| 2 years later, clouds linger
Two years ago today, the life Patrick Wooten knew disappeared beneath Katrina's deluge. At first, he tried to wait out the flood, huddled with his wife and two of their kids in his mother's house in Algiers. He tried to protect them, first from the water, then from the shootings that filled the dark nights. Eventually, he gave up, went outside, and waved his shirt to draw the helicopter. He agreed to be flown out of Louisiana, wanted to be as far from Katrina as possible. When he found out he and his family were coming to Massachusetts he was happy, because that seemed good and far. At Otis Air National Guard Base, he and the other 235 evacuees were swarmed by eager volunteers. He had had his own construction business in New Orleans, but he really wanted to be a chef.
T-Coast Students Head Back To School
Kids on the Treaure Coast returned to school Monday to begin the 2007-2008 school year. St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee and Indian River counties all began school with warm weather and clear skies Monday morning. Palm Beach County schools begin Wednesday. .
The end is near at IMI
MASON CITY — Leah Osborne has worked at IMI Cornelius for almost 19 years.But it all comes to an end on Sept. 30 when the Mason City plant closes."It’s kind of hard, but I guess that’s life," said the 53-year-old Mason City resident.The plant closing was announced to the 174 employees Feb. 1.But it didn’t come as a huge shock, according to Osborne."I think that the majority of the people knew it was coming," she said.IMI has been a major manufacturing presence in Mason City for the past 20 years.The closing is due to relocation of product lines to other plants and downsizing due to decreased sales from the Mason City plant, according to Don Gifford, vice president of operations.The product lines are moving to IMI plants in Chicago and Mexico.IMI, the world’s leading supplier of beverage dispensing and cooling equipment, purchased the Schneider Metal Manufacturing Co., located on 15th Street Southwest in Mason City, in 1987.Gifford said some of the current IMI workers are former Schneider employees who have been working in the building for more than 30 years.Gifford has been in the manufacturing business for 40 years.
India firm's 'in-sourcing' creates jobs for Georgia
For critics of U.S. jobs outsourced to India, Azim Premji —- oddly enough —- may be your new hero. Premji, who has spent most of his career building a leading technology conglomerate in India, came to town Monday to announce a reversal of fortune: His Bangalore, India-based company, Wipro Technologies, plans to locate 500 to 1,000 jobs in metro Atlanta within the next three years. Better still, economic development officials say the kinds of jobs envisioned —- software developers and engineers —- are just what Georgia wants. "These are exactly the right kind of jobs we've been working on for a number of years," said Hans Gant, a senior vice president for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. "And Wipro is exactly the right kind of global company we have been trying to recruit.
Hampton news briefs
The Hampton Historical Society's pig roast on Saturday to benefit the Tuck Museum. The roast will be from noon to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Tuck Museum, 40 Park Ave. Dinner features succulent pit-roasted pork by Cliff Pratt and crew, served with salads, homemade baked beans and desserts and two secret barbecue sauces. For information, call Betty Moore at 926-2543.
Culinary school opens in HamptonChez Boucher, a French culinary school launches its fall professional training program in a new facility at 321 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Chez Boucher's expanded new teaching facility is designed specifically for hands-on culinary arts education and immersion in classic French techniques. Register now for the school's fall program, which begins Tuesday. Financial aid available. To learn more, or to arrange a tour of the new facility, contact Chez Boucher at 926-2202 or e-mailing info@chezboucher.com.
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