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Mooresville, N.C.-based announced today that Michael K. Brown, executive VP and chief information officer, has announced plans to accept the company's Voluntary Separation Program and retire after almost 28 years with the company.

The company has already begun a search for a chief information officer. Brown will continue to serve in his present role for a period of time to assist with the transition.

Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s is in the early stages of bringing a store to South Dennis, Mass., on Cape Cod.

"The site Lowe's is pursuing has been designated in the Cape Cod Commission's Regional Policy Plan as being within an Economic Center," said Stacey Lentz, a Lowe's spokeswoman. "We will work with the town, Cape Cod Commission and stakeholders to make this a project the community and Lowe's can be proud of."

An irate customer planted a fake grenade in the lumber department of a Lowe’s in Texas, prompting an evacuation of the store. The January 9 incident, reported by the Houston Chronicle, began around 1:15 p.m. when the suspect entered the store with a hollowed-out grenade. 

A San-Diego area man will be sentenced to seven years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to nine felonies that include making fraudulent purchases at Home Depot stores. According to a story reported by the City News Service, Joel Booth, age 39, used counterfeit checks and identification cards to purchase items at a number of Home Depot stores in San Diego and Riverside counties. Police investigators nicknamed him “The Homer Bandit,” after Home Depot’s original mascot.

Lowe’s reported net earnings of $322 million for the quarter ended Feb. 3, a 13.0% increase over the same period a year ago. 

Sales for the fourth quarter increased 11.0% to $11.6 billion, up from $10.5 billion in the same period a year ago. 

Lowe’s generated positive comp-store sales in all of its product categories in the second quarter. And even as it faced a strong comparison to the prior-year’s quarter, lawn and garden led the way.

Those were among the insights provided by Lowe’s executives during their second-quarter earnings report, in which the Mooresville, North Carolina-based company reported sales and earnings growth.

Home Depot founder Arthur M. Blank, now the owner of the PGA Tour Superstores chain of golf shops, will donate $1 million to The First Tee youth development program.