Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 26, 1993                   TAG: 9308260069
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

Norfolk Southern Corp. said Wednesday it has reopened its main rail line between Kansas City and St. Louis after repairing damage caused by the flooding Missouri River.

After the water receded, crews repaired five miles of washed-out track, including a hole 65 feet deep and 700 feet long near Dewitt, Mo.

The railroad began limited service on the line Sunday, running eight trains a day, and resumed normal service of 10 trains a day on Wednesday.

The main NS line between Hannibal, Mo., and a point 10 miles east is expected to reopen in about two weeks if flood waters from the Mississippi recede. - Staff report

IRS ready to offer luxury tax refunds

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service is ready to begin refunding several million dollars to retailers who collected the now-repealed luxury tax on expensive yachts, jewels, furs and planes.

Most customers who paid the tax on those items since Jan. 1 should contact the merchant for a refund, the IRS said Wednesday. But a person who paid the tax directly to the IRS, such as on a purchase from a merchant abroad, should claim a refund from the IRS by filing Form 843.

Although Congress repealed the tax on yachts, jewelry, planes and furs, the levy remains in effect on luxury cars. However, the $30,000 threshold above which the tax applies will be raised each year to allow for inflation.

- Associated Press

Howell's Freight moving to Botetourt

Howell's Motor Freight Inc. of Roanoke has bought 10 acres in Botetourt County for a new terminal, distribution center and office.

Harry Norris, president, said Wednesday the new site is at Simmons Industrial Park just off U.S. 11. The company's terminal now is in the 2200 block of Winston Avenue S.W., off Brandon Avenue near Towers Shopping Center.

Norris said construction will begin "as soon as we can push dirt." He already has applied for the permits and hopes to be in the new facility by the end of the year.

The terminal will contain 22,000 square feet and the office 7,000 square feet.

The company has 220 employees, with 64 based at Roanoke headquarters, Norris said. He said no plans have been made for the present terminal site, which the company owns.

Howell's is the second Roanoke trucking company to announce plans recently to move to Botetourt. Lawrence Transportation Systems Inc. won rezoning approval from county supervisors this week for a U.S. 11 site. It will move from its terminal on Plantation Road. - Staff report

Briefly . . .

\ Piedmont BankGroup Inc. of Martinsville has increased its quarterly dividend by a penny to 15 cents a share, payable Sept. 30 to shareholders on Sept. 15. The bank holding company has nearly 3.7 million shares outstanding since a 5-for-4 stock split effective June 30.

\ S. Galeski Optical Co. has opened an eyewear retail store at Lakeside Plaza Shopping Center, 177 Electric Road, Salem. It is the Richmond-based company's second store in the Roanoke Valley. The other is in Tanglewood Mall.