More signs of the economic down trun

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Struggling dealer died of heart-attack while torching his own cars




With each passing day bringing more tough news about the state of the car companies and the plight of the autoworker, it's sometimes easy to overlook the effect that all of this economic gulag is having on mom-and-pop dealerships across the country. Bringing that idea into stark focus is news that Gregory Graham, a Pennsylvania car dealer recently died of a heart attack while torching cars at his own ailing dealership.

Graham, 61, was found amidst a row of a dozen fire-damaged vehicles on the lot of Graham Colonial Motors early in the morning on Feb. 17, and now police are confirming that the fire was due to arson – rolled up newspapers and a gasoline can were found on the scene.

According to Automotive News, court records indicate that the Pittsburgh-area dealership owed more than $420,000 in 2008 federal tax liens and some $11,000 in county property-tax liens.

The Jeep, Buick, Pontiac dealership closed last week.



That's a Wrap: After 22-years, GM ending Ken Burns funding

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As part of a substantial investment in the arts, General Motors has maintained an ongoing funding relationship with PBS filmmaker Ken Burns (right) for 22 years. As it has with several other high-profile endorsements of the creative and sporting communities, however, the struggling automaker is pulling the plug on its endorsement deal of the award-winning documentarian. While details of the ongoing arrangement haven't been made available, the Detroit News indicates that the automaker has "spent millions underwriting Burns' films," an arrangement that will end with his forthcoming six-part series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea" that airs this Fall.

The Ken Burns announcement is just the latest in a steady parade of extracurricular funding efforts that GM has been forced to cut, including sponsorship of major televised events (Super Bowl, Emmy Awards, Academy Awards), product endorsement deals (Tiger Woods) and corporate benefactor roles (Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts etc.).

The trickledown effect rolls on...

[Sources: Automotive News (subs. req); Image: MSNBC]