16 July 2014 (20:18 UTC-07 Tango 15 July 2014)/18 Ramadan 1435/25 Tir 1393/20 Xin-Wei 4712

Years after Gottschalks went bankrupt busted, a new tenant is moving into the vacant building in Pocatello, Idaho: Sportsman’s Warehouse.  Sportsman’s Warehouse is not new to Pocatello, but it is a victim of the Too Big to Jail banks.

Today the Sportsman’s Warehouse signs went up on the abandoned Gottschalks location, ending months of rumors.

In 2006 Sportsman’s Warehouse opened a large store in the Pocatello Square area (which was created by forcing dozens of home owners out of what was once a residential area), it was part of a 23 store expansion.   By 2007 the company was expanding faster than it could handle, they needed a new inventory/distribution system, which was going to cost millions, so they turned to the Too Big to Jail banks for massive financing.   By 2009 those Too Big to Jail banks turned on Sportsman’s Warehouse and attempted suck back every penny loaned out:  “Within a period of three weeks, we lost $110 million in liquidity.  The way the banks took money away from us was incredible. It all happened so fast.”-Stuart Utgaard

Stu Utgaard, the now former owner of Sportsman’s Warehouse, even turned to a British empire operation for help, Canada’s United Farmers of Alberta.  But even they short changed Sportsman’s Warehouse.

The Canadian deal was supposed to invest $90-million USD, but for some reason they backed out after spending only $30-million.  The only option left was to close or sell off the 23 new stores and declare bankruptcy.  2300 U.S. employees became unemployed!

Utgaard himself went bankrupt.  No thanks to the Too Big to Jail banks, Utgaard reported a personal loss of $10-million! He also lost his job as senior executive.  At one point Utgaard faced charges for shooting off a shotgun in his home.  That’s a far cry from where he started in 1996, with one store.  He published a book about the whole fiasco called The Sportsman’s Warehouse Story.  At last report, Utgaard is running a successful olive oil business in Kentucky, and he thanks his true friends for believing in him: “When I came here, I literally had $20 in my pocket.  But some of my friends were still crazy enough to loan me money after I went bankrupt.”

Dick’s Sporting Goods now resides in the ‘old’ Sportsman’s Warehouse location.  The ‘new’ Sportsman’s Warehouse location might be smaller than the old location, but it’s probably more efficient.  Sportsman’s Warehouse is now a privately held company with their HQ in Midvale, Utah.

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns.

Arizona: In Phoenix, Pennsylvania based PaperWorks box maker shutting down.  The company is consolidating production.  100 jobs to be lost by the end of July!

California:  Too Big to Jail Bank of America killed more Golden State jobs, this time 358 people will be joining the ranks of the unemployed!  In McClellan AFB, taxsucker Servicelink killed 97 jobs.  In Sacramento, law firm Downey Brand laid off another 17 lawyers.  23 lawyers were laid off at the beginning of the year.  In Santa Monica, Universal Music Group announced it will be killing jobs at its east coast music operations.  At least 12 people already laid off.  In Milpitas, Lifescan killing more jobs, this time four people let go.  In Temecula, The Outdoor Channel laid off 45 employees.

Colorado: More layoffs in Fort Collins.  After only eight years Full Cycle Bikes shutdown.  The owners said that despite good sales they were forced to sell the property.

Idaho: Sandpoint based women’s clothing retailer Coldwater Creek now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down all 365 stores.  More than 1-thousand jobs will be lost across the U.S.!  Idaho will lose 490 of those jobs by June!

Kentucky:  In Dover, the last grocery store in town shutdown!  After more than 45 years Don’s Place (home to the Rock-n-Roll liars bench) closed for good.   The owner is going blind, and nobody wants to take over the business.

Louisiana: Taxsucker Textron Marine & Land Systems killing 128 jobs due to loss of U.S. Army contract.  Company officials are hoping they can win a new contract.

Maryland: Loyola University eliminated 37 jobs.  It’s blamed on declining revenue due to lack of students.

Michigan:  In Grand Rapids, charity thrift store Goodwill Industries shutting down.  It’s blamed on the bad economy which has not only killed off sales, but donations as well.  In Wyoming, after more than 35 years Gordy’s Market & Deli grocery store shutting down in May.   18 family-like employees now unemployed.  The owner blames the new Walmart that’s about to open down the street from his store.

Mississippi:  Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home laid off 19 employees and reduced the hours for all other employees.  County  hospital officials blamed it directly on financial problems created by Obama Care (Affordable Care Act).

Nebraska: For the people of the city of Tilden they will now have to travel 35km (22 miles) to the nearest hospital.  The Tilden Community Hospital shutdown because of gott damned Obama Care: “….we continually had to keep going back to the facts; the data. We will not survive! We won’t survive health care changes!”-Lon Knievel, hospital director

New York:  State officials shutting down four prisons this summer.  It’s blamed on crashing incarcerations, which should be viewed as a good thing, but 235 jobs could be lost!  The prison in Montgomery County has no inmates at all!  In NYC, after declaring that employees have successfully  met all “deadlines” Qatar based Al Jazeera America announced that their success will actually result in job elimination!  Company officials did not disclose how many U.S. citizens will lose their job, but said it’s been part of the plan from the beginning.  Massachusetts based law firm Nixon-Peabody laid off 38 employees in New York.   Across New York, VNS CHOICE Community Care warned that it will layoff 124 healthcare workers in July!

North Dakota: What oil industry boom? In Fargo, Bertrosa’s on Broadway restaurant shutdown with little notice.  The owner Derek Radke said “We’ve gone broke……I want nothing more than to keep doing this. But I can’t do it anymore.”

Utah: In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake Tribune laid off eight employees and ended it’s religious Faith section (19 employees laid off last year).  The newspaper was originally a Mormon (LDS) paper known as the Mormon Tribune,  however it was started by Mormons who did not agree with church doctrine.   At the turn of the 20th century, in rebellion the Mormon owners secretly sold the newspaper to a Catholic senator.  In the 1950s a secret joint deal was made with the LDS church and its official Deseret News.   In 2002 employees rebelled by selling off exclusive info on a now famous kidnapping case.  Now, the LDS Deseret News is trying for a hostile takeover of the ‘independent’ newspaper.   The U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating.

Wisconsin:  What automotive industry recovery?  Taxsucking truck maker Oshkosh killing 760 jobs in June! They blame it on reduced military spending.  Oshkosh killed 900 jobs last year!

08 – 10 April 2014:  “I have no role, no power, no control, no nothing!” 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013