. Oil Open raises $1,253,000

NTSB finds no problems with plane in EAA crash

S.S. Badger to resume service Friday

St. Norbert CEO series starts Sept. 17

New North diversity award applications accepted

Ariens CEO elected to Packers board

WMEP reports $226 million impact

Steel, oil prices boost Navy ship cost

Tufco expecting lower earnings

Plexus to close Massachusetts plant

By Amy Hetzner
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

By Erica Perez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

By Lee Bergquist
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

By Don Walker
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel