Blenko Statement to the Press

On Friday, March 25, we received word from our bank that Big Two Mile had garnished and emptied our bank account. This goes back to a dispute over billings and charges for gas supplied to Blenko by Big Two Mile. Blenko had no indication that such a step might be taken. Big Two Mile had done the same thing just over two years ago, and nearly caused Blenko to collapse at that time. Following that earlier episode, Blenko representatives met with representatives of Big Two Mile and proposed that the companies enter into mediation in an effort to resolve the problem between them. Charles Jones, a respected lawyer in Charleston, was selected as the mediator with the consent of Big Two Mile and Blenko Glass. A number of meetings have taken place since then. At each of those meetings the Blenko representative stated the condition of the company which is that it has had difficulties during the economic downturn over the last two years.

Blenko is disappointed that instead of pursuing the mediation process, Big Two Mile elected to garnish Blenko's bank account without any notice and without Blenko knowing that Big Two Mile would ignore or withdraw from the mediation process that the companies have been following for the last two years.

Blenko plans to continue to operate and hopes that with the general business upturn, it will be possible to restore the company to profitability in the coming months



For further information please contact: Katie Trippe, Vice President, at (304) 743-9081.