CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Total revenues	$ 732,915	$ 726,044	$ 683,650
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	457,418	437,998	419,713
Selling, general and administrative expenses	159,490	162,734	153,065
Amortization of intangible assets	21,812	18,492	17,262
Interest expense, net	6,730	8,092	8,798
Pension plan termination charge	40,600
Other expenses, net	7,122	851	3,721
Total costs and expenses	693,172	628,167	602,559
Earnings before income tax	39,743	97,877	81,091
Income tax expense (benefit)	14,278	20,388	(5,170)
Net earnings from continuing operations	25,465	77,489	86,261
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $269, $789 and $1,060 in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively	(601)	3,550	5,875
Gain on sale from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $23,232	77,116
Net earnings from discontinued operations	76,515	3,550	5,875
Net earnings	$ 101,980	$ 81,039	$ 92,136
Earnings per share:
Basic - Continuing operations	$ 0.98	$ 2.99	$ 3.33
Basic - Discontinued operations	2.94	0.13	0.23
Basic - Net earnings	3.92	3.12	3.56
Diluted - Continuing operations	0.97	2.97	3.31
Diluted - Discontinued operations	2.93	0.13	0.23
Diluted - Net earnings	$ 3.90	$ 3.10	$ 3.54
Average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic	26,010	25,946	25,874
Diluted	26,135	26,097	26,058