Pension Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Compensation Related Costs, Retirement Benefits

Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual Disclosure, Postretirement Benefits [Table Text Block]

Note 8 - Pension Plan

As of December 31, 2003, the benefit service under the pension plan had been frozen and, accordingly, there is no service cost.  As of April 30, 2009, the compensation increments have been frozen and, accordingly, no additional benefits are being accrued under the pension plan.

The following table presents the components of net periodic pension cost:

	Three Months Ended          September 30		Nine Months Ended          September 30
In thousands	2011	2010	2011	2010
Interest cost	$ 137	$ 135	$ 411	$ 405
Expected return on plan assets	(99)	(104)	(297)	(312)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	86	76	260	228
Net periodic pension cost	$ 124	$ 107	$ 374	$ 321

As of September 30, 2011, the Company has recorded a current pension liability of $0.1 million, which is included in Accrued liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and a long-term pension liability of $4.8 million, which is included in Deferred pension liability and other on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The minimum required contribution for 2011 is expected to be $0.2 million.

The pension plan asset information included below is presented at fair value.  ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and required disclosures about assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The fair value of these assets is determined using a three-tier fair value hierarchy.  Based on this hierarchy, the Company determined the fair value of its money market funds and mutual funds using quoted market prices, a Level 1 or an observable input, the guaranteed investment contracts, equity and index funds and bonds, a Level 2 based on observable inputs and quoted prices in markets that are not active.  The Company does not have any Level 3 pension assets, in which such valuation would be based on unobservable measurements and management’s estimates.

The following table presents the pension plan assets by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2011:

In thousands	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
Guaranteed investment contracts	$      -	$1,796	$    -	$1,796
Equity and index funds	867	2,077	-	2,944
Bonds	-	18	-	18
Total pension plan assets	$  867	$3,891	$    -	$4,758

In March 2011 and 2010, the Company submitted to the Internal Revenue Service requests for waivers of the minimum funding standard for its defined benefit plan.  The waiver requests were submitted as a result of the current economic climate and the current business hardship that the Company is experiencing.  The waivers, if granted, will defer payment of $559,000 and $285,000 of the minimum funding standard for the 2010 and 2009 plan years, respectively.  If the waivers are not granted, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Internal Revenue Service have various enforcement remedies they can implement to protect the participant’s benefits, such as termination of the plan and require the Company to make the unpaid contributions.  The senior lender has waived the default of non-payment of certain pension plan contributions, but in the event that any government agency takes any enforcement action or otherwise exercises any rights or remedies it may have, this shall constitute a separate and distinct event of default and the senior lender may exercise any and all rights or remedies it may have.  At this time, the Company is hoping to make its required contributions for the 2011 plan year, however there is no assurance that the Company will be able to make all payments.