Business briefs

• Valley Community Bancshares, Inc., the parent of Valley Bank, reported record operating earnings for the six-month period ended June 30. For the period, earnings increased 29 percent to $1,242,000, or $1.08 per diluted share compared to $961,000 or $0.83 per diluted share during the same period a year ago. Assets at June 30, 2008 totaled $205 million.

“In a turbulent period in banking, we are pleased to report record profits, and continued excellent credit quality,” stated David Brown, president and CEO. “By all regulatory standards, the Bank remains in a very strong capital position.”

Valley Bank serves the South King and Eastern Pierce County region with eight full-service banking facilities and a drive-up facility.

• Top Food & Drug stores and their customers recently combined to donate more than $150,000 to a pair of nonprofit organizations in the state. The Greater Washington Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is receiving $92,619.

The money came from Top Food employees who participated in the annual MS Walk, customer donations and corporate matches.

The donations pay for chapter programs for Washington residents with MS and their families, as well as for research into new treatments and a cure. For more information, www.nationalmssociety.org/was.

Haggen Inc. also is donating $57,740 to Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

– Reporter news sources