Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 24, 1993 TAG: 9306240164
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From wire and staff reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Employees of Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies stores will eat cake and watch TV at noon today to celebrate the Roanoke-based company's selection as a 1993 Retailer of the Year by Building Supply Home Centers magazine.
Moore's president Norm Darrer is on the cover of the trade publication's June issue, which features the company for developing a strategy to try to equally serve both the do-it-yourself and contractor markets.
A video of Darrer's acceptance of the award two weeks ago will be on the screen during the party at the company's 58 stores in 10 states.
Workers in the corporate office had a party Wednesday afternoon, said spokesman Dan Rogers, who will party again at Moore's store on Franklin Road in Southwest Roanoke. Darrer is out of town because of family illness, Rogers said. - Staff report
USAir offers fare reductions
USAir said Wednesday it is offering systemwide fare reductions on seven-day advance purchase excursion fares, similar to a fare program announced Tuesday by another major airline. Travel on the 7-day advance purchase fare must be completed by Sept. 30.
Reductions do not apply in some local USAir Express markets or for all USAir Shuttle and USAir California Shuttle flights. - Wire report
Computer division barred from bidding
FALLS CHURCH - A division of Computer Sciences Corp. has been temporarily barred from bidding on new government contracts because of alleged bidding improprieties, the Environmental Protection Agency said.
Suspension of the Falls Church-based Advanced Technology Division does not affect government work already won by the company. The suspension is in effect pending an investigation that could lead to further action, including permanent exclusion from government bidding.
The suspension stems from an EPA audit of a Computer Sciences contract that was critical of the company. The EPA canceled the contract a year ago, Computer Sciences spokesman Bruce Plowman said. - Associated Press
Signet declares stock split
Signet Banking Corp. on Wednesday declared a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend. The dividend will be distributed July 27 to stockholders on July 6.
The annual cash dividend of $1.60 a share will be adjusted to 80 cents to reflect the doubling of the number of shares. The dividend had been increased 33 percent at the end of April.
Chairman Robert M. Freeman said the stock split would enhance liquidity and broaden distribution of the shares.
"The split should make Signet stock more accessible to small investors and encourage individual ownership," he said.
No action is required of stockholders to receive the split. Signet has 28.1 million shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange. - Wire report
ETS contract is renewed
ETS International Inc. of Roanoke said the Environmental Protection Agency has exercised its option for the second year of a contract for testing and evaluation of methods to measure emissions.
The new contract will cover the government's fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The award to ETS is for $512,582.
The $2 million, three-year contract "positions ETS in the forefront of EPA methods development in response to the Clean Air Act amendments," said John Mycock, ETS executive vice president.
ETS provides pollution control products and services, specializing in toxic emission measurement and control. - Staff report
Vitramon gets funds for expansion
Vitramon Inc. on Wednesday got $500,000 for expansion of its Roanoke plant.
William W. Johnson, manager of the plant, said the checks for site preparation convinced the company to expand in Roanoke instead of Singapore or Mexico.
Of fhe money, $350,000 came from a state fund and $150,000 from the city. Vitramon is building a $21 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion that's expected to add 200 jobs when the work is completed at the end of the year. It's the company's third expansion in four years.
Also, Ross Laboratories of Altavista got $250,000 from the state, money that will be used to offset infrastructure costs for the town in connection with a $20 million plant expansion creating 60 new jobs. - Staff report
by CNB