Penguins on march to aquarium

MICHAEL DWYER
AP

The S.C. Aquarium plans to open an exhibit next spring of warm-weather penguins such as these African penguins at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

A new attraction planned for the S.C. Aquarium next March won't feel at home in the Piedmont exhibit or the Mountain Forest area or even the Salt Marsh display. But misfits or not, penguins attract crowds and make money. The aquatic, flightless birds are expected to occupy a habitat in the Great Hall near the main entrance, making them a visitor's first sight. The aquarium is consulting with some of its counterparts around the country before finalizing plans.

Patriarch to buy PVI

The owner of American LaFrance got the nod to buy bankrupt armored-truck maker Protected Vehicles Inc. for $6 million, thwarting a bid by Force Protection Inc. of Ladson. Patriarch Partners LLC plans to invest "at least" another $5 million into the idled PVI and resume its local operations, said Lynn Tilton, founder and chief executive of the New York investment firm.She also said "a few hundred" employees could be on the payroll within six months. The deal is expected to close by Sept. 3.

Builder faces lawsuits

Summerville Homes, once one of the area's largest local residential builders, is facing dozens of lawsuits from lenders and subcontractors, and a court-appointed receiver has taken over some of its assets. Top executive Arnold Goodstein, a lawyer and former state legislator, is negotiating with eight banks that lent the company money. Among them, Wachovia Bank has filed at least three foreclosure lawsuits, attempting to recover $8.3 million, and Bank of America had a receiver appointed to protect its collateral in a lawsuit that claims it's owed $10.6 million.

SPA revenue climbs

Despite a 10 percent drop in container volume, the State Ports Authority's bread and butter, the agency reported record revenue and earnings for its recently ended fiscal year. Officials announced the SPA would not need any additional taxpayer funding for two projects: a harbor widening completed in 2004 and an access road needed for the new terminal under construction at the former Navy base. How to pay for those two projects had been an open question until last week's announcement.

McElroy steps down

After more than six years as spokesman for Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, former news anchor Jim McElroy has resigned, according to Gen. Hugh Tant, executive director. Stepping in, at least temporarily, is Charlie Hall Jr., son of the late Charlie Hall, a well-known figure in local television. McElroy said he wants to take some time for himself. Before joining Patriots Point he worked as a Channel 4 anchor.

S.C. jobless rate jumps

South Carolina's unemployment rate took an alarming jump to 7 percent in July, the highest point in more than 2 1/2 years, an increase state officials attributed to manufacturing cutbacks and a spike in the number of job-seekers returning to the labor market. The jobless rate hasn't been that high since October 2005, according to statistics from the State Employment Security Commission.