Steamboat Pilot & Today

Information technology event held in Denver

Northwest Colorado business people interested in the future of information technology are invited to attend a Feb. 10 banquet in Denver featuring talks by three luminaries in the field.

The Rockies Venture Club, Boulder Software Club and Denver Software Club will host the event at 5 p.m. Feb. 10, at the Marriott City Center, 1701 California St.

Panelists include Steve Bernardez, Microsoft's director of business development for emerging business; Lisa Reeves, senior vice president for SAP Ventures, and Robert Urwiler, vice president of Macromedia.

The price for nonmembers of the hosting clubs is $45. For reservations, call 303 831-4174, or go to www.rockiesventuresclub.org.

Ball Corp. reports record annual earnings

the associated press

BROOMFIELD

Ball Corp., whose aerospace unit provided parts for two Mars rovers, said Thursday that fourth-quarter earnings were up 93 percent from last year and full 2003 net earnings were a record $229.9 million.

CEO R. David Hoover credited Ball Packaging Europe, acquired in December 2002, and record annual sales by the company's aerospace and technologies unit for the results. The unit had $534.9 million in sales last year, breaking the record of $491.2 million in 2002.

Hoover also said Ball should be able to meet goals for a 10 percent to 15 percent gain in earnings per share this year.

Stagg canned chili recalled in Colorado

WASHINGTON

Hormel Foods recalled about 104,000 pounds of Stagg canned chili this week from stores in 16 states, including Colorado because it may contain plastic and other material, the Agriculture Department said Wednesday.

Department officials said the pieces of plastic came from a calculator.

No injuries have been reported. Hormel, which owns Stagg Foods and is based in Austin, Minn., issued the recall after receiving complaints from consumers.

The chili was made Nov. 24, 2003, and distributed to retail stores.