BUSINESS MEMO: 10 BILLIONTH POUND

A special observance is planned Friday at Noranda Aluminum Inc. to commemorate its 10 billionth pound of aluminum.

Noranda, which has produced aluminum at its New Madrid plant in St. Jude Industrial Park since 1971, employs more than 1,150 workers from 40 different communities in five states, with an annual payroll of $40 million.

Noranda has invested more than $80 million during the past two years to increase aluminum production by 15 percent.