Price-fixing allegations probed

The Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into claims that Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms may have conspired to fix poultry prices.

Bloomberg reported on the probe last week, citing a court filing in Chicago.

Civil lawsuits accused the companies of conspiring to raise prices on broiler chickens.

Tyson is the parent company of Tyson Mexican Original of Portland.

Bloomberg noted that Tyson has dealt with other price-fixing allegations in recent years, but a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation in 2017 led to no enforcement action.

Two hurt

Two truck drivers were injured last week in a dust explosion at POET Biorefining’s plant outside of Cloverdale.

The Greencastle Banner-Graphic said the incident took place in the grain-loading facility of the plant at 2265 E. CR 800 South, north of Interstate 70 near Cloverdale.

The drivers are not POET employees. They were reportedly unloading corn when the dust explosion occurred.

“When the Cloverdale Township Fire Department arrived on the scene, firefighters found only a bit of smoldering fire in the dust collector. They put it out with some water and then set about looking for any more trouble spots,” the Banner-Graphic reported.

Shepherd said the cause of the blast remains unknown.

New pavilion

The Cooper Brothers Community Pavilion has been unveiled in Fort Recovery’s Community Park.

The three-season pavilion can seat up to 114 people.

It has been named in honor of Jim and Gary Cooper of Cooper Farms.

The pavilion can be rented for many uses, including graduation parties, bridal and baby showers and other community get-togethers.

Under 40

Deon Shoaf, senior vice president and chief executive officer of First Bank of Berne, has been named in the Independent Banker publication as one of its 40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders.

New plant

Blue Buffalo, the nation's largest natural pet food brand, announced this week the opening of its newest manufacturing plant, a $200 million facility in Richmond. 

Part of the General Mills family of brands, Blue Buffalo products are made with natural ingredients and specifically formulated to provide dogs and cats with superior nutrition, the company said.

The new 400,000-square-foot plant will create 165 full-time jobs in food processing, quality assurance, maintenance and plant management.

"Blue Buffalo is focused on enhancing the health of pets by providing dog and cat food made with the highest quality wholesome, natural ingredients," Billy Bishop, president of Blue Buffalo Pet Foods, said in a prepared statement.

Construction of the new plant in Richmond started in 2016.

New stores

Gordman’s, a discount apparel and home decor retailer, is opening new locations in Celina and Greenville, Ohio, as part of a conversion of 25 stores in Ohio to the Gordman’s brand.

The stores opened this week, according to a statement from Stage Stores, which operates the company.

Good quarter

Drugstore chain Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s quarterly profit beat analysts’ expectations this week.

Sales in its U.S. pharmacies rose 4.3 percent in the third quarter as it filed 290.7 million prescriptions.

The company maintained its full-year adjusted profit growth forecast, Reuters reported. In April, Walgreens cut the forecast from a range of 7 percent to 12 percent to roughly flat. 

“Following a difficult second quarter, we made progress in the third quarter against the strategic goals we set,” chief executive officer Stefano Pessina said in a prepared statement.

New CFO

Yum Brands Inc., parent of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell-KFC, has named a new chief financial officer.

Chris Turner, 44, will join the company as CFO effective Aug. 8. He will report to CEO Greg Creed.

Turner most recently served as senior vice president and general manager for PepsiCo, where he led the company's retail and e-commerce business with Walmart Inc. in the U.S. and more than 25 countries, according to a news release.

On council

State of the Heart Care’s executive director Kristi Strawser has been selected to serve on Ohio’s first Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Council. 

The Ohio Department of Health selected 20 members from all aspects of the healthcare community to make up the council, including individuals who have worked with various age groups and have experience in various palliative care delivery models such as acute care, long-term care, hospice care, home health agency services, home-based care, and spiritual care. The first council meeting will occur in July. 

Park approved

 The Madison County Board of Zoning Appeals has approved the first of three new solar parks by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, The Anderson Herald Bulletin reported this week.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a special use for the 26-acre site, located outside Anderson between Rangeline Road and Indiana 67.

IMPA is a wholesale electric power provider serving 61 cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio. Anderson Municipal Light & Power is a founding member of IMPA, The Herald Bulletin said.

The electricity generated is used in Anderson.

There are already two solar parks located in the city. 

The first was opened in 2015 on Park Road and generates 5 megawatts of electricity; the second was opened in 2017 on Madison Avenue generating 8 megawatts of electricity, according to the Anderson newspaper.