People & Events Oct. 28

Strut Your Mut Nov. 7

The Darlington County Humane Society announces the first Strut Your Mutt event to be held 11 a.m. Nov. 7 at Burry Park at the Good Living Marketplace. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m.

Enter your pet to win Waggiest Tail, Best Smile, Best Dressed (Best Costume), Owner Look-a-like, Best Trick, So Ugly It’s Cute or People’s Choice.

The society would like to extend a special invitation for people who have adopted their dogs from the shelter to attend. Entry fee is $5 or a donation of food or supplies for the shelter.

Darlington High’s Pearl Jeffords moves from watching over children to watching over employees
Pearl Jeffords has worn many hats during her 30-year career at Darlington County School District: Teaching assistant, interpreter for the deaf, resource teacher, coordinating teacher, admissions coordinator, assistant principal and principal. But beginning July 1, she’ll add a new title to the list: Darlington County School District’s Benefits Coordinator. Jeffords, who currently serves as the principal of Darlington High School, will take over the position from retiring coordinator, Cathy Tyner.
Jeffords has been the principal of Darlington High School since 2005. She will finish the school year at Darlington High School before moving into her new role at the district office.

The district will begin the search for a new principal in January.

Sonoco Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results

Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, today reported third quarter 2009 earnings of $.47 per diluted share, compared with $.57 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of 2008. Results in the current year’s quarter were impacted by higher pension expense and lower Companywide volumes, particularly in businesses serving recession-impacted industrial markets.

Net sales were $930.6 million, a decline of 12 percent (8 percent excluding the impact of foreign currency translation), compared with $1.06 billion in the same quarter last year. Gross profit margin improved to 18.6 percent of sales, from 17.4 percent in the same period in 2008.

Info: http://www.sonoco.com

Highland Industries, Inc. Announces Expansion

Highland Industries, Inc. announced expansion plans for weft insertion manufacturing. Equipment has been purchased and the transfer to Highland’s Cheraw. Plant is scheduled to begin in November.

Highland specializes in a variety of fabric forming and finishing technologies, resulting in a diversified product portfolio servicing a global customer base.  This diversity has enabled Highland to maintain a fairly stable work force during the current trying economic times.

Highland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and has contributed $23 million dollars in utilities, wages, and benefits for the local economy.  During FY’08 and FY’09, our company invested $9 million in the Cheraw plant. The projected capital investment for FY’10 is $3.5 million.