Posted by playbook (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh my God ! Say it is not so Mo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by playbook (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh my God ! Say it is not so Mo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's just wonderful. Nothing like laying off a huge number of people in January when jobs are few and far between. What in the world are these people supposed to do now?! My prayers go out to all the workers affected.

Posted by suzyQ (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It used to be in Emporia , you were a butcher ,baker , or radiator maker. Modine is gone, Tyson on it's way out and Dolly is fighting Bankruptcy. What are the city business and community leaders doing to entice new jobs? Oh I forgot ,it's called import more Somalian's.

Posted by ctcutie29 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's not right lots of people are employed here what are they supposed to do? Lots of these people have families as well to support....this is a sad shame...I will be praying for all these people

Posted by playbook (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Chill ! It is not thier fault that they were used ! Tyson had to know this was going to happen !!!!!!!!! You think property taxes are high now , Just wait for 2009 when over 18 Million dollars will not be circulated in Emporia !

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One thing you can be sure of, this has been in the works for quite awhile. Tyson execs didn't just wake up yesterday and decide to make a change of this magnitude.

Posted by playbook (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Amen Open Eyes ! They knew the deal, If you did not sell your house yet it will get much Harder !!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Congrats to all who want Tyson gone. They are half way there now.

Posted by eatasheep69 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It sounds like all of those crying for Tyson to leave town are at least partially getting their wish.
This is definitely not a good situation for our local cattle ranchers, though.
To look on the bright side, maybe our town won't smell so badly as it has for so very long. Maybe visitors can remember something besides the stench of our town now.

Posted by Emporiafan (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well yes look on the bright side that emporia won't smell.......serious priority issues here......don't think about that 1500 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN more than likely will be affected and taxes will go up and revenue will go down because no one can afford to shop anywhere. But by god we will smell like roses!

Posted by sla (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I go back to visit my family & friends that are still there. Tyson is gone - families will have to move. Business will have to close due to lack of families/people in town. There will be no one visiting, so who cares about that Emporia now smells like roses. When I drive in, that smell TO ME MEANS I AM HOME! :)

Posted by scole (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am sorry for the people who will be out of work in the next few weeks. I am scared of the reprecussions of this firing as it rolls through the community. We need to be strong as a community and help those in need.

Posted by ConcernedVoter (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where is Governor Sebelius and her Department of Commerce at? Why wasn't Tyson provided with similar incentives that have been provided to large employers in other Kansas cities to maintain employment levels until market conditions improve? Or to incent Tyson to absorb the extra employees by expanding the local cold storage and distribution facilities? Where are you Kathy Sebelius? Talk about Emporia being blindsided!

Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the difference between a town and a ghost town is whether or not there is a post office, lets hope the post office dont go out or emporia can officially be declared a ghost town.i feel for everyone whose going out of work

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The only thing that really matters is that not just Tyson employees. The truck drivers that bring in the cattle loads and their employees. The people who have businesses like I do that the majority of our customers are from the Plant. This is going to trickle down to a HUGE disaster for ALL of us that live in Emporia. This town was already going no where, now it went dust.

Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's time to start bringing businesses in that will utilize the graduates coming out of ESU, as well as the skilled trade workers in need of jobs. Retail jobs don't pay mortgages!

Is this some sort of weird cloak-and-dagger scheme to get rid of the Somali population?

Posted by koro (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny...I don't remember there being this big of a "stink" risen when Didde went out of business. Or Modine. What about the railroad? Those people lost their jobs and had to take employment out of town. Emporia lived through that and will live through this also.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Boy alot of you have your priorities whacked. Its not about somalians or smells... if anything, that smell was the smell of money. What this involves is a coropate decision that was made which really impacts this entire city.

Do you not realize that the 1500 employees being laid off are not the only ones being affected. What about their spouses and children, what about the local food establishments that these families patron. what about the barber shops these families go to for haircuts, the local entertainiment establishments, the cities housing market is about to take a dive etc. etc.

The economic repercussions of this event to the entire city will be phenominal, and TO ALL OF YOU that want Tyson out of Emporia I dont think you fully understand the entire meaning of that. Tyson is still here and will continue to provide a tax stream to the city but for how long, and with all the controversy and outcry over international laborers that you crybabies have raised cane about did you ever think this might have influenced Tyson Corporate?

I feel really bad for these families, the local companies that have no control over this, and for anyone else that feels the impact of this. May God Bless in their time of need...

Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Koro, I think there was a stink, but it's getting worse as each successive major employer bails out.

Of course, this is what can happen when a city puts all of its eggs into the manufacturing and processing basket.

Posted by sla (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eddison2 : GOT IT RIGHT , THANKS

WRITE TO Governor Sebelius

Mailing Address and Phone
Governor Sebelius
Kansas Department of Commerce
1000 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1354
Phone: (785) 296-3481
Fax: (785) 296-5055
TTY Service: (785) 296-3487

Posted by notahappycamper (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i am one of these familys that you are talking about and hope that all of you that wanted tyson out of town are happy. you talk about how good it is for the town well tell me how i am going to feed my children now? do you really think that the westar is going to just let me go on my bills? HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY NOW.

Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder what this will mean for the dog food plants?

