Business briefs: Felled tree idles Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

Watts Bar

Full power production resumed Monday afternoon at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, three days after the reactor shut down when a large tree fell on a high-voltage transmission line north of the plant. Tennessee Valley Authority spokeswoman Gail Rymer said a home-owner cut down the tree that fell onto a 500-kilovolt transmission line and interrupted power delivery along the Roane County line. The interruption automatically tripped the plant turbine and the reactor shut down as designed. After investigation, TVA restarted the idled reactor Sunday afternoon.

The Unit 1 reactor at Watts Bar is capable of supplying the power needs for about two cities the size of Chattanooga.

Dixie completes Rothman buy

The Dixie Group Inc. on Monday completed its purchase of Robertex Associates Inc., a producer of wool floorcovering under the Robertex and Carousel brands. Bob Rothman, the former owner, will work for Dixie under a five-year contract.

"We look forward to continued creative development of products and processes in our wool business with the addition of Bob Rothman as a member of the Dixie team," Dixie Group CEO Dan Frierson said.

Dixie produces carpet and rugs sold to higher-end residential and commercial customers through the Fabrica International, Masland Carpets, Dixie Home and Masland Contract brands. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.