ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701200109
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
Safety problems spur Ford recall
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 340,000 pickups, vans and sport/utility vehicles in the United States and Canada to correct safety-related problems.
Ford said about 148,000 1997 F-150 pickups may have loose or missing bolts that are supposed to hold down the seat-belt assemblies.
The other recalls are:
* About 134,800 1996 Ford Explorer sport/utility vehicles, Ranger pickups, Aerostar minivans and 1996-97 F-series pickups with labels that list incorrect inflation pressures for rear tires.
* About 57,900 1996 Econoline and Club Wagon vans that may have improperly adjusted parking brakes and do not meet U.S. and Canadian ``hill hold'' requirements.
* About 27,900 1997 F-150 pickups with the 4.6-liter engine. When the trucks are operated at highway speeds for extended periods in temperatures under 20 degrees below zero, ice may form in the throttle body, which could prevent the engine from returning to idle.
There have been no accidents as a result of any of the problems, Ford said.
- Associated Press
Unions reject offer by United Airlines
CHICAGO - United Airlines' main unions have rejected new wage offers, ending a brief era of labor peace and possibly jeopardizing an innovative employee ownership plan.
In the $4.9 billion employee buyout in 1994, pilots and mechanics surrendered up to 25 percent of their wages and benefits. The airline has flourished, and the unions say their hard work is responsible and they should be rewarded with generous wage increases after years of belt-tightening. Management says boosting salaries too much would jeopardize the airline's financial health.
-Associated Press
Bankruptcies
Five bankruptcies with business affiliations have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia at Roanoke. One of them is a personal bankruptcy that the court listed as business because it has commercial connections and could be of interest to business creditors and customers.
* Hawkeye Trucking Inc. of Richlands, a coal hauling business, filed for liquidation, listing no assets and liabilities of $149,770.
* George Thomas Witten Sr. of Radford filed for liquidation without estimating assets or liabilities. He formerly operated Hunting Masters L.C., an archery and hunting store that closed in April 1995.
* George Thomas Witten Jr. of Radford, a former principal of Hunting Masters L.C., also filed for liquidation without estimating assets or liabilities.
* Gene A. Waldron Jr. and Rose C. Waldron of Salem filed for a wage-earner plan for repayment of debts, with assets of $76,344 and liabilities of $115,711. Rose Waldron sells antiques.
* Rebecca L. Moore of Cripple Creek, a farmer, filed under a special section for reorganization of family farms. She listed assets of $185,222 and liabilities of $203,551.
-Staff report
Briefly
* The Virginia Horse Industry Board is offering grants to individuals or groups to develop projects that will benefit the state's horse industry, such as economic reports, educational programs and public relations efforts. The deadline for applications is March 1. For more information, contact Andrea Heid at (804)786-5842 or fax requests to (804)371-7786. The 12-member board is supported by an assessment on each equine infectious anemia test sample collected in Virginia.
* Delta Investigations Inc. of Roanoke said it has been certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to train private investigators, security officers and armored car personnel. Travis Palmer of Delta, Joseph Hudson Jr. of Hudson Investigations Inc., and Louis Alls of Wells Fargo Inc. - all former instructors for Blue Ridge Investigations Service Inc. when it was operated by the late Harold McCann - are teaching.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB