8,000 expected at Oahu job fair

Organizers of the WorkForce job fair expect as many as 8,000 people to attend today's event at Blaisdell Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 120 local and mainland companies, as well as military and government agencies, will be recruiting and accepting applications, fewer than half the record number of employers at past events.

Oahu WorkLinks will provide on-site job search assistance. General admission is $3, while students, military members and adults 55 and older with identification will be admitted for $1.

Cox Radio taken private

Atlanta-based Cox Radio Inc. was taken private yesterday by parent company Cox Enterprises Inc. in a tender offer completed by wholly owned subsidiary Cox Media Group Inc.

Cox Radio operates six Honolulu radio stations: KRTR-FM 96.3, KCCN-FM 100.3, KPHW-FM 104.3, KINE-FM 105.1, KRTR-AM 650 and KKNE-AM 940.

Cox Media Group bought all outstanding shares of Cox Radio's Class A common stock it did not already own, giving Cox Enterprises 91.4 percent of Cox Radio. It will purchase shares not previously tendered by shareholders at $4.80, a premium of the closing price the day prior to the offer.

Arizona paper loses court battle

TUCSON, Ariz. » The Tucson Citizen will not be forced to resume publication.

A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Arizona attorney general's office failed to show that the Citizen's owner, Gannett Co., violated antitrust laws by ending the 138-year-old newspaper with last Saturday's issue.

“;While regrettable that the Citizen's illustrious legacy must come to end, it cannot be said at this time, the decision to close the Citizen involves an antitrust violation,”; U.S. District Judge Raner Collins wrote.

The state had contended that the move eliminated competition and fostered a monopoly situation for Gannett—owner of the Honolulu Advertiser—and Lee Enterprises Inc., publisher of the city's larger newspaper, the Arizona Daily Star.

The state contended the decision was made simply to make more money.

A partnership jointly owned by Gannett and Lee handled printing and other noneditorial functions for both Tucson newspapers until Saturday. Under that joint operating agreement, the two companies shared costs, profits and losses.

Ex-Maui Land CEO to get $150,000

Robert Webber, outgoing president and chief executive of Maui Land & Pineapple Co., will receive $150,000 in cash over six months, immediate vesting of 30,000 restricted shares that would have been forfeited upon leaving, and the immediate vesting of an additional 120,000 shares that can be exercised at different prices through Nov. 22. Webber, who had been CEO since Jan. 1, resigned last week to pursue other opportunities. The resignation is effective Friday.

On the move

» Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP has hired Debra B. Marple as chief operating officer. She has 22 years of law firm administration experience, including as chief operating officer for Sommer Barnard Attorneys in Indianapolis; director of accounting operations for Dow, Lohns and Albertson; and controller for Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering, both based in Washington, D.C.

» Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation has named Ann Yamamoto as executive director. She has more than 30 years' experience in business operations, management, strategic planning, advocacy and communications with Hawaiian Electric Co. and its neighbor island subsidiaries.