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just because many people opposed Tyson and their choice to bring Somali's into our community didnt cause this to happen. Our opinions and spoken concerns didnt cause this to happen. I dont think that anyone in this community wanted 1500 hard working people to lose their jobs.

This will effect thousands not just 1500. I cant imagine the panic that families who had both parents working there are dealing with. The single parents, hec anyone in this town just trying to pay the bills.

We need to come together to help them, not create more grief.

Posted by CAFEmporia (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Screaming for government intervention is a vain endeavor and not even appropriate. We are a capitalist society, remember. Logically, Tyson is making a fairly decent business decision. Truth is, the number of cattle going to market from pastures in this area has been declining for decades while that of herds in western Kansas has been increasing dramatically.

Our local and state governments did not fail us in this matter. We are the victims of changing economics and agricultural practices. It may be that had we as a group been more welcoming of the Somali workers who followed Tyson jobs here, the decision to downsize might have been different, but probably not.

As a matter of optimism, as water resources decrease and run out in the west, we may see Tyson move operations back here at some future date. They are not closing, after all, and the slaughter plant is not being disassembled.

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Forget Governor Sebelius. Run to mama (govt) for a hug and a handout? East Central Kansas will recover from this. Tyson left because the loud voices told them they were not wanted. Sad Sad for all those caught up in the aftermath of this verbal bombardment

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ hottopics - I said it could have influenced the decision not cause this to happen. It would be idiotic to think the Somalis were the sole factor for this decision being made. A decision of this magnitude would take atleast 6 to 9 months and have many more factors that you or I alone could think of......

Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We just need to find away to help people hang on and get new jobs in place before people are forced to leave for good.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My response was not implied to eddison2. I feel the same as you do.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok not trying to be sarcastic but where do you expect these 1500 people to get a Job in EMPORIA KS?

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately, jobs can not be created that fast. Probably take 10 years (guess) to recover employment base if at all. Kansas, other than Johnson County area, is not doing well jobwise

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ hottopics - Glad to see there is a sane person here :) muahaha

Posted by truelovecharlie (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As I've said before, Emporia is getting exactly what it deserves. Y'all have done nothing but complain about IBP and Tyson all these years and now look, PANICK! Maybe y'all need to suffer greatly to appreciate the business that want to be there. Remmeber when there was uproar over the Kansas Department of Corrections wanting to build a prison in Emporia? Prisons never go belly up and only grow, but Emporia didn't want it and ElDorado got it. Justice is coming around to Emporia. Last one out please turn off the lights.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

truelovecharlie

Glad to see a REAL same person here:)

Posted by shihtzulvr (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One of the selling points that brought a new business here was Tyson. The Bio-Diesel plant that uses animal fats and soybean in its production. Will Tyson's problems be the cause of us losing out on this or other potential businesses?

Posted by treetrunk (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is simply a corporation decision. The bean counters are the ones to point your fingers at. The people who questioned Tyson's about using refugees instead of Emporians had it right. Tyson never cared about Emporia and while they invested in other communities and colleges, they did next to nothing for Emporia. Our city, lead by our City Manager, bought into Tyson's rhetoric, hook, line and sinker. People who asked about Tyson policies were treated like lepers. Maybe now, the city will look in the mirror and remember that this country was founded on, "We the People". When the public speaks the government should listen. My heart goes out to those who will be terminated. My heart goes out to the Somalians who will have to relocate again. Remember, Norfork, NE is still alive and well and Emporia can live through this. Unfortunately, it will take time. The people need to make good things happen, not the government.

Posted by been_there (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And without Tyson's Edible Rendering and Bi-Products, will Hill's Pet Food pull out too? I would imagine our school system will be suffering soon and looks like the Refugee Resettlement office won't have to open next month after all, unless they are going to help them resettle to another community! Maybe they can use that $109,000 SRS grant to pay for food stamps for the 1500 people that won't have a job until they move on. At least now we can focus on where we are going to come up with $1.75 million to silence the trains!!! With over 1000 families most likely leaving, many of which live near the tracks, I guess there won't be that many around to hear them anymore anyway!

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are no places for these people to get jobs, eddison! There weren't jobs for the already unemployed or those taking on less paying jobs hoping they will find something better. These people are sitting ducks unless they take jobs at other plants moving them away from family and friends. But I am leary to believe that there are enough jobs available at these other plants to even make a difference to those left to try and survive this.

Posted by jasper007 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am one of the many that got caught up in the Didde lay-off. I haven't been able to bounce back since. Tyson's wouldn't hire me (?), Modines, Detroit, Vek-Tek, etc., etc. So I have become a burden. I have been forced to live on food stamps, un-employment has ran out, and still no job. Now what??????????? Before anyone says anything negative, I have reached that magic "over qualified" age. And I have taken "menial" jobs, but they only last so long. What are 1500 people going to do and what about us that evidently have fallen through the cracks of our great City Father's Agenda????

Posted by stickerbush (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have tears in my eyes for the somali refugrees and those who have been employed at Tyson for many years who will now have to move to find work or stay here and look for work in Emporia. It is a sad day for "raw" uproar from the community about the workers in the plant may have caused the company to want a disagreeable situation off their backs. I believe it was a economic decision, but I was precipitated by the prejudice and bigots in Emporia who were not willing to look beyond their own curb. May God bless them in their journey to other places and care for them in this time of trial. Congratulations Emporia you have made yourself a singular population again and aren't you proud?

