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

DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995                   TAG: 9504170105
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

A proposal to convert the Blue Bird Corp.'s former school-bus plant in Buena Vista into an industrial park moved forward late Thursday, as Buena Vista City Council voted to fund a feasibility study with Lexington and Rockbridge County.

Blue Bird Corp. of Macon, Ga., closed its plant in 1993, and put the 244,000 square-foot building on 78 acres up for sale. No buyer or tenant has been found for the vacant property.

Before engineers begin work, Buena Vista is talking to Blue Bird about whether it plans to restart production at Buena Vista. Blue Bird President Paul Glaske said Wednesday such a move was a possibility. Blue Bird laid off more than 200 people in the closing.

- Staff report

Bankruptcies

Eight bankruptcies with business affiliations have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia at Roanoke. Four of them are personal bankruptcies that the court listed as businesses because they have commercial connections and could be of interest to business creditors and customers.

Stiltner Trucking Inc. of Cedar Bluff filed for reorganization and protection from creditors, estimating assets at more than $50,000 and liabilities at more than $100,000.

Horne Brothers Mining Co. of Wise sought liquidation, listing no assets and liabilities of $1,400,464.

Gary Lee Kelley and Sylvia Jean Kelley of Fancy Gap filed for liquidation, listing assets of $91,241 and liabilities of $117,396. They own Laundry Pride, a coin-operated laundry.

Andrew F. Hodge of Salem, who is in construction and home renovation, asked for liquidation, listing assets of $71,750 and liabilities of $88,407.

Christopher D. Lowry of Blacksburg asked for liquidation, with assets of $21,029 and liabilities of $31,928. He does business as American Dream Futon and Oak Leaf Works.

Illes J. Csorba and Carolyn K. Csorba of Roanoke listed assets of $132,856 and liabilities of $220,000 in filing for liquidation. Illes Csorba is a self-employed financial representative and a stockholder of Vehicle Management Inc.

Julie B. Sluss of North Tazewell filed under a special section of the law that pertains to reorganization of family farms. She did not estimate assets or liabilities.

Timothy Mark Agnew of Hillsville, a self-employed carpenter, sought liquidation with assets of $17,400 and liabilities of $14,967.

- Staff report