Note 8 - Investments in Joint Ventures	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	8. Investments in Joint Ventures: The Company and the United States Steel Corporation each owned 50% of Olympic Laser Processing (OLP), a company that produced laser welded sheet steel blanks for the automotive industry. OLP ceased operations in 2006. During 2012, the real estate associated with OLP was sold; resulting in a pre-tax loss on sale to the Company of $36 and the joint venture was dissolved in December of 2012. As of December 31, 2011, the investment in and advance to OLP was valued at $1,550 on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The investment in OLP was determined using Level 2 inputs. The valuation was based upon sales comparisons of real estate properties that were similar in type and geography.

Note 8 - Investments in Joint Ventures

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

8. Investments in Joint Ventures:

The Company and the United States Steel Corporation each owned 50% of Olympic Laser Processing (OLP), a company that produced laser welded sheet steel blanks for the automotive industry. OLP ceased operations in 2006. During 2012, the real estate associated with OLP was sold; resulting in a pre-tax loss on sale to the Company of $36 and the joint venture was dissolved in December of 2012.

As of December 31, 2011, the investment in and advance to OLP was valued at $1,550 on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The investment in OLP was determined using Level 2 inputs. The valuation was based upon sales comparisons of real estate properties that were similar in type and geography.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group.

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