DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 1997             TAG: 9704160474

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

LOCAL SCENE

HAMPTON ROADS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HONORS CORPORATIONS: The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce honored 59 area corporations that contribute at least 5 percent of pre-taxable income or $2,500 (whichever is greater) to tax-exempt civic, cultural or social welfare organizations, at the Hampton Roads 5% Club Luncheon held Tuesday at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. Ten of the companies contribute in excess of $200,000 annually: Bell Atlantic of Virginia, Cox Communications Hampton Roads Inc., Central Fidelity National Bank, Farm Fresh, Haynes Furniture Co. Inc., International Family Entertainment, NationsBank, Virginia Natural Gas, The Virginian-Pilot and Virginia Power-Eastern Operating Division.

NORFOLK

KORNBLAU APPOINTED TO ODU BOARD OF VISITORS: Barry M. Kornblau, senior vice president and director of apartment operations for United Dominion Realty Trust in Richmond, was appointed by Gov. George Allen to serve on Old Dominion University's Board of Visitors. Kornblau will fill the unexpired term of Charles R. Chandler, who resigned last month.

CLARK CUTS STAKE IN SMITHFIELD FOODS: Clark Estates Inc. cut its stake in pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc. to 4.9 percent of common shares outstanding. The trust fund manager for the Clark family acquired its Smithfield Foods stake in a private placement of 10-percent, convertible debt in 1981 for $6.1 million, which were converted to 7.02 million shares for $6 each Nov. 1, 1991. Company shares on the market closed at $21.25 that day. In most recent transactions, the New York City-based investor sold 450,000 shares for $41.06 to $45.24 between March 25 and April 4. Clark Estates now controls 895,385 shares in the fresh and processed pork producer based in Norfolk. Smithfield Foods fell $1.38 to 47 in afternoon trading Tuesday.

VIRGINIA BEACH

TILHOU ELECTED PRESIDENT OF VIRGINIA BEACH BAR ASSOCIATION: The Virginia Beach Bar Association elected John A. Tilhou, a partner with Mays & Valentine, president for 1997.

HAMPTON

TV STATIONS ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENTS: WPEN-TV and WJCB-TV appointed Harrison Pittman as station manager. Ruth Clark-Morgart and Tracy Smith are now local sales managers. Tanya Baggio was named national sales manager and Jennifer Sanford was named regional sales/special projects coordinator. WPEN and WJCB are owned by Lockwood Broadcasting.

GATEWAY 2000 EXPANDS: Gateway 2000 Inc., the South Dakota-based computer direct marketer, announced the expansion of its Hampton manufacturing center. Construction began this winter and should be done by August. The company employs about 650 in Hampton, and the expansion is expected to add another 300. Last December, the company announced its plans to add a technical call support center in Hampton. That project should be finished this summer, the company said.

VIRGINIA

MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER BOARD SELECTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board in Richmond appointed Bruce Gould executive director. He will oversee matters relating to advertising, licensing, dealer practices, franchise law and the transaction recovery fund. Prior to this, he served as manager of legislative services at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. MEMO: To submit an item for the Local Scene, please fax it to 446-2531.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu