The Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) articles from May 2001

The Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) archives from May 2001

Appleton, Wis., Second-Hand Clothing Shop to Close.
May 31, 2001... May 31--Appleton's downtown will lose another retailer next month when Glad Rags second-hand clothing shop closes. "We're just not doing enough business," said store owner Denise Jordan. In 1992, she opened her business across the street...

Appleton, Wis., Doll Shop to Move West into New Location.
May 31, 2001... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang May 31--It's moving time for teddy bears. Roxanne's Doll Shoppe, Wisconsin's largest store dedicated to dolls, will move from its current location at 122 S. Memorial Drive on July 21 and reopen Aug. 6 at...

Minnesota-Based Grocer to Close Stores in Eastern States to Focus on Midwest.
May 30, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 30--Even as SuperValu Inc. closes operations in other states, the grocery chain is bolstering its Fox Cities operations. Under a restructuring effort that will shed non-core retail markets, SuperValu officials...

High Fuel Costs Drive Some Motorists to Seek Economical Alternatives.
May 30, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 30--Jay Vanevenhoven bought his Dodge Ram pick-up last year with nary a thought to its dismal 13 miles per gallon. "Didn't even think about it," Vanevenhoven said. "I've always driven a pick-up truck." ...

Appleton, Wis.-Area Business Award Nominees Succeed with Attitude to Achieve.
May 29, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 29--The 10 companies vying for honors in this year's Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry Small Business Awards share a common trait. "They all display a successful attitude," said Jim Schlies, the...

Eight Companies Vie for Appleton, Wis.-Area Chamber's Rising Star Honors.
May 29, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 29--Perhaps reflecting the much-ballyhooed "new economy," four of this year's Rising Star award nominees come from the technology sector. A record number of rookie companies are vying for the Fox Cities Chamber...

Many Appleton, Wis.-Area Singles Find Pressure-Free Social Arena on Internet.
May 29, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 29--Sick of the bar scene? Can't stand the idea of another fix up by your well-meaning friends and relatives? Maybe you'll have better luck meeting the person of your dreams in cyberspace. Many local...

Most Appleton, Wis.-Area Repair Shops Gave Up Selling Gas.
May 28, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 28--Matt Oreskovich is an oddity. He's young, he's the new owner of a service station, and he's pumping gas and repairing cars, but not selling convenience food. He represents a throwback to the 1970s. ...

Full-Service Overhaul Helped Waupaca, Wis., Gas Station Prosper.
May 28, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 28--Jim Klismet of Waupaca Mobil Travel Center remembers hustling frantically for gasoline during the shortage of 1979-1981. It marked the first major crisis he faced after buying the truck stop/restaurant...

Family Graphics Business in Little Chute, Wis., Invests in Future.
May 28, 2001... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang May 28--LITTLE CHUTE, Wis.--Rod Stoffel, owner of JP Graphics, refused to play it safe in the midst of the worker shortages and slow economy that has plagued companies. Taking an aggressive stance, he said, has...

Buchanan, Wis., Sports Park Teams Up with Advertisers on Race Track.
May 28, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 28--BUCHANAN, Wis.--In 1995, racing fan Dan Gracyalny drove a Jeff Gordon look-alike car at Wisconsin International Raceway. Now, a mini-version of that same vehicle -- the name of Gracyalny's company is...

Appleton, Wis.-Based Bank Grows Into Larger Home.
May 27, 2001... Byline: Judy Waggoner May 27--American National Bank Fox Cities will still cling to its proud distinction of being a small bank in the Fox Cities market, but it's planning to get bigger and feistier. The 8-year-old bank will continue...

Road Work Sends Some Appleton, Wis., Stores Packing.
May 27, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 27--Downtown business owners talk about a day soon when a show at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center will draw crowds, the streets will be free of orange construction cones and blockades, and business will...

Appleton, Wis., Businesses Prepare for Downtown Avenue Reconstruction.
May 27, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 27--Call it merely a less-than-perfect situation or a living hell, but however you label it, the 2002 downtown road reconstruction has the Appleton business community's attention. Those who could be...

Creativity Propels Kimberly, Wis., Man into Big Leagues of Sports Merchandise.
May 27, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 27--Brian Schalk has gone conservative: He's hung up his fuzzy bunny costume to don dress pants and a necktie. Schalk, a 1994 Kimberly High School graduate, lists a number of odd skills on his resume....

