DATE: Thursday, July 31, 1997               TAG: 9707310343

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   59 lines

LOCAL SCENE

NORFOLK

WILLIAMS NAMED CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: Sentara Medical Group appointed Ray Williams as chief administrative officer. He will direct the management and operation of the medical group. In addition, he serves as vice president of Sentara Enterprises, overseeing Sentara's Tricare Prime government contract to provide primary care services to military dependents in southeastern Virginia.

BARKER JOINS CLARK NEXSEN AS INTERIOR DESIGNER: Leigh A. Barker has joined the new interior design division of Clark Nexsen. She joins the firm through its recent merger with Alpha Design Corp. of Norfolk, now known as Clark Nexsen Interiors Studio. She was associated with the MMM Design Group in Norfolk.

CHESAPEAKE

NATIONSBANK WINS AWARD: The NationsBank Great Bridge Banking Center at 313 S. Battlefield Blvd. was recently awarded the NationsBank President's Award for Service. The award is given annually by the company's president to a branch that exceeds its customers' expectations in the area of customer service.

PORTSMOUTH

THE SMITHFIELD COMPANIES INCREASE EARNINGS: The Smithfield Companies reported net income of $197,673 for the three months ended June 30, compared to $182,252 for the same period in 1996. Earnings per share increased to 16 cents per share from 13 cents per share last year. Net sales were $4,486,831 for the period, compared to $3,446,998 the previous year. The specialty foods manufacturer attributed the increases primarily to acquiring certain product lines from Doughties Foods Inc. in February.

VIRGINIA

PETTY NAMED DIRECTOR OF HORSEMEN'S RELATIONS AT COLONIAL DOWNS: Glenn D. Petty will serve as director of horsemen's relations for the new Colonial Downs Racecourse in New Kent during the inaugural thoroughbred meet starting Sept. 1. He will coordinate all activities of the horsemen while they are in town. He also serves as the executive director of the Maryland/Virginia Racing Circuit.

AMERICAN FILTRONA AGREES TO MERGE WITH FIL HOLDINGS: American Filtrona Corp. in Richmond has entered into a definitive merger agreement with FIL Holdings Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bunzl plc, an international paper and plastics group quoted on the London Stock Exchange. The agreement provides for a merger between American Filtrona and a wholly owned subsidiary of FIL Holdings in which shareholders of American Filtrona will receive a per share cash price of $46.52. American Filtrona also said it declared a cash dividend of 28 cents per share of common stock, $1 par value, of American Filtrona, payable on Aug. 25, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Aug. 8. ILLUSTRATION: Williams

Barker

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