Job cuts cost Potlatch in second quarter

Potlatch Corp. announced the company will take a one-time, pretax charge of $26 million in the second quarter to cover costs associated with companywide job cuts.

L. Pendleton Siegel, chairman and chief executive office, projected annual pre-tax savings of $21 million as a result of the the job cuts, which affected about 260 salaried employees throughout the company. Nineteen positions were cut at the Brainerd mill, but three jobs were added for an overall loss of 16 jobs.

The Dispatch learned the job cuts were expected to save about $1 million per year in savings in wages and benefits from the Brainerd mill.

US Link, Pequot Lakes, signed a two-year space lease agreement with Hunt Technologies to occupy one of its former locations. US Link, which has been announcing many new employees in recent weeks, said the lease agreement came as the result of the company's continued growth.

US Link's sales, sales support, marketing and administrative personnel spent part of June packing and traveling to the newly remodeled office space on County Road 11. Forty-five employees relocated to the offices. US Link announced hopes of moving 100 employees into the 16,000 square foot building by year's end. All billing and payments will continue to be operated out of US Link's downtown Pequot Lakes office location. Employee telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are unchanged.

Kavanaugh's Restaurant was recognized in the June edition of Midwest Living Magazine as one of the best resort restaurants in the Midwest.

In the article, the magazine credited Kavanaugh's with a varied menu and a park-like setting on Upper Sylvan Lake. However, walleye was said to reign in the knotty-pine dining room as the restaurant uses about 200 pounds of the fish per week.

"By the time evening spotlights shine on the impatiens along the lake, you'll be ready to order dessert," the magazine reported.

Kavanaugh's was one of four heartland resorts featured in the story that included photos and recipes.

Kavanaugh's Resort also recently completed a new indoor/outdoor pool complex and pool suites lodging units. The new pool facility houses a 16- by 34- foot indoor pool and a 8- by 14-foot whirlpool. The pool building also has a fitness room, game room and mens' and womens' dressing rooms. A new 20- by 40-foot outdoor pool was also added just outside the new building. Eight new pool suites include features such as kitchens and gas fireplaces.

The Military Surplus store on Highway 371 North is closing and moving what inventory is left after a recent sale to the downtown Brainerd store location.

A study of grade crossings where railroad and roadbed meet may become a model for a corridor view of crossings for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. A project in Morrison County reflected what is expected to be a shift in the traditional approach of viewing one crossing closure at a time.

The change means looking at a larger picture. A team of BNSF employees and state and area officials re-evaluated highway and rail grade crossings in rural communities that line the BNSF track in Morrison County. The goal was to reduce the railroad's exposure to grade crossing incidents and improve safety for the traveling public and BNSF's train crews.

The project in Morrison County looked at 33 public crossings. Communities agreed to allow the team to close seven crossings, the BNSF employee magazine Railway reported. Active warning devices were added at eight crossings and stop signs were to be installed on the rest. Cost of the project was $2.2 million, which was funding in part by BNSF with the majority from federal funds with the assistance of Congressman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn.

In Railway, Oberstar said road/rail grade crossings kill about 500 people a year and the problem deserves prompt, comprehensive solutions. Oberstar stated he was pleased with the innovative BNSF corridor approach. BNSF completed the signal installations, but road work and the closing of crossings is expected to continue this year and into 2001.