Boat plant closing hits Little Falls 'in the teeth’

The hometown of legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh has had a spirited love affair with the boating industry for 90 years. But the news this week that a Little Falls boat plant will be closing has left the central Minnesota community drowning in confusion -- and with 180 fewer jobs.

"It's devastating, a kick in the teeth," Little Falls Mayor Cathy Van Risseghem said Wednesday in response to Tuesday's announcement that Brunswick Corp. would be moving the production of Crestliner and Triton boats and pontoons to plants in Missouri, Indiana and New York Mills, Minn.

"This is what our heritage is," Van Risseghem said. "Four generations of Little Falls families have been in this industry. And now this ... just when we've gotten our hopes up."

The community of 8,000 has been riding waves of emotion for five years -- ever since Brunswick bought Crestliner from Irwin Jacobs' Genmar Holdings. Two years ago, Brunswick laid off 115 workers at plants in Little Falls and New York Mills.

Then came the announcement last month that the Jacobs-controlled JD Acquisitions had bought the Larson, Seaswirl and FinCraft boat brands and the Little Falls plant that builds those boats.

"That is a real sign of hope," Carol Anderson, community development chief for Morrison County, said Wednesday. "And we need to hang onto every bit of hope after the way this happened."

Crestliner began in 1942 as the Aluminum Boat Co., when William Morse Sr. developed the small craft with its trademark red lower hull that in time would become a Minnesota icon. In 1948, the company was renamed Larson Watercraft, and in 1955 it christened all of its boats "Crestliner.''

Its first fiberglass boat, the Comanche 17, was built in 1958, and in 1964 Crestliner produced its first all-welded aluminum boat, setting itself apart from the riveted aluminum hulls built by Alumacraft and Lund.

State stops matching deferred compensation contributions

The state will stop matching state workersâ € ™ deferred compensation contributions from March 1.

As part of Gov. .. Jay Nixonâ € ™ s latest round of cutbacks, the state will drop its monthly draw up to $ 35 between March 1 and June 30.

Nixonâ € ™ s proposed budget has the money for the competitions for the year beginning on July 1, but Bubs Hohulin, an assistant to Sen. .. Carl Vogel, said it's € ™ s unlikely that the match will be funded for the coming fiscal year.

â € œFrom a practical standpoint, if it's € ™ s in 2010, € ™ s it's very difficult to convince the parliament to remain in the year 2011, â €? Hohulin said.

On Tuesday, Nixon cut an additional 73.8 million U.S. dollars in this fiscal yearâ € ™ s budget. The elimination of the deferred compensation match could save 2.2 million U.S. dollars between March 1 and June 30.

Several state employees on Wednesday said they were shocked upon hearing the news. They said they hadnâ € ™ t heard first hand, but that state employees were sending e-mails with information.

Charity Hall, who works for the Ministry of elementary and secondary education, said many state employees work for the state, not because the pay is equitable with the private sector, but because the benefits are good. OEI â € donâ € ™ t want to go half track so that I can have a decent package, â €? she said.

Adds developments from court this morning

Tomahawk man sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2009 at the court today to withdraw his guilty plea and request for re-sentenced.

Derek Domke, pleaded guilty October 13, 2008 at the expense of the first murder and armed robbery. Police said Domke slain Rochelle Anderson, 25, March 22, 2008, from convenience Cruising Zephyr in the Tomahawk. An autopsy showed that Anderson was beaten and stabbed to death during a robbery at the gas station.

Domke, 19, gave investigators the name of the alleged accomplice, but no one was charged in connection with the death of Anderson. Domke trial lawyer, Robert Rush revealed today that Domke told him that another man Domke asked for the knife to scare the clerk during a robbery. Domke, provided that a person with a knife and then saw Anderson was injured when he returned to the stores, "said Rusch.

In a motion filed in that case Domke argued that he was forced to plead to the charge of first degree murder and was not informed by his counsel about the possibility of charging murder crime.

Rush said he and Domke spoke several times by telephone and in person at the lower wages. Rusch said he recommended Domke, a charge that he as an option for the jury will submit, but declined Domke.

"(Domke), was very concerned that we could not protect his business," said Rusch. (A) an element of his fatigue and anxiety, as he is admitted to a plea agreement, probably the best he can expect in the circumstances to offer. "

Occupation Attorney Domke "James Rebholz, Domke questioned if the impact of the debt. Rebholz said Domke understood suffering from psychological problems, do not take the necessary drugs in prison and was placed on suicide watch for two weeks before October 2008 are invited to a hearing.

Police officers and a psychologist who examined Domke are among those scheduled to testify later today.

Look for updates on the hearings Domke later today.

