INSURANCE

Rural Mutual posts decline in net income

Rural Mutual Insurance Co., of Madison, reported a decline in net income last year but surpassed $100 million in policyholder surplus for the first time.

Net income after taxes was $10.2 million in 2007, down from $18.6 million the year before. Rural Mutual collected $135 million in premiums, down $2.5 million from 2006. The company posted its fifth consecutive year of an underwriting gain.

BRIEFLY

The Waterloo company that makes the pickle-in-a-pouch, a popular snack food item, is hoping to do the same for olives. Van Holten's is out with "Big O" green olives, in plain and spicy flavors, stuffed with pimento. The "queen" olives are large and, like the pickles, come in a pouch.

Shawn Kriewaldt and Dan Miller, agents from Keller Williams Realty, have expanded their real-estate Web site, DaneCountyMarket.com. It now includes monthly updates of the Cross Plains/Black Earth/Mazomanie, New Glarus/Belleville/Monticello, and Sauk City/Prairie du Sac MLS areas. It also includes 13 other communities in the region.

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells won a Top Projects award from Wisconsin Builder magazine. The park was cited for its Poseidon's Rage surf pool. Area contractors for the project included Ramaker & Associates, Sauk City; KJWW Engineering Consultants, Madison; Badger Swimpools, Prairie du Sac; Allen Steele Co., Lake Delton and Masterson Plumbing, Portage.

Shorewest Realtors has opened an office at 4323 Milton Ave. in Janesville.

The Alexander Co. of Madison has been selected as master developer of Laurel Hill, a mixed-use development planned for a 79-acre former prison site in Fairfax County, Va.

Addison Machine Engineering of Reedsburg has donated eight micrometers — measuring devices used in mechanical engineering and machining — to the Reedsburg Area High School shop class.

Great Wisconsin Credit Union and Summit Credit Union, both of Madison, have received the Dora Maxwell Social Recognition Award from the Credit Union National Association for organizing the youth-chartered STAR Credit Union, which is designed to teach the value of saving money to members of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County.

— State Journal staff