(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 4 Aug. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— Van Der Molen Recreational Properties in Warrens, located 45 miles north of Wisconsin Dells, has notified state and local officials that it will lay off 244 workers by the end of September if the company cannot fine a buyer for its campground, hotel, waterpark and related properties.

In addition, the company said health benefits for employees, retirees and dependents will end if the property is closed. The state Department of Workforce Development said it has a Rapid Response team in place, and the team is in the process of contacting the employer to schedule orientation sessions with affected employees if the property is not sold.

— The state of Wisconsin has paid the Sierra Club $251,000 in legal fees after the environmental group settled a lawsuit that uncovered clean air violations at a University of Wisconsin power plant.

Under a settlement last year, the state agreed to cut pollution at the Charter Street Power Plant in Madison immediately and look for similar reductions statewide. The deal also required the state to pay legal fees but the amount hadn’t been calculated.

The two sides reached a settlement last month requiring the state to pay $251,000. The amount had been kept quiet, but The Associated Press obtained documents showing the state recently made the payment.

— Brett Favre is back on the job. Maybe not as Packers QB quite yet, but he’ll be returning as the celebrity spokesman for the Snapper brand of lawnmowers, a division of the Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group.

Favre has been promoting Snapper lawn and garden products since 2004 and will continue to appear in television, radio and newspaper advertisements for the Snapper brand, as well as being featured prominently in sales literature, in-store displays and on the brand’s website. The new agreement is for a minimum of two years.

See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/8/1/#favre-returns-as-snapper-pitchman

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WISBUSINESS LUNCHEON: Global Warming Task Force Co-Chairs
Tuesday, August 12, 11:45 am, The Madison Club

WisBusiness.com, The Madison Club and Madison Magazine present “The Madison Business Luncheon” on Tuesday, August 12, with featured guests Global Warming Task force Chairs Roy Thilly of the Wisconsin Public Power and Tia Nelson of the Board of Public Land Commissioners.

Learn more about the Global Warming Task Force:

http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/

Sponsored by Xcel Energy.

This event is open to the public, and the price for lunch is $19. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

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THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

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Press Releases
· Aurora Health Care Completes System-Wide Conversion to Masimo SET Pulse Oximetry Technology
· Brett Favre Welcomed Back as Spokesperson for Snapper Brand Lawn Mowers
· Cieslewicz Nominates Clingan as Community Development Director
· Farm Bureau supports plan to generate energy from biomass
· Governor Says No to Coal for State Heating Plants in Madison
· Klein Insurance Group and The Hanover to Help Richland Center’s ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Family
· Sonic Foundry Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results
· Two Months Left to Win a Dream Backyard

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


TOP STORIES
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Madison: University Research Park to add E. Washington Ave. site: The University Research Park, a 260-acre suburban oasis for start-ups on Madison’s West Side, will be trying to attract young student and faculty entrepreneurs with an edgy new urban incubator in an abandoned industrial building on the near East Side. The 6,000-square-foot incubator in the former Marquip Inc. offices and factory building at 1245 E. Washington Ave. will offer 10 suites to high-tech entrepreneurs in a Downtown setting, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/299123

State minimum wage could increase to $7.25: Wisconsin’s minimum wage would increase to $7.25 per hour next July to match the federal rate under a proposal subject to a public hearing this week. The state Department of Workforce Development wants to raise the state’s minimum wage from the current $6.50 per hour. A public hearing on the change is scheduled for Wednesday in Madison. The current state minimum wage took effect on June 1, 2006, after a two-year fight in the Legislature.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/GPG0101/808040564/1207

More trade missions on Doyle’s wish list
Gov. Jim Doyle wants to see the world, and he wants the world to see Wisconsin. So, he’s mapping out plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Scandinavia, Mexico, China, Japan and possibly South Africa and Israel in coming years, according to a March memo from Doyle’s then-commerce secretary, Jack Fischer. Under Doyle’s preliminary plans, the Department of Commerce would conduct two major trade missions and a few “mini-missions” each year, according to the memo released under the state’s public records law. Doyle gave general approval to trips to the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland during a meeting with Fischer and Doyle’s chief of staff, Susan Goodwin, the memo says.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779335