Gay ban should be lifted, says top officer

Washington DC - is het tijd om de militairen te trekken: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"-beleid en laat homo troepen te dienen is geopend voor het eerst in de geschiedenis, hoge ambtenaren, zei de bescherming van dinsdag met de voorzitter van de Joint Chiefs of Staff verklaarde dat het leger niet mag worden gedwongen "liegen over wie ze zijn."

Echter, als U. S. minister van Defensie Robert Gates en de Joint Chiefs voorzitter Admiral Mike Mullen werd gevraagd tijdens het jaar studies naar de gevolgen voor het Congres zou trekken de controversiële beleid.

De omkering van het Pentagon 17-jaren beleid ten aanzien van homo's "worden gereduceerd tot integriteit," voor de militaire als instelling, evenals militair personeel zelf, Malla zei de hoorzittingen in de Senaat. Overtuigen, verscheidene Republikeinse senatoren zeiden dat ze zouden alle inspanningen die het Congres ingetrokken het beleid verzetten.

Gedurende de tien maanden voor de kiezers kiezen een nieuw Congres, sommige Democratische leiders ook verdacht werden van pogingen om haar beleid te veranderen dit jaar, wanneer beide partijen erkennen de Republikeinen zou kunnen ophalen zetels, vooral omdat de GOP verkozen senator Scott Brown, een onverwachte overwinning vorige maand in Massachusetts. Intrekking-Don't Ask-Don't Tell-is NIET een winnende strategie voor de campagne voor de partij onder vuur.

"Wat ik wil de leden in hun wijken?" Ik wil richten op banen en fiscale verantwoordelijkheid ", zegt U. S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD., Classificeren van homo's in het leger onder" een heleboel andere zaken "die onvermijdelijk komen.

"Het is nooit een goed jaar" voor de Democraten om de controversiële beleid te verhogen, "zei de Democratische Senaat Whip Richard Durbin van Illinois. "We kunnen verwachten dat het zal ruwe rit zijn."

Echter, Senaat Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nieuw., Zei dat hij niet begrijpt waarom hij moet een jaar wachten.
Review verbod

Het Pentagon kondigde de 11-maanden herziening van de wijze waarop het verbod kan worden opgeheven, zoals de Amerikaanse president Barack Obama zei dat hij zou werken. Maar er is geen tijdschema voor het beëindigen van het beleid dat de ambtstermijn van president Bill Clinton, en dat homorechten pleit aandringen op de annulering.

State stops matching deferred compensation contributions

The state will stop matching state workersâ € ™ deferred compensation contributions from March 1.

As part of Gov. Jay Nixonâ € ™ s latest round of cutbacks, the decline is the monthly draw up to $ 3Dyarzhava termination of the relevant government workersâ € ™ deferred compensation contributions, starting March 1.

As part of the Governor Jay Nixonâ € ™ s the latest round of cutbacks, the state leaves its monthly match up to $ 35 starting March 1 and June 30.

Nixonâ € ™ s proposed budget is the money in the game for the fiscal year beginning July 1, but BUBS Hohulin, assistant to Senator Carl Vogel, said Ita € ™ s probably not the next fiscal year will be funded.

â € œFrom practically see if itâ € ™ s in 2010 Ita € ™ s very difficult to convince the legislature to continue in fiscal 2011, €? Hohulin said.

On Tuesday, Nixon cut an additional 73.8 million U.S. dollars in this fiscal yearâ € ™ with the budget. Removal deferred compensation match to save 2.2 million U.S. dollars in the period of March 1 and June 30.

Several officers on the afternoon of Wednesday, said they were shocked to hear news. They said that hadnâ € ™ t heard from first hand, but state employees by sending e-mail with information.

Charity Hall, who works in the Department of Primary and Secondary Education, said many officials working for the state, not because they pay a fair relationship with the private sector, and because the performances are good. OEI â € donâ € ™ t want another job, so I can have a decent retirement package, â €? yana.5 said between March 1 and June 30.

Nixonâ € ™ s proposed budget has the money for the competitions for the year beginning on July 1, but Bubs Hohulin, an assistant to Sen. Carl Vogel, said it's € ™ s unlikely that the match will be funded for the coming fiscal year.

â € œFrom a practical standpoint, if it's € ™ s in 2010, € ™ s it's very difficult to convince the legislature to remain in the year 2011, â €? Hohulin said.

On Tuesday, Nixon cut an additional 73.8 million U.S. dollars in this fiscal yearâ € ™ s budget. The elimination of the deferred compensation match could save 2.2 million U.S. dollars between March 1 and June 30.

Several state employees on Wednesday said they were shocked upon hearing the news. They said they hadnâ € ™ t heard firsthand, but that state employees were sending e-mails with information.

Charity Hall, who works for the Ministry of elementary and secondary education, said many state employees work for the state, not because the pay is equitable with the private sector, but because the benefits are good. OEI â € donâ € ™ t want to get half track so that I can have a decent package, â €? she said.