(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 20 Oct. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— Dairyland Power Cooperative has completed its initial evaluations of three possible sites for coal ash dumps in Vernon County and has submitted them to the Department of Natural Resources for review.

In its fall newsletter, which customers and others received last week, Dairyland reported that three sites — two in the town of Harmony and one next to the existing Vernon County landfill site outside Viroqua — were included in the submission to the DNR.

The newsletter also reported, “While Dairyland continues to aggressively seek solutions for beneficial reuse of the ash, a disposal facility will still be necessary.”

So, the bottom line is Dairyland plans to continue to pursue dumping coal ash from its Genoa power plant somewhere in Vernon County, despite widespread public opposition.

See more on Dairyland’s options in a new column from Gregg Hoffmann:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=202

— Kurt Bauer, president of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, said in an interview broadcast this weekend that Wisconsin banks are in good shape compared to their peers nationally.

“They are coming off record profits so that they were well-suited to weather the downturn that we’re seeing now,” Bauer said.

Watch the entire interview: http://www.wisn.com/upfront/17756488/detail.html

— Two companies notified the state on Friday that they’d be laying off a combined total of more than 500 workers.

LEAR Corp. in Janesville, provided about the permanent layoff of 371 workers beginning Dec. 23.

SPX in Lake Mills, provided notice about the permanent layoff of 169 workers at that location over a 7-month period beginning Dec. 18. The facility is expected to close.

— Wisconsin Public Service Commission staff on Friday set public hearings for a proposed Northern States Power Company transmission line and substation upgrade near Eau Claire at Gravel Island.

Technical and public hearings will be held in the NSP service area near Eau Claire on Jan. 26. Staff set a December 8 deadline for NSP written testimony, and a Dec. 15 deadline for PSC staff reports on the project. Rebuttals will take place in Madison at PSC headquarters on Jan. 9 prior to public hearings.

Depending on the route chosen based on public testimony during the public hearing and PSC staff recommendations, the cost of the project ranges from $33.8 million to $34.6 million. Once approved, construction will begin in 2009 and be completed in three phases by late 2011.

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Press Releases
· CARW: Commercial REALTORS recognize the industry’s best
· Dept. of Workforce Development: September unemployment rates announced
· International Premium Cigar and Pipe Dealers Association: Spreads truth to head off Wisconsin smoking ban

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


TOP STORIES
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M&I might apply for federal bailout : Marshall & Illsley Corp. is considering applying for the federal bank bailout program, the company told shareholders Friday. The Milwaukee firm, the largest bank based in Wisconsin, has been burdened by problem loans tied to the troubled real estate sector, especially in Arizona. M&I posted a profit in the third quarter, but earnings were down 62% from a year earlier.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807420

159 will lose jobs in Lake Mills plant closing : What for years had been the largest employer in Lake Mills will soon close its doors. The SPX Corp. filed notice with the state that it will close its APV North America plant on Dec. 31, eliminating 159 jobs from the western Jefferson County city of almost 5,400 people.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310059

GM supplier Lear to close Janesville plant: Nearly 400 employees of Lear Corp. in Janesville are the latest casualties of General Motors’ decision to stop manufacturing sport utility vehicles in the Rock County community.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310031

Modine building plant in Austria: Modine Manufacturing Co. said Friday that it is building a plant in Austria and establishing a new leadership team as part of its plans to grow its global refrigerant components business.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily42.html

New law firm absorbs staff from shuttered Heller Ehrman: Two dozen employees of a national law firm that closed its Madison office have landed with a new firm. Seattle-based Perkins Coie announced Friday it was opening an office here using staff that had been with the local office of Heller Ehrman.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/310047

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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)
– Schmidt’s Towing using electric vehicle for some service calls
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310034

BIOTECH (back to top)
– TomoTherapy, Hitachi working on Japan distribution deal
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily41.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Paper industry honors its pioneers
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081019/APC03/810190481/1028

LABOR (back to top)
– State services offered for KMC Industries unemployed in Denmark
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081018/GPG03/810180638/1247

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Duo makes solar electricity a business, social statement
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081020/APC03/810200426/1028

INVESTING (back to top)
– Ashwaubenon’s Tufco extends stock repurchase through next summer
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081018/GPG03/810180637/1247

– Is it time to ‘put a little cash to work’?
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807718

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Updates to Wausau’s downtown City Square expected to begin in fall 2009
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20081020/WDH0101/810200592/1581&located=RSS

– Green Bay on board with Ace Marine site
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081018/GPG03/810180639/1247

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Crop sprayers propel farmers’ profits
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20081020/MAN0101/810200465/1358&located=RSS

– Farm column: Why have farms grown so large?
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20081019/FON03/810190562/1327

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Winnebago County seeks higher rent from Basler at Wittman Regional Airport
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081020/OSH0101/810200362/1128&located=RSS

– Rebuilt runway improves Austin Straubel airport safety
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081019/GPG03/810190614/1247

– Dane County airport hopes cut in fees for airlines and passengers will pay off in greater volume
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310044

– Air Wisconsin passenger levels drop
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily48.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Store opening Monday in Green Bay
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081018/GPG03/810180636/1247

– Expansion fits Rogan’s Shoes
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807360

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Kewaunee Power Station’s license renewal meetings’ focus
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081020/GPG03/810200509/1247

– Verizon Wireless activates cell site
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081020/GPG03/810200505/1247

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Federal grant to Marshfield Clinic program aims to help kids avoid farming accidents
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081020/MNH0101/810200566/1732&located=RSS

– Patients delay health care to save cash
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/story3.html?b=1224475200^1718654

– Health insurer, business see savings in medical tourism
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/story9.html?b=1224475200^1718803

– A prescription for success
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807716

– Better care, smaller price tag
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807359

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Lakeview Credit Union honored as Corporate Citizen of the Year
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081019/APC03/810190483/1028

– Home loans going strong, albeit a bit tighter, in area
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310073

– MGIC losses narrow
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily40.html

– Bank Mutual profit drops on financial market turmoil
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily39.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Executive Q&A – John Suby aims to serve all of his clients’ needs
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/310045

– Sensient president Edmonds joins board
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/13/daily47.html

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Dana Kohlbeck column: Cater to tech-savvy talkers to leverage their social network
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081020/APC0701/810200416/1436/APC03

– Mick Hager Don’t overburden small businesses
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081020/GPG03/810200504/1247

– Tom Saler: Ignore financial weapons of mass destruction at our peril
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=807717

Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

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