ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606030063
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
Tobacco group prays for health of industry
RALEIGH, N.C. - Members of an organization that props up the price of tobacco started their annual meeting Friday by praying for divine intervention in the problems facing the tobacco industry.
The Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corp. marked its 50th anniversary with a meeting of about 400 people at the state fairgrounds. North Carolina, the nation's leading tobacco-producing state, accounts for more than half of the domestic flue-cured crop.
Organization vice president Fred Strickland of Lakeland, Ga., opened the meeting with a prayer for the strength to change the minds of those who want to regulate tobacco.
``Bless our growers throughout these five flue-cured states,'' Strickland prayed. ``Our fellow man is trying to destroy us. We pray for them.''
The group's members come from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. - Associated Press
1 bankruptcy filing in Roanoke
One bankruptcy with a business affiliation has been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia at Roanoke.
Virginia May Hobby of Gate City filed for liquidation with assets of $24,659 and liabilities of $107,565. She operates Colonial Heights Pet Center for pet and pet care sales. - Staff report
Tech hires firm for renovation
Virginia Tech has hired Dewberry & Davis to provide architectural and engineering services for the $3 million renovation of Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center and Alumni Hall.
The project will include renovation and refurbishing of 25 rooms in Alumni Hall for guest rooms, the addition of a conference room to accommodate up to 300 people, and upgrading of the fire, mechanical and electrical systems.
Work is expected to be completed in August 1997. Dewberry & Davis will handle the work through its offices at Marion and Danville. - Staff report
Fleetwood to buy back stock
Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., Riverside, Calif. producer of manufactured housing with operations in Rocky Mount, said it plans to buy back 11.4 million shares, or 25 percent of its outstanding stock, for $27 to $31 each.
The stock repurchase, which isn't conditioned on a minimum number of shares being tendered, began Friday and will end June 27.
As of May 30, the company had 45.6 million shares outstanding.
Shares of the company rose 121/2 cents a share Friday, closing at $30.121/2 on the New York Stock Exchange. - Bloomberg Business News
Office Suppliers moves to new site
Office Suppliers Inc. said it has moved from its location on Aerial Way Drive to a 30,000-square-foot facility in Patterson Industrial Park, 2480 Patterson Ave., Roanoke. OSI, which sells office supplies and new and used office furniture, reports annual sales of more than $4 million. - Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB