Category Archives: Economy

Waning era of the middle-class factory job

As auto-parts company Delphi heads for bankruptcy, factory employees fear the American dream is slipping away.

What’s playing out here in America’s automotive alley may be the last gasp of the assumption that good factory jobs will last a lifetime. And workers here see it as something more: a warning that the American dream itself is at risk.

Read (Christian Science Monitor)

What Was the Price of Gas in Salem, VA Sunday, 12.04.2005?

Today, the gasoline prices at the [Sheetz @ 1340 W Main St][SheetzMain] in Salem, VA were:

Grade Price
Regular $1.899
Mid $1.999
Premium $2.099

Gas prices were down six cents per gallon today.
[ExxonEMain]: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=jz7dkAcrm9Q%3d&longitude=4kfjP%2fmpwS4%3d&name=P%20%26%20M%20Market&country=US&address=1622%20E%20Main%20St&city=Salem&state=VA&zipcode=24153&phone=540%2d986%2d0021&spurl=0&searchtype=search&cat=Convenience%20Stores
[SheetzApp]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=sheetz+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=10&cid=37286667,-80055833,7206545345893491642&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[SheetzMain]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=sheetz+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=30&cid=37286667,-80055833,6055186495788312797&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[AmocoMain]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=amoco+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=30&cid=37286667,-80055833,1364145494564258260&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

What Was the Price of Gas in Salem, VA Saturday, 12.03.2005?

Today, the gasoline prices at the [Sheetz @ 1340 W Main St][SheetzMain] in Salem, VA were:

Grade Price
Regular $1.959
Mid $2.059
Premium $2.159

Gas prices were unchanged today.
[ExxonEMain]: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=jz7dkAcrm9Q%3d&longitude=4kfjP%2fmpwS4%3d&name=P%20%26%20M%20Market&country=US&address=1622%20E%20Main%20St&city=Salem&state=VA&zipcode=24153&phone=540%2d986%2d0021&spurl=0&searchtype=search&cat=Convenience%20Stores
[SheetzApp]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=sheetz+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=10&cid=37286667,-80055833,7206545345893491642&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[SheetzMain]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=sheetz+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=30&cid=37286667,-80055833,6055186495788312797&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
[AmocoMain]: http://www.google.com/maps?li=lm&hl=en&q=amoco+loc:+Salem,+VA&num=30&cid=37286667,-80055833,1364145494564258260&radius=0.000000&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Valleydale Foods in Salem Is Shutting Down

DSCF0385

[Valleydale Foods](http://www.valleydale.com “Valleydale home page”) in Salem is closing, and 344 people are losing their jobs. The pork processing plant, which has been in Salem since 1936, will shut down in two phases, with the first phase beginning in late January. Smithfield, the owner since 1992, said the plant is not profitable.

Read (Roanoke Times)

Since I’ve moved back to Salem, I’ve always tried to buy Valleydale (local) when buying bacon, sausage, and hot dogs. Whenever we drive near the plant, my youngest will start sniffing the air and say, “Hmmmm. Bacon!”

The Valleydale web site has an [archive of the commercials](http://www.valleydale.com/company/archive.html “Valleydale Commercial Archive”) they ran in the 50’s and 60’s. They are definitely worth checking out (Quicktime).