Technology Company Plexus Completes Acquisition of San Diego-Based Qtron.
May 25, 2001... May 25--NEENAH, Wis.--Plexus Corp. completed its previously announced acquisition Wednesday of Qtron Inc., a privately held San Diego-based, electronic manufacturing services provider. Plexus paid about $30 million in cash (subject to...

Owners Prepare for Amish Furniture Store's Opening in Grand Chute, Wis.
May 25, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 25--Even though The Amish Home Gallery hasn't opened yet, at least 40 cars have pulled into its parking lot. "People are stopping in to find out when we do," said owner Kathy Baake. "They're coming...

Appleton, Wis., Grocer Hopes Wine Bar Will Lure Performing Arts Center Patrons.
May 25, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 25--Pat Flanagan isn't one to sit on his hands, and he thinks the west end of downtown College Avenue and its soon-to-be-opened performing arts center will need a wine bar. Flanagan, owner of Flanagan's...

Plexus Corp. of Neenah, Wis., Completes Acquisition of Qtron.
May 24, 2001... May 24--NEENAH, Wis.--Plexus Corp. completed its previously announced acquisition Wednesday of Qtron Inc., a privately held San Diego-based, electronic manufacturing services provider. Plexus paid about $30 million in cash (subject to...

East Central Wisconsin Unemployment Rates Rise, Remain Below State Average.
May 24, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 24--Unemployment figures continue to edge upward in the Appleton and Oshkosh markets, according to the state Department of Workforce Development. In April, the greater Fox Cities reported 3.4 percent unemployment,...

State Treasurer Tours Wisconsin Promoting New College-Savings Plan.
May 23, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 23--Considering the high cost of gasoline, relying on a school bus for a road trip makes little economic sense. State Treasurer Jack Voight, however, wants Wisconsin residents to focus on the vehicle's symbolic...

Conflicts in the Workplace Require Diplomatic Solutions, Consultant Says.
May 23, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 23--Human nature dictates when we fight, we fight to win. That may work on the battlefield, but it's not such a hot idea in the workplace, says David Salzwedel, president of Excalibur Edge, an Appleton-based...

Appleton, Wis., Doctors Prescribe Caution When Patients Seek an Online Remedy.
May 22, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 22--Recently, Dr. Peter Roloff received a call from the mother of one of his patients. Her 15-month-old daughter was experiencing certain symptoms, so she plugged them into an Internet health site and found...

Wisconsin Official Predicts Energy Bills Will Go Higher.
May 22, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 22--Think your utility bill stings now? Rising natural gas prices are only the beginning; electric rates are next, warns John Marx, administrator of the Division of Energy in the state Department of...

Supermarket Plans to Open a Second Appleton, Wis., Store.
May 22, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 22--Aldi will launch a second grocery store in Appleton this November. The 16,000-square-foot facility will be on a 3-acre outlot of the Home Depot in the Kensington Centre development on the city's east side....

U.S. Agricultural Leader Reasserts Safety of Feed Supply.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 21--U.S. concerns over a European agricultural problem is a bunch of bull because the country has taken massive steps to protect itself, according to an international rendering leader. "We can stand up...

High Gas Prices Keep Wisconsin Residents Close to Home for Summer Vacations.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang May 21--If you drive to the Grand Canyon, ocean beaches or Disney World this summer, don't expect to see a lot of other Wisconsin license plates when you get there. Wisconsinites, experts said, are likely...

Ohio-Based Excavator Maker Helps International Paper Unload Shipping Costs.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 21--Someday, in the ongoing lore surrounding men and their toys, you'll likely find the Gradall; subcategory paper, in the vast industrial section of large machines and gadgetry. The Gradall Co. is well known...

Kaukauna, Wis., International Paper Mill Receives New Equipment.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 21--Someday, in the ongoing lore surrounding men and their toys, you'll likely find the Gradall; subcategory paper, in the vast industrial section of large machines and gadgetry. The Gradall Co. is well known...

Green Bay, Wis., Rendering Company Takes Steps to Attract Employees.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 21--GREEN BAY, Wis.--Robert Pfeil knows the rendering industry is not glamorous. "It's not one where people would first think they want to work," said the chief financial officer and treasurer for Anamax...

Diversification Holds Key to Oskhosh, Wis.-Based Truck Company's Growth.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--As the former Soviet Union crumbled during the early 1990s, executives at Oshkosh Truck could feel the shock waves. "We were primarily a defense contractor. That represented 85 percent to 90...

