Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company provides defined-benefit pension, health care and life insurance benefits upon retirement for certain full-time employees.

Recognized net periodic pension cost included the following components (in thousands):



	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012

Service cost	$	2,881		$	2,721		$	5,731		$	5,442
Interest cost	7,388			7,569			14,695			15,138
Expected return on plan assets	(9,567		)	(9,367		)	(19,028		)	(18,734		)
Amortization of net loss	6,852			7,559			13,626			13,804
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,181		)	(1,158		)	(2,349		)	(2,317		)
Total net pension cost	6,373			7,324			12,675			13,333
Less: Discontinued operations	—			1,424			—			1,424
Continuing operations	$	6,373		$	5,900		$	12,675		$	11,909

Recognized other postretirement benefit cost included the following components (in thousands):



	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2013			2012			2013			2012

Service cost	$	355		$	457		$	707		$	915
Interest cost	723			942			1,437			1,884
Amortization of net loss	—			80			—			161
Amortization of transition obligation	—			119			—			237
Amortization of prior service cost	(37		)	(36		)	(73		)	(73		)
Total other postretirement benefit cost	$	1,041		$	1,562		$	2,071		$	3,124

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company contributed $8.2 million to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans and expects to make additional contributions to such plans totaling approximately $15 million for the remainder of 2013.