Posted by notahappycamper (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All of tysons explanations as to why they are closing is nothing but a load of bull. I personally live in the country and guess what i live next to a cattle ranch. Short supply of cattle bull, their are 10,000 head next to me and three miles down the road are another 5,000. so where is the shortage? Truth is they want to make the price of beef so high that noone can afford the price of hambugar like its not enough now. I really hope that the owner of tyson sleeps well at night in his big house knowing that he has just cost 2000 people and their familes their lively hood and their future,someone needs to let him live from paycheck to paycheck to see just how it feels to worry about how you are going to pay your bills.

Posted by scootertrash (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For a number of years I have been voicing my opnion on the direction of the economy of Emporia as well as that of the U.S. and here is the "IN YOUR FACE" proof of what I have been saying.

Do not blame this on the people that spoke out against importing the Somali's. The Beef has been bringing in
illegals from Mexico over the protests of locals and nothing changed. The fact is that all jobs in the U.S. that pay anything are being eliminated. Thanks to free trade agreements you may soon expect that you beef will come frozen in a package stamped, "Made in China". Until we reclaim our country from big corporations and crooked, gutless greedy politicians this will continue.

"The Spouse of a Tyson Employee"

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ notahappycamper - Thats great and dandy, do you realize how many head of cattle that beef plant processes a day? 15K head of cattle would last 3 days...

And here is an economic 101 tip for you... The price of beef flucuates on the price of oil... EVERYTHING is governed by the price of OIL. Product has to be driven in and then driven out... I guess the chicken farmers are ripping us off too having to pay 2 bucks a dozen!

News Flash - It is not some huge corporate american conspiracy to rasie the price of beef..... comeon there has to be a bit of intelligence here.

@ hottopic - Exactly my point =-)

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Im sorry but LOL @ ScooterTrash... now thats some funny stuff right there, I dont care who you are...

Posted by iamconcerned (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, slipandslide,renegade,crete,hillbilly and all the others that posted on the somali refuge sight that hoped the somalis would leave town and that Tyson would close. Well guess what? You got your wish. Don't start complaining when your taxes go up, our property values go down and you or your neighbors start to lose their jobs as well. Just do the rest of us that are left in town a favor and leave with them as you are part of the problem that created this terrible issue. What company in their right minds in a struggling world with the way things are now would stay in a town so against change???

Posted by scole (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Save the fairgrounds. Because of a few closeminded people we stopped some great economic expansion, now with 1500 less paid employees in this town, facing an exodus of up to 4000 people leaving do you think we will be able to attract those corporations now?

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good Point!! I told people that the fairgrounds needed to be relocated back out of the city limits like it used to be before Emporia had actually expanded in the right direction. I said that property was prime location for some REAL stores to come in and prosper our community. But what did we do? We raised $40,000 for arches at the entrances???? So many citizens need to rethink what this town really needs. Not pretty lights, not rock art, not arches. We need places to work and places to spend the money we make here. We all go to Topeka because there is nothing here. Now there is even less.

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Real Stores" are not coming here. They need "Real Population" to make a go of it.

Posted by tmt (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Emporia just got bitch-slapped by the recession and everyone needs to wake-up! The noose just got tighter on lil ol' Emporia.

1500 jobs are not going to materialize out of thin air. At least 3/4 of these families WILL be leaving our community. When they are gone, so will their money. The money that helped go into our schools, roads, community programs, & parks. Money that used to filter into the local stores, restaurants, bars, movies, post office, rec center, banks, insurance agencies, and car lots. All that will be left is housing that the banks are repossessing due to defaults that no one else can afford to purchase because the price of milk has increased to $6 a gallon and gas so high that you couldn't sacrifice going to the store even if you had the $6.

Crime rate will increase and everyone will be hurt. IBC, Menu & Birch I'm sure are not far behind.

I've seen pictures of the great depression. it looked...depressing. Good luck to everyone facing the upcoming changes - family & friends - Take care of yourself and your family and don't let your pride or emotions get in the way of making smart decisions. Make sure that you are doing what's best for you, cause no one else is!

Posted by karol4702 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Eddison2: I agree with you!

We all know someone that works there whether it was a friend or family, we should take this very serious. I guess time will tell and show those who are very ignorant that this will effect our community in many ways.

I will pray for all the families this will effect including mine.

Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder if retraining is an option? I work in maintenance and have fridays off. This is the only notification I have received. By the way, there is a rendering on the processing side, and it has its own smell.

Posted by Observer (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://beefmagazine.com/sectors/feedlot/...

The impetus is overcapacity in both processing plants and feedyards, which is driving players in both sectors to ensure themselves of the raw supply of cattle they need in the face of a flat cattle inventory. The net effect, Helming says, will be further consolidation.

Helming expects the industry won't expand, and may even liquidate to some degree. With cow-calf producers, stocker operators and cattle feeders placing a higher priority on grazing for heavier in-weights, there will be less grass and native pasture available for beef cows.

“This factor alone will be responsible for beef cattle inventory numbers remaining flat at best, and increases the chances of our actually seeing a net decline over the next 3-5 years,” Helming says.