Oshkosh, Wis.-Based Firm Breaks Mold with Truck's King-Size Electric Hauler.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--Chris Yakes envisions a heavy-duty truck that consumes 50 percent less fuel, reduces emissions by 90 percent and travels farther and faster than any king-size hauler out there. "It's really...

Oshkosh, Wis., Truck Company Makes Successful Transition Out of Cold War.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--As the former Soviet Union crumbled during the early 1990s, executives at Oshkosh Truck could feel the shock waves. "We were primarily a defense contractor. That represented 85 percent to 90...

Oshkosh, Wis., Truck Manufacturer Continues to Improve Product.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--Chris Yakes envisions a heavy-duty truck that consumes 50 percent less fuel, reduces emissions by 90 percent and travels farther and faster than any king-size hauler out there. "It's really...

Oshkosh, Wis., Truck Company Stays on Forefront of Technology.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--The laws of physics aren't supposed to work this way. You're staring out the windshield of a 15-ton military truck hauling its way up a muddy 60-degree incline, which -- much to your...

Oshkosh, Wis., Truck Company Designs Product for Military Usage.
May 21, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 21--OSHKOSH, Wis.--W. John Stoddart puts a somewhat biblical perspective on his employer's mission. The way he sees it, when the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse come screaming across the horizon, they're going...

Wisconsin-Based Renderer's President Stands Firm on Safety of U.S. Feed.
May 20, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 20--U.S. concerns over a European agricultural problem is a bunch of bull because the country has taken massive steps to protect itself, according to an international rendering leader. "We can stand up...

Innovation Helps Wisconsin-Based Rendering Firm Recruit, Keep Workers.
May 20, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 20--GREEN BAY, Wis.--Robert Pfeil knows the rendering industry is not glamorous. "It's not one where people would first think they want to work," said the chief financial officer and treasurer for Anamax...

Wisconsin-Based Company Builds on Tradition of Serving Soap, Tallow Producers.
May 20, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 20--A soap-making company in Green Bay that got its start when candles were the predominant residential lighting is charging into the 21st century as a leading exporter and an aggressive recycler. Anamax,...

Green Bay, Wis.-Based Soap, Tallow Company Looks to Future.
May 20, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 20--A soap-making company in Green Bay that got its start when candles were the predominant residential lighting is charging into the 21st century as a leading exporter and an aggressive recycler. Anamax,...

High Gas Prices Likely to Keep Wisconsinites Closer to Home, Experts Say.
May 20, 2001... Byline: Maureen Wallenfang May 20--If you drive to the Grand Canyon, ocean beaches or Disney World this summer, don't expect to see a lot of other Wisconsin license plates when you get there. Wisconsinites, experts said, are likely...

Unions Proceed with Wisconsin Airline Contract Negotiations.
May 18, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 18--Negotiations continue -- albeit slowly -- with the three represented groups working to nail down contracts with Air Wisconsin Airline Corp. "Talks have been on hold, for lack of a better term," said...

Concrete Products Manufacturer Plans to Buy Vacant Hortonville, Wis., Facility.
May 18, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 18--Mid Con Inc. of Hortonville intends to buy the former Agrilink Foods building left vacant after the canner closed the Hortonville plant in February. A spokeswoman for Agrilink said it plans to sell just...

Appleton, Wis.-Area Credit Unions Merge.
May 18, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 18--Lakeport Credit Union in Manitowoc will merge with Community First Credit Union in Appleton. The move is effective June 1, pending approval. "Lakeport was seeking a merger partner for a number of...

Two Wisconsin-Based Health Care Providers Forge Partnership.
May 17, 2001... May 17--MENASHA, Wis.--Network Health Plan has created a partnership with a Green Bay health insurance company to expand its network and service area. The physicians, hospitals and other health care providers of Prevea Health Network...

Appleton, Wis., Paper Mill Renovation Gets Makeover for Fund-Raising Campaign.
May 17, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 17--Organizers behind the renovation of the former Atlas Mill in Appleton have adopted a new name and fund-raising campaign for the project, slated to become the home of the Paper Industry International Hall of...

Appleton, Wis., Investment Club Profits from Diversification.
May 16, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 16--After debating for more than a decade about whether to purchase a bank stock, Jeff Lucas and his colleagues in an Appleton-based investment club recently took the plunge. "We felt we had bought tech stocks...

