DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710160487

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 
                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

LOCAL SCENE

VIRGINIA BEACH

BRYANT NAMED ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGER: The TAF Group appointed Donald R. Bryant an engineering project manager. He was a project engineer for Duffield Associates Inc. in Wilmington, Del. He is also a member of the American Society of Professional Engineers.

HECKARD JOINS ACCOUNTING FIRM: Susan D. Heckard was named a staff accountant at Bresenoff & Associates. She will be performing pension, corporate and individual tax and audit and accounting functions. She has two years of accounting experience.

NEWPORT NEWS

ICELAND TO HAVE DEDICATION CEREMONY: Iceland Seafood Corp., a Camp Hill, Pa.-based seafood processor and distributor, and the city of Newport News Industrial Development Authority, will have a dedication ceremony of Iceland Seafood's U.S. Headquarters and Processing Facility at 10 a.m. Friday. The new building is 165,000 square feet and is at 190 Enterprise Drive in Oakland Industrial Park.

VIRGINIA

CSX-BACKED GROUP SAYS AMERICANS PREFER RAILROADS TO TRUCKS: Seeking to influence public opinion about the proposed takeover of Conrail by CSX and Norfolk Southern, a CSX-backed coalition released a study showing that nearly two-thirds of Americans prefer train traffic to trucks. According to a survey by Transportation Advocates for Competition, 64 percent of Americans say reducing the number of trucks on the road by increasing the amount of freight shipped by rail would have a positive effect on their lives. CSX and Norfolk Southern say their plan to divide Conrail would take trucks off highways by increasing their ability to compete with trucks, which dominate freight-hauling in the eastern United States. The Conrail breakup plan is being reviewed by the federal Surface Transportation Board and a decision is expected by next summer. Transportation Advocates for Competition is a coalition of more than 400 shippers, business groups and highway safety organizations, brought together in part by CSX, to support the Conrail acquisition.

HEILIG-MEYERS DECLARES DIVIDEND: Heilig-Meyers Co., the Richmond-based home furnishings retailer, declared a quarterly dividend of seven cents per share. This dividend is payable Nov. 22, 1997, to shareholders of record Nov. 5, 1997.

COTTON GROWERS APPROVE BOARD: Virginia cotton growers have approved a referendum to establish the Virginia Cotton Board and agreed to an assessment of 85 cents a bale for all cotton sold in the state. The benefits will allow cotton producers to promote the state's $57.8 million cotton industry. The funds will be used to support the growth and use of cotton through research, education and promotion. A seven-member board will be appointed by Gov. George F. Allen, each member representing one of the seven districts in the state's 23 cotton-producing counties. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Bryant

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