And if cattle inventory numbers are flat to declining, the effects of excess feeding and processing capacity will make it even harder for feeders to fill pens, and packers to procure the numbers to keep their lines operating efficiently.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The small feed yards of 5-25,000 capacity are dinosaurs, which will see a shift to 60,000 + capacity facilities.

Corporate feeding operations next to corporate packers is logical economics. Growers/feeders in Iowa are selling their corn to Ethanol producers and receiving the residuals as cattle-feed.

Tyson was just involved in a 1.28 billion dollar class action suit brought by independent beef producers.(2004)

Tyson can give special price considerations to "partner" corporate feeders in western Kansas, Amarillo, etc. and force the independents to reduce beef prices to sell to Tyson. Proximity reduces transportation costs, and the use of growth hormones in feed can manipulate the readiness for production.

In Arkansas poultry breeders/feeders must use Tyson feed and prescribed formulas to provide a steady flow of poultry for processing. By reducing hormones the poultry growth rate is slowed until numbers reduce, at which time the hormones are increased.

One can expect the same corporate ethics to be incorporated into beef operations.

The local ranchers will need to see a greater emphasis on grazing/pasturing and a reduction in winter feeding operations.

There is a local meat-packing plant which emphasizes quality of product. Perhaps they should consider expanding into a quality beef product without the use of growth hormones. Perhaps a beef free of additives and corporate greed would be welcome in our local markets. Perhaps an expansion into natural beef production with support from the community would provide quality jobs for our people.

https://secure.fanestilmeats.com/fanesti...

Quality Meats Since 1942

Posted by noel_stanton (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Suggestion: ranchers and regional investors establish a cooperative with the goal of producing and marketing natural meat, call it "organic meat." There is a growing market for grass-fed, chemical-free meat. Consumers will pay top dollar if they are certain of the quality and that it is authentic.

When the cooperative gets going, it might only employ 400 in Emporia but at least 1500 people in the area would have an income as suppliers. And the image of a national product "Flint Hills BBB, Bio-Beef and Buffalo" can only make the town and region more attractive.

Gallo used to have bad wines. In fact, Gallo was another name for "cheap binge, bad headache." Gallo made an effort to improve and today it sells successfully at a much higher price, even in Europe.

Emporia should make the same effort to improve the meat products it sends out to the nation. Don't mix good grass-fed meat with the low quality coming from industrial feed lots.

Tyson just gave the city and the region a stiff body blow to the gut. You have strengths, use them to get your breath back and even beat Tyson at its own game.

Posted by Church_of_doG (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It will be nice not to look at all the cattle pens full at Tyson, knowing their DEATH is emminent. Better karma for the city. Emporia WILL survive without all the blood letting. Watch & see.............

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ Church - I bet you hug trees and smoke the grass too huh?

Posted by Church_of_doG (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hey edd.... Be natural .....baby......it's groovy!!!

Posted by kerpow66801 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is bad for everyone. YES norfolk survived tyson leaving but they also had far more employment oppurtunities. Most of us will have to leave. My wife is at work now I'm sitting here figuring bills and hoping that we can MAYBE make it on savings for awhile after our money runs out. We both work for tyson at the moment. We have a young son with disabilities that won't pay for themselves. Where is it that we as well as the rest of the people losing their jobs supposed to work here? Appreciate your little advertisement there Observer, but can Fanestils put more cashflow into the community or just take it? take it I'm sure. Should make a nice cushy retirement for the owners eh. ha. We have a bakery that is constantly struggling Thoasands upon thoasands of dollars wasted IMO on silly mainstreet projects. Ton of cash wasted on a huge courthouse. but hell it looks nice right?!?! Their are'nt enough jobs in this town to begin with. As far as the fairgrounds I say to hell with them. move them or PLEASE help more industries move here give them incentive to do so. We don't NEED more stores we need more jobs. I am curious to see if the local government will be willing to help us like they were willing to help the somalians. Which WAS a good thing to do! Those poor people fled horrors in their own countries hoping to find solace here only to find hatred and distrust from a bunch of rednecks with a chip on their shoulder. Emporia you disgust me.

Posted by homegrown (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A day has came many, including me, thought would never come. I still can not get rid of the knot in my stomach. This is probably the second worst day Emporia has ever experienced, the worst day is yet to come on March, 25, 2008. The packing plant, IBP, Tyson, The Beef, whatever one chooses to call it, is and has been the life blood of this town for over 37 years. For years many people in the community despised the packing plant for numerous reasons some merely for the smell. Growing up I was always told the smell was the smell of money. Nothing could be more true. We are all going to miss that smell.

The packing plant kept food in my stomach and a roof over my head when I was a kid and paid my way through college when I was a student. Some in the community who profit from employees working at the plant look down on the same employees as lowly "Beefers". How ironic is it that the people many loved to hate are the people they are going to miss the most. Some are not grasping the gravity of the annoucement and do not realize were are losing much more than 1500 jobs. Who is going to fill the restaurant seats left empty by the 1500 employees and their families. Who is going to pay their share of sales tax, property tax, and grocery bills. The list goes on and on.