The Manitowoc Company sells marine business for $120 million
The Manitowoc Company said today it agreed to sell its marine business to an Italian ship builder for $120 million in cash. Fincantieri Marine Group Holdings Inc. will buy the smallest of Manitowoc’s three business in a deal that is expected to close at the end of 2008, provided regulators approve. Manitowoc Marine Group is a shipbuilding, ship repair and conversion business that has facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, Sturgeon Bay and Marinette. It has 1,587 employees.
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/MAN0101/80804014/1358&located=RSS

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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)
– Sonic Foundry cuts 3Q loss in half
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/352892001/daily55.html

– TomoTherapy reports reduced orders; shares plunge
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/28/daily53.html?ana=from_rss

BIOTECH (back to top)
– WiSys helps link research, real world; Foundation fosters discoveries that help companies innovate
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779006

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Nekoosa continues search for businesses
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/WRT0101/808040463/1806

– EPA grant could foster redevelopment; Brown County receives $400,000 for pollution study
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/GPG0101/808040550/1207

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Yachting industry stays afloat by going international
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779018

– ABB in position for Rockwell bid; New CEO Hogan brings reputation as dealmaker
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779005

– Appleton raises prices for carbonless sheets
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/APC03/808020512/10287

LABOR (back to top)
– Kimberly: Closing hurts more than mill; NewPage suppliers will feel pinch as well
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/APC03/808020515/10284

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Economy forces entertainment businesses to try new strategies
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/story2.html?b=1217822400^1678211

INVESTING (back to top)
– Oshkosh Truck quarterly performance tainted by impairment charges
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080801/APC03/80801027/1028

– Looking at cost-cutters; Manager follows consumers and watches world trends
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779336

– MGIC Investment drops expansion into Canada, Australia
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/story5.html?b=1217822400^1678255

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Arbitration may not satisfy homebuyers; Regional builders group defends process, says it’s fair
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779007

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– July Milk Price Report Released
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=938&yr=2008

– United Cooperative to Expand Sauk City Feed & Grain Location
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=937&yr=2008

– No Penalty-Free Early Release of CRP
http://www.agriview.com/articles/2008/08/01/crop_news/crops07.txt

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– EAA officials pleased with week
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/APC0101/808040442/1004

– Northwest tacks on $80 charge to tickets
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/352633038/daily49.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– It’s good to be Chairman Bob; Pick ’n Save sales still steady, Chicago expansion on track
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779334

– Guitar battle will slide until fall; Music shop sues Gibson to remain official vendor
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779069

– Brady trying new retail route
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/story4.html?b=1217822400^1678243

– Leinenkugel’s adds new seasonal beer
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/352929747/daily56.html

– Favre extends Snapper spokesman deal
http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/bizj_milwaukee/~3/352891998/daily54.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– Some say tougher laws may be key to dealing with culture of drinking
http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/SHE0101/808040413/1062&located=RSS

TOURISM (back to top)
– State fair officials warn of fake tickets
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/GPG0101/808040561/1207

– Wisconsin State Fair Returns With Cream Puffs, Mooing Contests
http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/17080493/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

– Hybrids roll into State Fair; Fairgoers can give green vehicles a spin
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779210

– Tall ship offers tours, 2-hour sails
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/GPG0101/808040552/1207&located=RSS

– Wisconsin Dells’ waterparks vary in size, not in fun
http://onmilwaukee.com/visitors/articles/wiscodellswaterparkguide.html

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Doyle Says State Should Stop Using Coal For Power Plants
http://www.channel3000.com/goinggreen/17063931/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

– High diesel costs add to trash-removal price
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779382

– 3-county recycling plant tops estimates by almost $2 million
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/GPG0101/808040547/1207&located=RSS

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– St. Mary’s Heart Failure Program Keeping Patients Alive
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17082647/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– 130 years and counting for Ellington Mutual
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/APC03/808030550/1028

– Integrity Mutual shows no signs of slowing at 75
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/APC03/808030551/1028

– Cypress purchases Nebraska insurer
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/APC03/808020513/10288

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative provides spark for success
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779183

– Plexus Corp. appoints new board member
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/APC03/808030557/1028

– MillerCoors’ Long replaces Anheuser-Busch chief as trade group head
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/28/daily50.html?ana=from_rss

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Torinus: Doyle appointee ready to move up
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779013

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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