Appleton, Wis., Oil, Gas Company Merges with Hortonville-Based Competitor.
May 16, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 16--The name may change, but the faces remain the same with the merger of Fannin Oil & LP Gas Co. in Hortonville and Garrow Oil & Propane of Appleton. Jerry Fannin, whose father founded Fannin Oil in 1977,...

Former Senator from Minnesota Promotes Group Effort on Health Care.
May 15, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 15--Former U.S. Sen. David Durenberger pointed to a photo of flooding in Great Falls, N.D., in which people passed sandbags along a line. "When things get bad, everyone pitches in during a crisis,"...

Homeschoolers Tap into High-Tech Learning Tools.
May 15, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 15--For Daniel and Ben Casner, Web design, global positioning systems and video cameras serve as just a few of the high-tech learning tools worked into their homeschooling curriculum. "We're freer as...

Wal-Mart Set for Grand Opening of Appleton, Wis.-Area Supercenter.
May 15, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 15--The new Wal-Mart Supercenter on County KK near State 441 is opening Wednesday morning. The Wal-Mart will be the fifth largest retailer to locate in the fast-growing 441/KK area in three years -- and the...

Internet Service Providers Pressured Due to Increased Dependence on E-Mail.
May 14, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 14--Most employees have their daily rituals: turn on the computer, pour a cup a coffee while it boots up, check for new e-mails. But one morning maybe a memo awaits: e-mail down. To tech-heads, the scenario...

Albany, N.Y.-Based Paper Machine Clothing Company Survives with Technology.
May 14, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 14--Some days, the paper machines practically run themselves. On others, you're left scratching your head; arms akimbo and eyes peeled for a solution. These are not necessarily the bad days. In the...

Appleton, Wis., Paper Machine Clothing Company Merges with Albany, N.Y., Firm.
May 14, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 14--On May 22, 1896, Appleton Wire Works' first loom roared into production in a small frame building at Hancock and Lawe streets. Starting the machine was William Buchanan, one of the company's founders, and...

Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark Wage War over Toilet Paper.
May 14, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 14--Everybody loves a good fight, and there's a lulu brewing over your personal hygiene. Procter & Gamble Co. recently announced it was entering the new wet toilet paper market with the acquisition of...

Chance Meeting Reunites Wisconsin Developement Team.
May 13, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 13--The three 30-something developers who took over Commercial Horizons Inc. real estate firm last year have common business approaches, philosophies and aims. But it was chance that brought them together...

Alpharetta, Ga.-Based Dog Treat Company Hires Disabled Workers in Wisconsin.
May 13, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 13--CHILTON, Wis.--In the slowing economy, a Georgia all-natural, gourmet dog treat manufacturer has thrown a bone to New Hope Center Inc. The nonprofit organization that helps disabled people find work...

Neenah, Wis., Machine Shop Owner Travels Long Road to Success.
May 13, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 13--NEENAH, Wis.--Josh Vue decided to start his own machine shop in spite of the cost and because of his expertise. Two years ago, his family helped him buy his first computerized numerical control (CNC)...

Wisconsin Real Estate Developers Learned Business Acumen from Father.
May 13, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 13--GREEN BAY, Wis.--Jeff and Bob Weyers may have grown up in a charmed existence, but they learned their entrepreneurial lessons well from their father, who co-founded two Fox Valley insurance companies. ...

Appleton, Wis., Technical College Allies with Ohio-Based University.
May 11, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 11--Internet technology is allowing students at Fox Valley Technical College to pursue a four-year degree from the traditional two-year launching pad. The college recently entered an alliance with Columbus,...

Neenah, Wis.-Based Paper Products Company Makes Restructuring Changes.
May 11, 2001... Byline: Arlen Boardman May 11--NEENAH, Wis.--Menasha Corp. has created a holding company and moved its support staff into a separate office as part of a two-year companywide restructuring. Thomas Prosser, chairman, said the board of...

Menasha, Wis.-Based Bank Posts Increase in Net Income.
May 10, 2001... May 10--MENASHA, Wis.--Net income and earnings per share more than doubled for First National Bank-Fox Valley in the first quarter, Robert Merriam, president and chief executive officer has reported. The bank with offices in Menasha, Neenah...

Tech Publication Touts Neenah, Wis.-Based Firm's E-Commerce Initiatives.
May 10, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 10--A common misperception plagues Menasha Corp., executives say. Too often, Fox Valley residents pigeonhole the privately held company as a mere corrugated container producer, they contend. Contrary to public...