Many people are pointing fingers at Somalis and Illegal Immigrants causing the plant to close and/or taking jobs. Maybe there is some truth to the plant closing because of all the people complaining about the Somalians and Illegal Immigrants, I don't know. If people from within the community had wanted the jobs, there wouldn't have been any jobs for the Illegal Immigrants and Somalis to take away. The fact is, the very people who complain about Somalis and Illegal Immigrants believe they are too good to pick our fruits and vegetables and cut our meat. People complain about the Somalian people in Wal-Mart and on the streets never stopping to think about the taxes, groceries, vehicles, and other things Somalis spend their money on. Maybe Emporia has torn itself apart.

People have already compared the closing to the loss of Didde, Modine, and other manufacturing companies. There is no comparison. Didde and Modine employeed a fraction of the employees Tyson employs. One only has to look at the rust belt and the abandoned steel mills as an indicator of what's to come if we as a community don't band together.

We are ALL going to learn a valuable lesson. Emporia is not going to get through "this", at least not as the Emporia we all know and call home. Have mercy on US.

Posted by kerpow66801 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ church_of_doG HAHAHAHA. seriously were you one of those people that used to stand outside with picket signs? do you realize the range of products that beef is used for?
Do you brush your teeth? do you or your wife/girlfriend wear makeup? Do you take medicine tylenol asprin etc? Quiver in fear cow parts are all around you!!! OMG!! run for the forest!!!

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Its not true that Tyson was lacking the people to fill those jobs. I know of MANY who applied and was denied. Applied again and wasnt hired. Everyone qualifies to work there. If illegals and Somali's can????? So dont blame the working community for not filling those positions. They wanted to pay LESS for the same positions they were paying US. Thats all it boils down to is the profits to the stock holders and Upper management.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hottopics

Just curious

Where do you get all of your fabulous information?

Do you happen to run the plant?

You seem to have all the inside information.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@hottopics - Now comeon.. I thought you had a bit of smarts about you!! You have said this same thing in the past, are you sure your "friends" weren't hired due to lousy references or the inability to pass a drug test? I know for a fact that Tyson advertised locally and in Topeka as well as surrounding cities for positions. The point is employment plateaued due to the inability to hire within Emporia and they had to have a set amount of people to run production. A work program was set up and wahhhlah pretty simple to understand. NOT Everyone qualifies to work there..... Illegals are not intentionally hired, WHY because that is against the law. The Somalians are on a Goverment sanctioned progam, they pay taxes, housing, utilities, grocery bills just like everyone else... get off it.

Posted by Redneck (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have no inside information. I am a self employed business owner here in Emporia and have watched this town come to its knees and the effects of all the bad decisions that continue to hurt all of us blue collar workers. Property tax, the new court house, the new aquatic center, unnecessary spending on making downtown look better but nothing much to take us down their to shop. The lack of the city's judicial system to take in revenue needed to keep important programs afloat. Where does ONE begin? ONE that steps up and joins the next person and so on to get this town's act together and start making the right decisions. There is no room for growth here. I cant make anymore money here than I did last year. I cant afford a better house. There arent better jobs.

And whats worse? Most of us sit here and wait for the City's elected to fix it. We seem to vote in the people who have made their fortune here and continue to flurish because we think "Heh, they must know what they are doing because they made it" We need people in there who arent making it or at least know how it feels to just barely break even at the end of the month. We wouldnt have all these debts spent on the marble floor at the court house or a swimming pool no one can access except by vehicle. I'd take one of those seats in a heart beat if I was giving the opportunity. My children have no future here, we just get by.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And as for the comments about the jobs at Tyson. They did pass drug tests and they were capable of working there. I am only relating the information about people I know who tried to get hired there, no one else.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@hottopics - I guess Tyson felt they were not.... and seeing how they know the requirements of the positions they were interviewing for there was obviously a disconnect there... I work in Corporate America and am not ignorat... There is a thing called EOE which entitles someone to INTERVIEW for a position but does not gaurantee that position... obviously Tyson disagreed with your assumption of your friends ability to work for them. Not trying to start anything here but your statements are false and unfounded based on any facts... just word of mouth and what you think you know.

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If there are supposedly approximately 1,000 or more Somolians in emporia and only approximately 400 work at tyson .... what makes you think they are ALL leaving?? The other 600 plus that arent employeed there are receiving a free ride so why would they leave .....

I haven't read anywhere that emporia will NOT be receiving anymore refugees... a few of them might follow tyson but the refugee issue far from over....

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@olddog - I was taught that If I cant say anything good .. do not say anything at all.... so biting my tongue.

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, Emporia has been going downhill for a long time. I'm glad I got out when I did.

It's almost impossible to make a decent living in Emporia - none of the jobs pay well enough. I'm still going to school and the only places that were ever hiring in Emporia were retail and fast food jobs, most of which paid barely over minimum wage. There was also Hopkins, which used to pay well but now pays crap and hires through a temp agency so they don't have to pay benefits. (At least, that's what they were doing before I left). My friends and I could never even get interviews at Tyson or Fanestil. (And believe me, I was willing to work there for more money than I was making at my retail job). I couldn't work at Dolly (though now they seem to be going under too) because you have to be "on call" during your probationary period, and one can't be on call while going to school.

The majority of the students at ESU will have to move after graduation, anyway. There are no jobs in Emporia to accomodate graduates. Most of my former classmates and friends now live in Topeka, the Kansas City area, or Wichita.

