The “cash for clunkers” program officially ended on Aug. 24, when the government pulled the plug.

As you may remember, the program offered drivers of gas guzzlers up to $4,500 toward the purchase of a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. It went so well that the government couldn’t process trade-ins fast enough, and dealers across the country became frustrated. Some quit the program before it officially died.

Anyway, local Ford dealer Peter Kultgen sent me an e-mail on Sept. 3 that said he and other dealers may have quit accepting clunkers, but that doesn’t mean they’ve yet gotten all the money they’re due.

“As of this morning, 38 percent of my claims are paid, 24 percent had been returned for correction and have been resubmitted and 38 percent are under review, meaning no action has been taken thus far,” he wrote.

He added that the pace of processing and payment has accelerated rapidly.

“I think the whole program should be finished up by the end of September,” Kultgen wrote.

Student impresses

A student named Kevin McDowell, a 45-year-old Navy veteran, became a star of sorts when U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, visited the TSTC-Waco campus on Thursday.

Edwards was impressed that a student designed and helped craft a Boeing 737 flight simulator that students in the school’s aviation program now use. The lawmaker, a pilot himself, enjoyed the simulated flying taking place on screens in a darkened room at TSTC-Waco and chatted with McDowell.

Edwards visited the school to talk about a $1.5 million federal grant that will help TSTC-Waco build a $13 million aerospace center of excellence. It wants to become sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration to teach air traffic controller classes, and Jeff Beene, director of aviation programs at TSTC-Waco, said the simulator would see plenty of action.

“It was all conceived by Kevin. He made a presentation to the department chair, myself and the vice president for student learning,” Beene said, and they liked what they heard.

College Day

Local colleges want to give students a chance to get to know Waco by hosting College Day from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Square in downtown Waco.

Booths are available for $25 for nonprofit groups and $50 for businesses. Booths with electricity are available for $75. To ask questions, call Scott Connell at 757-5626.

The event is being sponsored by Baylor University, McLennan Community College, Texas State Technical College and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

Local business honored

Monday is Labor Day, and a local business has been honored for the occasion.

Waco-based American Income Life Insurance Company, founded in 1924 by businessman and philanthropist Bernard Rapoport, is unionized. Its 3,000 employees are represented by the Office of Professional Employees International Union. That includes the 420 who work in Waco.

For its dedication to good wages, health insurance and a defined pension, the company has been honored by the American Rights at Work Education Fund. It made the organization’s list of “Partnerships That Work.”

Diaper plant humming

Associated Hygienic Products has begun making disposable diapers at its new 310,000-square-foot plant in Waco.

It has been training employees at other plants around the country, so they were able to hit the ground running in Waco. Connell said the company will be hiring more as production increases.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

757-5736