News: Laabs Dairy Cannot Pay
Contact: Allan Wessel
Email: AlEllen@att.net

----Source: News Clipping - Arvilla Wessel Collection. Date and Newspaper Unknown.

LAABS DAIRY CANNOT PAY, LAWYER SAYS

Abbotsford, Wis. - The Laabs Dairy Co., which has four plants in west central Wisconsin, will not be able to meet its milk payroll Saturday to more than 400 farmers, an attorney for the firm said Friday.

The attorney, Jack Nikolay, Abbotsford, said that the firm, which produces cheese and whey powder, owes more than $60,000 to the farmers.

Nicolay said that the farmers were told Friday night of the situation and was hopeful that the firm could hold the farmes together until a purchaser has been found.

Claire Jackson, Madison, an economist with the state agriculture department, said that there was $44,000 in a state held fund to help pay Laabs suppliers.

Jackson said that he didn't know when the money would be released because of auditing of the firm's books and other action that would have to be taken.

The firm has plants in Westboro (Taylor county), Willard and Curtiss (Clark County) and Merrill (Lincoln county).

Nicolay said that, if the farmers whished, their milk would be picked up by Laabs trucks and taken to toher producers in the four areas.

The company is owned by Orville, Ben and Fritz Laabs.