Apartment costs are really high in Emporia compared to other places when you consider what people are making. I worked at the same retail job for two and half years and still only made 7.47 after multiple raises. I took a course at
FHTC, which advertised job placement, in the hopes of being able to get better paying job upon finishing. The course and the instructor were a joke. The instructor spent more time gossiping with the other teachers and students than teaching and acted completely apathetic. The job placement didn't exist. Their only advice was to "apply at Newman". I did, and didn't even get an interview because they weren't highing for that department. It was a complete waste of money. I've had friends who attended FHTC and anyone who took a course other than CNA certification had a difficult time finding a job.

I was sick of having to work 40 or more hours while going to school full-time just to barely make ends meet, so I moved to Wichita with a friend last year. WSU costs almost twice as much per semester, but Butler CCC has a campus in Andover and costs about the same as ESU. There are tons of retail, customer service, call center, office and factory jobs here. Most start out at at least 8 dollars an hour and some of the call centers start out at 10-13 dollars an hour. I was ecstatic when I realized how much more I would be making with almost the same cost of living, and how many other options I had should my current job not work out. Many of the jobs here offer good benefits too, which a lot of jobs in Emporia fail to provide.

To be continued..

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Continued..

My apartment costs only 40$ a month more than the one I had in Emporia, but I am making 5$ more an hour now, and the complex I live in has an indoor pool and hot tub, a fitness center, tennis courts, better laundry facilities, and much nicer neighbors. There's no comparison. When even the college students in a town can't make it, you know there's a problem.

As for jobs at Tyson - many of my friends and I had applied at Tyson multiple times in the hopes of getting a job that paid better than minimum wage. Only one of us ever got hired there, even though all of us were capable of doing the job. You're delusional if you think they didn't go out of their way to hire illegals and other immigrants. They used to advertise heavily in El Paso and would pay to bring up immigrants and pay for their initial housing costs. One of my friends and his brother originally came to Kansas from El Paso to work at Tyson. What about all the people applying who already lived in Emporia and could never even get an interview?

Emporia has been sinking for a long time now. The city officials have been wasting money on crap like that silly clock tower, the new courthouse, and the rock display at the fairgrounds, when they should have been more concerned about making sure there would be citizens left to enjoy those monuments. There is nothing to do in Emporia but go out drinking and every attempt to introduce a little culture has failed. I never thought of Wichita as being a grand place but at least it has museums, decent shops and eateries, lots of student hangouts (not just bars), and places to go to meet people who aren't completely close-minded. I don't plan to live here forever but it's a great place to stay while attending school and starting out. After graduation, I'll probably be able to find a job here and would like to stay for a few years.

As far as I'm concerned, Emporia can go to the dogs.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is a round of applause for vh1983. Your ethics are astounding...

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Screw ethics. I have to make a living. Emporia doesn't provide that for the majority of its residents.

Posted by my2cents (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

With the shaky job market already in Emporia, this announcement does not make Emporia any more appealing. Modine closing, Birch's downsizing, Lenze closing, Menu announcing more layoffs this month, Tyson's announcement today, Dolly/IBC on a cusp...it seems like ESU and Wal-Mart are the two companies holding Emporia together.
I am victim to the terrible housing market and actually commute 90 minutes each way to work in Topeka from Cottonwood Falls. Our house won't sell b/c no one wants to buy a house right now.
The "good news" (if that possible) out of all of the bad news that Tyson's downsizing has is that the employees are able to take advantage of some of the offerings the company is coming through with. A lot of these other companies did not offer those things- only an apology and a kick in the ass.
May God be with them and Bless them in this stressful time.

Posted by Observer (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ionophores do not fall under the FDA restrictions, and are used by Tyson, while they still claim to produce "anti-biotic free" product.

Ionophores (such as monensin, lasalocid, laidlomycin, salinomycin and narasin) are antimicrobial compounds that are commonly fed to ruminant animals to improve feed efficiency. It appears that ionophores will continue to play a significant role in improving the efficiency of animal production in the future.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

#1 Hire more crews for the City of Emporia. The crews are working minimal numbers do to budget constraints.
Can anyone say "snow removal"?
Expanded crews and hours for recycling?

2# Encourage Fanestils to expand slaughter/processing of local organic beef.

http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2006/...

In fact, there’s been so much success at Fanestil’s, the company is running out of places to put it.

“We’re pretty much out of room, out of space, out of opportunities to do more here,” said Dan Smoots, who owns the plant with his wife, Jan. “I’d like to get the ball rolling and see what we can do to get located out of this flood way.”

Fanestil’s is located just south of Emporia on Kansas Highway 99, near the Cottonwood River. Too near, actually — when the river floods, the plant is right in its path. That means the plant can’t expand unless it moves.

And before long, some kind of expansion is going to be necessary. The company is just doing too well.

A lot of that push has come from the company’s organic meat lines, a market the company began to explore in 2005.

“With the elimination of the small country stores, it was obvious we had to look into some other areas,” Smoots said. “We were small enough that we could take on an organic line of products. For other people, it’d be too small for them, or too big. For us, it was just the right size.”

3# Emporia is on the major artery of the NAFTA highway. The I35 corridor will connect Canada with Mexico with a major hub in KC.
Emporia needs a larger truck plaza. The rigs are computer monitored and drivers are required to spend more down-time. Tight quarters at Flying J. An expansion of Flying J. A larger truck plaza with greater access would be of benefit on the East Side of Emporia.

