This is what we know. No more, no less...

<>Crazy rumors are flying around this place (even from an elder's wife ~ not her best quality). What we do know is that the plant will (hopefully) be open until all obligations are filled, which should put us into the summer. However, there is no guarntee of anything (even us staying if it continues to operate at a slower pace). Brandon is sitting down w/ a team of GE guys in a couple of weeks (while at a "training" in Epcot that the wives were un-intvited to ~ don't get me started!) and we'll know (again, hopefully) more about it then; I also hope to have a more concrete timeline. The following article is from today's Tennessean. Surprisingly, I'm rather calm about the whole situation. I had a much funnier "Bad Baby Names" blog, but apparently blogger was experiencing technical difficulties so it will have to wait for another day.

Key parts of a Friday, Jan. 21, letter to Murray Inc. employees from Alan Shaw, president and CEO of the lawnmower maker, about the company's impending sale and likely closure of its Lawrenceburg plant sometime in 2006.

Dear Murray Employee:

''As I am sure most of you have seen in The Tennessean, today is an important day in the Murray bankruptcy process. All parties involved are working diligently towards filing a final Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) today, and things are looking positive at this time. Even though we don't have a final decision to announce right now, there are additional details in the APA that are appropriate for us to share with you at this time.

''Under the APA proposed by Briggs & Stratton, they will acquire certain assets of Murray with an effective purchase date in February. At this time, Briggs & Stratton does not have the capacity to absorb the manufacturing processes of Murray. Therefore, effective immediately following the closing date of the asset sale, Murray would enter into a Transition Supply Agreement (TSA) with Briggs & Stratton to ensure orderly supply of product. In order to fulfill the terms of the TSA, Murray Inc. will continue to operate the company and manufacture product exclusively for Briggs & Stratton for up to 18 months. During this transition period, Briggs will begin to relocate selected products and product lines to other manufacturing facilities. As a result, employee reductions will be necessary to correspond to changes in production and operating needs.

''If we are unable to successfully negotiate an APA, the banks will immediately force Murray into an orderly liquidation. Although certain employees will be retained in order to assist in closing the facilities, the majority of employees would cease employment with Murray within a week. We will fulfill our obligations under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (''WARN'') by continuing anticipated base pay for terminated employees through February 28, 2005. …

''I realize that the news that Murray may only continue for 18 months is disappointing to all of us. All along our goal has been to steer Murray towards a buyer that would invest in Murray and allow it to grow. In the absence of this type of sale, our aim was to secure a purchase that would prolong Murray for as long as possible to allow employees an opportunity to plan for a future outside of Murray. All of you have demonstrated an admirable work ethic in recent months, and I am proud of the effort each of you has put forth in an effort to complete a sale of the company. We will continue to communicate details as they become available.''

Sincerely,

Alan Shaw

President and CEO