Briefcase

Hallmark to name new plant manager

A new plant manager is expected to be named today at Lawrence’s Hallmark Cards manufacturing plant.

Mark Garrett, the facility’s current plant manager, is leaving the position, Hallmark officials confirmed Monday.

“We’re certainly sad to see Mark Garrett leave,” said Kristi Ernsting, a spokeswoman with Hallmark.

Ernsting, though, declined further comment. She said the Kansas City, Mo.-based company would release an announcement today.

Garrett also declined comment until the announcement was made.

The position oversees one of the largest work forces in Lawrence. The plant, at 101 McDonald Drive, employs about 800 full-time employees, ranking it as the second-largest private employer in the city.

Agriculture

Corn harvest reaches quarter complete stage

Harvest of fall crops in Kansas has begun in earnest, with 24 percent of the corn now in the bin, Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service said Monday.

In its weekly crop weather report, the service reported that 54 percent of the corn crop was in very poor to poor condition. Farmers continue to chop drought-stricken corn for silage. Twenty-nine percent of the corn crop was rated fair, and just 17 percent was rated good to excellent.

Among other crops, 1 percent of the soybean acres have been harvested. Soybean condition was rated as 22 percent very poor, 34 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 11 percent good and 1 percent excellent.

Manufacturing

Goodyear reports union support for plan

Eight of 14 union locals representing Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employees have ratified a proposed three-year contract, all by wide margins, a union spokesman said Monday.

Having a majority of the 14 United Steelworkers locals approve the contract is one requirement for ratification. The other is a majority of the total votes cast, and the union declined Monday to release vote totals.

The union expected to announce official results next week, spokesman Wayne Ranick said. The contract covers at least 16,000 employees at 14 plants, including the company’s Topeka plant.