4# Encourage the use of bio-diesel and look to local marketing and related outlets. Mechanical modification needs. Retail outlets. City usage.

5# Organic local production of poultry, beef, pork. Slaughter/processing and retailing.

Just a few ideas.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@vh1983 - I am sorry, but ethics are key for you as an individual as well as a communities success, Believe me I understand having to make a living, but its people like you that leave a degenerate after taste... Emporia is better off without you...

Posted by koro (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do not blame the city of Emporia or our City Council. Blame the head office in Arkansas. They don't care about Emporia, this is merely a case of economics. There is nothing that anyone here can do to change this. I commend the company for their lucrative relocation plan and for continuing to pay salaries and benefits for 2 months. When Didde closed, the employees received nothing except an escort to the door. I can't speak for Modine, or any of the other plants that have closed, but the Tyson employees are actually lucky in this regard. Emporia's golden goose has finally laid it's rotten egg.

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Eddison2, what exactly is wrong with my ethics? I am not an immoral person. I may seem indifferent to the people laid off, but that's hardly a crime. I work very hard and am an honest person, and I want to make a decent wage for the work that I do. I need to be able to support myself and I don't want to be exhausted trying to juggle full-time schedules at both work and school, all the while stressing about making ends meet at the end of the month. I don't owe Emporia my presence in the hopes that things might turn around, and quite honestly, with all of the rednecks and Bible belt types, plus the lack of intellectual offerings in the city, I wasn't planning to stay on anyway.

I may be blunt, but there's no sense in beating around the bush with this issue. I do feel for the people who have been laid off, but this is the kind of crap that goes on in Emporia. I have not been unaffected by layoffs at Didde and Modine, we all have relatives and family members who were affected. This has been the trend for a long time. Most of the people who are being realistic about their prospects in Emporia have either left already or are considering moving on.

You state that Emporia is better off without me, but I say I am better off without Emporia. If you want to stay and attempt to make it work, go for it. I hope you succeed. But I won't be holding my breath.

Posted by alfalfa (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't care much for Tyson and its business ethics, but this wasn't a conspiracy, although I do think they knew when they moved the Somalis here that this would happen, seems to me it is the Somalis that got the shortest end of this stick. We should have seen it coming. There are fewer and fewer farmers feeding cattle out in this area, grass cattle are not slaughter cattle. With fuel getting higher, the transport costs made Tyson make a business decision that is going to cause some really hard times in this entire area, not just Emporia. Some quick figuring tells me that if the average wage was $22500, $33750000.00 is about to be taken out of the Emporia area economy. Anyone who thinks that won't be devastating is an idiot. I don't think this area has seen really hard times since the Depression, there isn't any doubt in my mind we are about to see them now. It will be interesting if area business leaders and elected officials will be brave enough to truthfully say "this is really bad, it is going to cause a downturn", or give the standard Pollyanna statement that "we can get through this". We can, but it is going to be really tough, and in order to replace even half that payroll some people with money are going to have to be willing to put it where their mouth is, and invest in new business in Emporia and the area.

Posted by alfalfa (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vh1983 actually hit the nail on the head. That courthouse is a disgrace as far as I am concerned, typical of the way elected officials in Emporia try to be what they are not, thinking that an overpriced courthouse will lead to prosperity. I see nothing in vh1983s remarks that are unethical, I think the Emporia city commision and Lyon county commision should be made to read them outloud to each other for awhile. I do not get any pleasure from saying this, but Emporia is about to be turned upside down.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 25, 2008 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The article below is from KTKA.com

I personally worry about the leadership of this town if they are seriously not worried about this layoff. What Zimmerman say just blows my mind! Ten years to bring over 1000 jobs to Emporia and he's not worried! Zimmerman if you're reading this there are over 1500 being laid off! We can't wait 10 years to bring 1000 jobs to this town. There are 2400 people employeed at Tyson and when this is all said and done the plant will employee between 600-900 people!

Emporia leaders not worried about Tyson situation

Tyson Foods is cutting 1,500 jobs at its beef plant in Emporia.

The company says its beef slaughter operations will end in Emporia within the next few weeks.

Tyson says the affected workers will receive benefits for 60 days and some may get new jobs within the company.

Up until now, Emporia's had a four percent unemployment rate. But the city isn't worried.

"We've had success in bringing over a thousand jobs in the last ten years, and over half-a-billion dollars in economic projects in that same time period," Emporia City Manager Matt Zimmerman said. "It shows we know how to do business and how to work as a team."

"While transitions are always difficult, this one will be much more difficult than the others," said Jeff Longbine, Economic Development Chairman. "I'm optimistic Emporia will survive and continue to be a prosperous community."

Tyson blamed the job cuts on the fact that the U.S. cattle herd is just not growing.

They also said the rising price of grain caused by the use of corn for ethanol, put pressure on feed costs for cattle.

