Blenko's future still unclear

Blenko Glass Co. still has no news to report about whether or not it will have to file for bankruptcy.

The hand-blown glass manufacturer was hoping to have some news by the end of the week, but Assistant Vice President Katie Trippe said Friday afternoon that the company was still waiting.

She did not release details about whom the business is hoping to hear from, but Trippe has said that the company needs an investor to survive.

In the meantime, Blenko´s Visitor´s Center gift shop is still open with remaining inventory for sale, Trippe said.

Blenko announced Jan. 30 that it was shutting down production, after its bank accounts were emptied by a gas company to which Blenko was court-ordered to pay $500,000 in 2005.

Since then, Blenko and Big Two Mile gas company could not come to agreement about how to make payments on the $500,000 owed, and Blenko instead invested money into the company hoping that it could turn a profit and begin to pay its debts. Things were turning around, company officials said.