CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$ 42,014	$ 32,807	$ 26,413
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Gain on sale of real estate	(860)
Loss on write-down of certain assets under construction		365
Gain on sale of businesses	(2,013)	(1,031)
Depreciation	5,130	5,606	5,810
Amortization	9,127	7,836	6,762
Cost of sale of inventory step-up	190		65
Provision for (recovery of) allowance for doubtful accounts	(359)	169	57
Stock-based compensation	2,212	1,333	1,120
Realized gain on restricted investments	(127)	(67)	(86)
Decrease in cash surrender value of life insurance		103	326
Pension curtailment and settlement loss	14	13	188
Excess tax expense from stock-based compensation		(1,784)	(1,088)
Deferred taxes	(2,263)	(2,590)	(1,222)
Increase (decrease) from changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(1,003)	3,312	(4,534)
Inventory	116	3,124	2,284
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(878)	(475)	388
Accounts payable	1,420	(2,821)	687
Accrued compensation and other expenses	(825)	1,490	(87)
Accrued income taxes	37	1,443	3,876
Net cash provided by operating activities	51,932	48,833	40,959
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(3,199)	(2,046)	(2,642)
(Cost to acquire) retirements of intangible assets	(71)	(64)	(34)
Payments for acquisitions	(30,270)	(1,161)	(33,285)
Proceeds from sale of real estate	2,122
Net proceeds from sale of businesses	3,915	1,729	739
Decrease (increase) in restricted investments	897	(149)	(308)
Proceeds from settlement of life insurance policies	1,504	1,238
Payments for cash surrender value life insurance		(159)	(183)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(25,102)	(612)	(35,713)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings on debt			2,000
Payments of principal on debt	(43,400)	(8,400)	(9,000)
Dividend paid	(6,532)	(5,999)	(5,477)
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options	95	124	391
Payments of taxes on stock options and restricted stock	(2,959)	(2,808)	(2,000)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		1,784	1,088
Payment for acquisition of noncontrolling interest			(500)
Net cash used in financing activities	(52,796)	(15,299)	(13,498)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS	(25,966)	32,922	(8,252)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash	(91)	(3,330)	(1,151)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	73,411	43,819	53,222
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	47,354	73,411	43,819
Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities
Common stock received for payment of stock option exercises	1,158	2,015	2,180
Property, plant & equipment additions included in accounts payable	$ 220	$ 22	$ 53