New York ? Coleman to cut jobs

The Coleman Co. is eliminating 142 jobs at its Wichita facility and will close its South Carolina plant, the company said Tuesday.

The company employs 181 workers at its Lake City, S.C., plant, where it produces sleeping bags. The plant will operate through March of next year.

In Wichita — where the company produces plastic thermal products and gas appliances — the affected employees have been asked to work into February. Affected workers were offered severance packages.

Coleman, based in Wichita since 1901, employs about 1,300 people in the Wichita area. The company said it remains committed to the community.

Lawrence

Kansas International sets meeting for Friday

A top executive at the Lawrence-based Golf Course Superintendents Association of America will be the featured speaker at the Kansas International meeting.

Hannes Combest, senior director of membership and professional development for the association, will speak at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Alvamar Country Club, 1809 Crossgate Drive.

There is a $15 fee to attend the event, which includes breakfast. To register, call the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce at 865-4426.

Retail

FAO Schwarz seeking buyer for toy store chain

The owner of FAO Schwarz toy stores said it planned to file for bankruptcy protection this week, its second such filing this year. It has struggled to compete with discount stores that sell many of the same toys at lower prices.

FAO Inc. hopes to find a buyer by Dec. 15 for its FAO Schwarz and Right Start toy-store chains while liquidating its Zany Brainy stores, the company said in a statement.

The company, based in King of Prussia, Pa., near Philadelphia, said it could liquidate the other two chains if it cannot find a buyer for them.

Stores will remain open while FAO searches for a buyer.