** ARCHIV ** Hostess Kim Sturmhoefel geht am 19. Maerz 2004 am Microsoft-Stand auf der Cebit in Hannover eine Treppe hinab. Dem Software Hersteller droht eine Strafe der Europaeischen Union wegen Verstosses gegen EU-Wettbewerbsregeln in der erwarteten Rekordhoehe von 497 Millionen Euro. Am Mittwoch, 24. Maerz 2004, will Wettbewerbskommissar Mario Monti die Entscheidung verkuenden. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach) --- Hostess Kim Sturmhoefel steps down some stairs at the booth of U.S. software giant Microsoft at the Cebit 2004 in Hanover, northern Germany, March 19, 2004. The European Union treathened Microsoft with an expected record fine of 497 million euro (US$ 612 million) for alleged antitrust abuses. An EU decision is expected Wednesday, March 24, 2004. (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)
A business in Western Wisconsin says times have gotten a lot better and it's time to put the recession to rest. The employees performed a New Orleans style send off and burial.
It is, the company admits, an unusual approach, but OEM Fabricators in St. Croix County says it is time to move forward.
Company leaders say the goal of the funeral and burial is to get people thinking more positively about jobs and the economy.
"We want to put it to bed. Make it as final as we possibly can," said Mike Smith the VP of Sales at OEM Fabricators.
During the recession, he says, the company slashed its workforce almost by half. Six months ago OEM started adding jobs again.
