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Employee Benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Employee Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefits
Note 8.       Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for our defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
Pension benefits
 
2012
  
2011
 
Service cost
 $33  $28 
Interest cost
  47   45 
Amortization of prior service cost
  28   26 
Actuarial net loss
  65   43 
Net periodic benefit cost
 $173  $142 
     
Postretirement benefits
        
Service cost
 $1  $54 
Interest cost
  25   298 
Amortization of prior service cost
  (1,224)  (1,616)
Amortization of transition obligation
  -   1 
Actuarial net loss
  648   346 
Net periodic benefit credit
 $(550) $(917)

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we made employee benefit contributions of $0.2 million related to our postretirement plans.  Based on current actuarial estimates, we believe we will be required to make approximately $1.1 million in contributions for 2012.
 
We maintain a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") for key employees. Under the plan, these employees may elect to defer a portion of their compensation and, in addition, we may at our discretion make contributions to the plan on behalf of the employees.  In March 2012, contributions of $0.5 million were made related to calendar year 2011.
 
We also have an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust ("ESOP") for employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  In connection therewith, we maintain an employee benefits trust to which we contribute shares of treasury stock.  We are authorized to instruct the trustees to distribute such shares toward the satisfaction of our future obligations under the ESOP. The shares held in trust are not considered outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings per share until they are committed to be released.  The trustees will vote the shares in accordance with their fiduciary duties.  During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we contributed to the trust an additional 177,000 shares from our treasury and released 180,000 shares from the trust leaving 930 shares remaining in the trust as of March 31, 2012.