Travelers Flock to Fox River, Wis., Shopping Mall.
May 10, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 10--Stores like Build-a-Bear and the newly opened Banana Republic continue to draw visitors from afar to the Fox River Mall. With the help of owner General Growth Properties, the mall launched a campaign this...

Award-Winning Teachers Union in New London, Wis., Enters Arbitration.
May 10, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 10--NEW LONDON, Wis.--A little more than a year ago, teachers here had a contract, but no union representation. Now, a union representing 130 teachers and support staff working with a temporary contract...

Tourists Give $316 Million Boost to Wisconsin's Fox Cities Area in 2000.
May 10, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 10--Tourism continues to enrich the Fox Cities area where visitors spent $316 million last year. The Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau released the results of an economic impact study conducted by...

Rising Drug Costs Concern Employees, HMOs in Appleton, Wis., Area.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Megan Mulholland May 7--The rising cost of health care has forced some companies to reconsider benefits, revamp offerings or pass on some of the costs to their workers. As a result, benefits are often a sticking point at the...

Ashwaubenon, Wis.-Based Engineering Firm Hits Home Run in Food Sector.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 7--ASHWAUBENON, Wis.--A company once known for designing airports has evolved into a major behind-the-scenes player in the U.S. food industry. Foth & Van Dyke has designed the machines that put Shredded Wheat into...

Ashwaubenon, Wis., Engineering Firm Helps Employees Develop Diplomacy Skills.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 7--ASHWAUBENON, Wis.--Traditionally, the ideal engineer combined the number-crunching talents of a mathematician, the layout acumen of a designer and the vision of a fortune teller. Nowadays, adding the...

Kimberly, Wis., Native Helps Keep Engineering Firm Climbing to New Heights.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 7--Kimberly native Tim J. Weyenberg never fathomed the number of Fox Valley lives his career would touch. Indeed, looking back upon his youthful days as a seminary student who eventually changed directions and...

Executive Built Oshkosh, Wis.-Based Retailer from the Ground Up.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 7--OSHKOSH, Wis.--In 25 years, Dick Nelson has transformed a small promotional products start-up business to the centerpiece of a multinational corporation. Nelson is president and chief executive officer...

Oshkosh, Wis.-Based Retail Firm Melds Traditional Techniques with Internet.
May 7, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 7--OSHKOSH, Wis.--In two years, 4imprint has leveraged technology and built relationships with corporations like School Specialty of the Fox Cities and Lands' End of Dodgeville to successfully build its market...

Brillion, Wis., Metal Finishing Firm Builds Wastewater Treatment Facility.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 4--BRILLION, Wis.--Professional Plating Inc. will invest more than $1 million to go with the flow. The metal finishing firm is constructing a wastewater treatment facility designed to bolster the company's...

Grand Chute, Wis., Olive Garden Undergoes Interior Redesign.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 4--GRAND CHUTE, Wis.--The Olive Garden restaurant recently finished an interior redesign in a project costing $250,000 to $300,000. Mara Fayerman, spokeswoman for the Orlando, Fla.-based company, said most...

Kaukauna, Wis., Pharmacy to Relocate.
May 4, 2001... Byline: Greg Bump May 4--KAUKAUNA Wis.--For 25 years, Consumer Prescription Center was located at one of the busiest intersections in the city. That changed when State 55 was re-routed last year, but soon the pharmacy will be back in...

Banana Republic Arrives at Appleton, Wis.-Area Mall Today.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 3--Banana Republic, an apparel retailer in the Gap Inc. family of brands, is opening a store at the Fox River Mall today. The almost 7,300-square-foot retail outlet will sell men's and women's apparel,...

New Appleton, Wis.-Area Bank Plans Unconventional Approach.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Avi Stern May 3--When the AAL Bank and Trust opens its doors next spring, the first thing many patrons will notice is the lack of a traditional teller line. Instead, personal bankers sitting at desks will provide "more...

Appleton, Wis.-Area Printing Firm Says Goodbye to Deceased Former Leader.
May 3, 2001... Byline: Joanne Zuhl May 3--Banta Corp. says farewell to a visionary with the passing of former president, chairman and chief executive officer Harry W. Earle. Earle died April 26 in Connecticut at age 76. He ran Banta from 1979 to...

Retail Furniture Company to Move to New Location in Appleton, Wis.
May 1, 2001... Byline: Stefanie Scott May 1--An Ashley Homestore retail furniture outlet will move into the former Denis Sports Shop building in Grand Chute later this month. The furniture store will operate as an independently owned, licensed...