Note 9 - Pension and Retirement Plans (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Number of Years Defined Benefit Plans are Closed to Newly Hired Employees	2 years
Number of Years Supplementary Retirement Plans are Closed to Newly Hired Employees	2 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	$ 4,339,000	$ 3,675,000	$ 3,219,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Amounts that Will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in Next Fiscal Year	15,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	700,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	8,914,000	7,598,000
Contributions in Defined Contribution Plans	172,000	170,000
Domestic Supplemental Retirement Plan [Member]
Loans, Gross, Insurance Policy	$ 1,800,000	$ 1,800,000