Wal-Mart fails bid to seal records (11/24/07)

Wal-Mart lost its bid to seal court papers in connection with a dispute with North Carolina tax authorities this week.

After an article in The Wall Street Journal detailed how Wal-Mart paid its outside auditor to come up with complex strategies to cut its state tax bills, the company asked to have future filings in its North Carolina case sealed.

In seeking to have the records sealed, Wal-Mart argued that The Journal's posting of documents on its Internet site caused "unreasonable and undue annoyance."

The state of North Carolina argued that there was a public interest in making sure the documents were not sealed.

North Carolina's attorney general is challenging a Wal-Mart tactic involving real estate investment trusts to cut its tax bills.

Feel the warmth

Even before all the Thanksgiving Day leftovers have been devoured, Santa Claus will be starting to make his rounds in the local area.

Monday, Nov. 26, Santa will be arriving on a fire truck in downtown Dunkirk for that community's annual Feel the Warmth of Christmas program.

Those activities will start at 6 p.m. with Santa greeting and chatting with children in the lobby of Dunkirk's downtown branch of First Financial Bank until 8 p.m.

Also during that time period, several of the downtown businesses will be staying open late, offering door prize drawings and giveaways.

The Dunkirk Union Hall will also be open from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday and representatives from a variety of local clubs, churches and civic organizations will have booths set up.

Another activity on the Feel the Warmth agenda will be free horse-drawn carriage rides, sponsored by the West Jay Optimist Club. Pickup point for the rides will be the corner of Washington and Main streets, in front of the former Stewart Bros. Furniture Store.

The carriage will then proceed west down Washington Street, past the library where the Dunkirk Library Teens group will be passing out free candy canes. The carriage rides will continue for a short distance around the block, past the Dunkirk Post Office and American Legion before returning to the pickup point.

This year's rides will cover a shorter distance to allow for more persons to take advantage of them. The carriage rides will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m., Optimist spokesperson Ailesia Franklin said.

The Dunkirk Improvement Committee and the Dunkirk Beautification Committee will also sponsor booths in the union hall, organizers said. Also Dunkirk Pantry (the downtown Marathon gas station-convenience store) will once again have a food drive and children's games at the station.

For more information about any of the Dunkirk events person may contact Connie Whetsel at (765) 768-6772 or (765) 768-6063.

Parade winners

Winners in the WinterFest Parade of Lights have been announced.

Bank of Geneva won in the category for business and indsutry. Jay County Hospital had the best animal entry. Jay-Randolph Developmental Servicese was the best adult organization, and the Youth Service Bureeau was the best youth organization.

Como Service won for best decorated vehicle, while First Community Baptist Church of Redkey won for beset overall float.

The Portland Rotary Club coordinates the parade on behalf of the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations sought

Nominations are being sought for the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce's annual recognition awards. Nominees are sought for Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Industry of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nomination forms have been e-mailed to chamber members and must be completed by Nov. 30. The forms are also available at the chamber office.

For more information, phone (260) 726-8141.

Completes workshop

A financial associate with a Decatur business recently completed a "Steps to Success" workshop in Minneapolis.

Agnes Schoch, FA, who works for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, joined the company in February.

The goal of the workshop was to broaden financial representatives' advisory skills.[[In-content Ad]]