(WisBusiness) FRI News Summary — 31 Oct. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— The International Trade Commission ruled Thursday that the U.S. industry has been injured by illegal imports of Chinese and German paper, opening the door for the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose duties on those imports. The complaint was brought by the paper company Appleton.

— Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman on Thursday received the 2008 Annual Diversity Award, the State Council on Affirmative Action’s highest award, presented to DWD in recognition of its diverse workforce and career opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities.

For the third time in Secretary Gassman’s tenure, DWD has won the Council’s top award for a major state agency. The department was previously honored in 2006 and 2004.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has settled a lawsuit against Milk Specialties Company for violations of state water pollution control laws at its Sheboygan County whey processing plant in July of 2007.

According to the complaint, filed at the request of the Department of Natural Resources, Milk Specialties violated the limits and restrictions in its wastewater discharge permit when a plant upset resulted in pollutant discharges to the Adell Branch of the North Branch of the Milwaukee River over a six-day period.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Milk Specialties has agreed to pay penalties and assessments totaling $75,000 for the violations. It has also agreed, as a supplemental environmental project, to make a $50,000 contribution to the Glacial Lakes Conservancy to be used for water quality improvement projects in the Milwaukee River-North Branch watershed

— Thanks to grants from the Federal Highway Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are collaborating on a project to build five innovative experimental bridges.

Read more:
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/cgi/bin/i4news?/news/headlines/2008/Oct30.html

— In his new offering, Fashion Forward columnist Mitch Bram offers some tips for Halloween attire and updates his previous column on TV appearances with some advice for women:

See his column:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=211

— WisconsinNative.com has rounded up eight unique events around the state for readers looking for something to do this weekend.

This week’s highlighted events include a Halloween Candlelight Hike at Devil’s Lake in Baraboo and a masquerade ball — featuring historic costumes — at the Douglas County Historical Society in Superior.

Visit this week’s “Eight Greats Around The State” for details on these events and more:

http://www.wisconsinnative.com/article/19992-looking-something-do-oct-31nov-2-here039s-eight-greats-around-state

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**NOV. 3: New UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin**

Madison Club

11:45 a.m.

The next WisBusiness.com Luncheon at the Madison Club, organized by the Madison Club, Madison Magazine, and WisBusiness.com, is slated for Monday, Nov. 3 at 11:45 a.m. The guest is new UW-Madison Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin.

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**NOV. 18: A post-election look at where the state economy is heading**

Discovery World

Milwaukee

7:30-9 a.m.

Featuring: Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel, former Commerce Secretary Cory L. Nettles of Quarles & Brady, Competitive Wisconsin Director and former Commerce Secretary William McCoshen, state Sen. Ted Kanavas, a member of the Senate committee on economic development, and UW-Madison political scientist Ken Goldstein.

Moderated by Mike Gousha of the Marquette Law School and host of “UpFront with Mike Gousha.”

Presented by WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness in cooperation with Competitive Wisconsin, MMAC and Discovery World. Quarles & Brady is an initial sponsor of the event.

See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=139211

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Press Releases
· F. Dohmen Co.: Donates $750,000 to UW-Madison, Historical Society
· Gov. Doyle: Statement on the International Trade Commission decision on the paper industry
· Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: Milwaukee businesses call on city residents to vote no on paid sick leave mandate
· PDS: Acquires Vision Controls Corporation
· U.S. Sens. Kohl, Feingold and U.S. Reps. Petri, Kagen: Applaud ITC ruling in favor of Appleton Paper Company
· Wisconsin Bankers Association: Rate cut by Federal Reserve and other official measures benefit consumers
· Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance: Biodiesel Basics #16: New additive lowers biodiesel cloud point

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82


TOP STORIES
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Ameritech Services laying off 85 employees: Ameritech Services Inc. has informed state officials that it intends to close a portion of its operations at 918 N. 26th St. in Milwaukee, resulting in the loss of 85 jobs. Ameritech plans to shutdown the specialty center on or about Dec. 22, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter received by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. State law require 60 days notice of a mass layoff or plant closing.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/daily38.html

Proposed Rosendale factory farm would be largest in Wisconsin: Most people know Rosendale as a village speed trap along Highway 26 near Oshkosh. But it soon might be known for the proposed Rosendale Dairy, potentially the largest dairy farm in the state, with 8,000 dairy cows and 300 beef steers. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is considering a pollutant discharge permit application by James Ostrom of Kaukauna, whose company MilkSource currently owns and operates two other large dairy operations — a 7,000-cow farm in Outagamie County and a 2,500-cow facility in Winnebago County.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/312091

Appleton wins ITC paper maker case: Wisconsin lawmakers and union leaders cheered paper maker Appleton’s victory Thursday against foreign competitors. Appleton won the final round of a 13-month effort to prove German and Chinese lightweight thermal manufacturers used unfair trade practices that warranted U.S. government action.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081031/GPG03/810310659/1247

Menasha Corp. buys Toronto plastics firm: Orbis Corp., a subsidiary of Menasha Corp., has purchased Toronto-based Norseman Plastics Holdings, a maker of plastic reusable containers, trays, bins and pallets used in a variety of applications.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081031/APC03/810310555/1028

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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– FCC concerned at trend of pay-TV rate hikes
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/312002

BIOTECH (back to top)
– Merge reports 3Q profit
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/daily42.html

– MSOE to open biomolecular engineering program
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33616149.html

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Portage County cuts could stall downtown growth
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20081031/SPJ0101/810310526/1657&located=RSS

– Advisers: Rebound by late ’09
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/11/03/story1.html?b=1225688400^1725176

– Bankruptcy filings keep rising in Wisconsin, nationwide
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33618644.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Profits drop for paper maker
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081031/APC03/810310565/1028

– Modine reports $13M loss, cuts outlook
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/daily41.html

LABOR (back to top)
– Central Wisconsin state employees’ insurance plans cost more than those in Madison
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20081031/SPJ0101/810310641/1657&located=RSS

– U.S. jobless claims stay flat
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081031/APC03/810310563/1028

– Sick leave referendum subject of dueling news conferences
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/33599069.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Staying the course: Small businesses take on challenges
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/11/03/story2.html?b=1225688400^1725188

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Milwaukee: Local warehouse vacancy rate rises to 7.8% in 3rd quarter
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33574434.html

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Farm column: Everyone welcome to come, play clean
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20081026/FON03/810260475/1327

– Milk Specialties Ordered to Pay Fines for Polluting Water
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1318&yr=2008

– Cross Country: Fix-it men save the day
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/312061

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
Airline merger could boost Austin Straubel flights
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081031/GPG03/810310661/1247

– Report: Airfares at Mitchell among highest declines in 2Q
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/daily44.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– Howard couple opens second Cousins Subs
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081031/GPG03/810310658/1247

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Marshfield Clinic, UnitedHealthcare Insurance agree to new contract
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081031/MNH0101/810310523/1732&located=RSS

– Spirit helicopter crew veteran Nils Strickland named Pilot of the Year by National EMS Pilot Association
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081031/MNH0101/810310477/1732&located=RSS

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Brewers hire Ken Macha as manager
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/daily45.html

– Great Wolf director resigns, replaced by brother
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33591989.html

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