XML 68 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Note 9 - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]
9.           Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The following table sets forth information regarding the components of net expense for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans.

   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2015
   
2014
 
Employee Pension Plan:
           
Interest cost
  $ 221     $ 223  
Amortization of unrecognized loss
    291       190  
Expected return on plan assets
    (350 )     (336 )
Net employee pension expense
  $ 162     $ 77  
Outside Director Pension Plan:
               
Service cost
  $ 11     $ 13  
Interest cost
    24       29  
Amortization of unrecognized gain
    (14 )     (15 )
Amortization of past service liability
    10       10  
Net outside director pension expense
  $ 31     $ 37  
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans:
               
Service cost
  $ 95     $ 90  
Interest cost
    75       63  
Amortization of unrecognized loss
    30       -  
Amortization of past service liability
    (21 )     (21 )
Net other postretirement expense
  $ 179     $ 132  

The Company previously disclosed in its Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 that it expects to contribute $0.3 million and $0.2 million to the Outside Director Pension Plan (the “Outside Director Pension Plan”) and the other post retirement benefit plans (the “Other Postretirement Benefit Plans”), respectively,  during the year ending December 31, 2015.  The Company does not expect to make a contribution to the Employee Pension Plan (the “Employee Pension Plan”). As of March 31, 2015, the Company has contributed $40,000 to the Outside Director Pension Plan and $23,000 to the Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. As of March 31, 2015, the Company has not revised its expected contributions for the year ending December 31, 2015.