Posted by avoicetobeheard (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Reading through all of these comments there are very few that actually wonder what to do about the 1500 families that have to worry about to either pay the electric or feed their innocent childrens hungry stomachs. Who really cares about the smell that Tyson puts out in or community. I can name off many other things that stink in this community for example, Everybodys attitude about this hole deal, We all need to pull together and make this community grow. Granted we may have a Car dealer and a Trucker on the commision that does not always see the Middle-Class way of life but its the middle class that makes this community go around this community is falling apart and it does not need to happen. So if your going to point fingers point them at the ones leading this community to the position we are in. Mr. Zimmermann is one heck of a city manager this is not a bash on him. But all these comments are selfish and a disgrace to the community.
Lets all pull together stop the BS and work together to build this town not bash it. And lets all pray for the 1500 families.
Remember its the feet on the ladder that keep it in place and without them it would not stand.
COME ON PEOPLE

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

See? That's what I'm talking about. You've got 1,500 people who are out of work. Where are they going to go? Most of them will HAVE to move. The only places that are usually hiring in Emporia are gas stations, fast food places, and retail stores. Those jobs pay less than the Tyson employees are used to and those wages will be even worse for those who are trying to support families. There will also be competition for those jobs from the high school and college students. There just aren't enough jobs, let alone decent paying jobs, in Emporia. The only options most of these people will have is to take a crappy job in Emporia, move to another city, or work in Topeka and commute, but with the price of gas that's expensive, too.

If Dolly goes under or cuts wages, which is starting to look very likely, Emporia will be finished. There just won't be anything left to sustain it.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

avoicetobeheard

How do you expect this city to grow when the leadership doesn't want it to?

The population of this town was hasn't grown in years. From 1990 population of 25,621 to the 2006 population of 26,188.

Where's the growth? When a town prospers their population grows along with it. Stop and think about it. If it wasn't for the Somalis that have came to Emporia this town would have actually dropped in population.

I actually DO care about the 1500 that are losing their jobs at Tyson. My family is actually affected by it. Is yours? If not, I don't care about your opinion.

Posted by vh1983 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

AreYouHappyNow has a point. But it's not just that people aren't moving to Emporia, it's also that the younger generations move away for better opportunities as they graduate. I'm only 24, but since my freshman year of high school myself and most of my friends planned to live somewhere other than Emporia. If we planned to attend ESU, we knew that we'd have to leave once we graduated. Aside from the failing job market, there isn't enough of a draw in Emporia to keep the younger generations there.

I think the recent flood of Hispanic immigrants is the only reason that the population has stayed the same, considering that most of the younger people move to larger cities as they graduate.

Posted by hartford (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is definately a shame! My wife works at Newmans and I guarantee they will see the effects as well! I do not work at Tyson but Tyson doing what it did is also making me think it is time to get out of here. This whole town will be affected. We will see all kinds of business closing. It will hit the mom and pop stores first. We are in trouble and there is no easy fix. And mainly there is no fix that can immediately help our community. As someone said earlier, this is leaving a huge knot in the pit of my stomach as well! Someone also said that ESU and Wal Mart is what will be keeping this town held together, well I can't argue ESU but I see Wal Mart being somewhat affected. There will be less money to spend and although I don't see Wal Mart closing I do see them downsizing somewhat. They will be less busy so they will need less workers. Ok,,,,,,,I am getting depressed again! So enough for now! Emporia is in trouble guys! What can we do?

Posted by tysonworker (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PUES ASI ES , YO FUI TRABAJADOR DE
""TYSON FOODS"", Y TENDRE QUE DEJAR LA CIUDAD Y MUDARME A OTRO ESTADO Y CONSEGUIR OTRO EMPLEO,ES ALGO DIFICIL DE CREER ,DESPUES DE TANTO TIEMPO TRABAJANDO PARA UNA COMPANIA LIDER EN EL RAMO DE LOS ALIMENTOS, QUE DE UN DIA PARA OTRO TE DIGAN QUE YA NO TIENES TRABAJO.

Posted by orlando (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its hard for me to conceive that individuals do no realize that a companies aim is to make money for their company. They could care less about individuals; and their circumstances, even thought they want you to believe they do. Their aim remains the same; make money for the company: Buy materials as cheaply as possible, pay as low a wage as possible and still maintain a labor force, GOT IT ?? THATS WHY WE GOT SAMS. They could care less about an individual community. What is there to understand???. My father taught me years ago. when you work for a company you are a number, and that that. Emporia remains important to them only as long as Emporia meets their needs. Theres nothing personal about the relationship. Produce.your product where it is most convient and cheapest.

Posted by emporia (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 5:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A todas las familias que se tuvieron un trabajo a Tyson, estoy muy triste para ustedes. Ojala que ustedes encuentran una vida nueva. Voy a extranarles en la comunidad. Vengan con Dios.

Posted by eatasheep69 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Besides posting on here about whose fault this is, why we should leave the town, etc, how about finding what can be done to help these unfortunate families directly affected by this? There is probably very few in this town that won't be adversely affected by this in some way. There are so many ways this will trickle down to so many of us, our friends, our families and our businesses. My question is what can we do as individuals and as a group to help these people and our community? What we need is some brain storming and some action, not finger pointing and name calling.

Posted by disgruntledcitizen (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't get all these people on here saying congratulations emporia you get what you want, and act like its the people of Emporia's fault Tyson is downsizing. The blame needs to fall on Tyson and Tyson alone!!! THey have paid low wages for years and have brought in everyone possible so they can pay less and less. They are the ones who have not updated the Emporia location knowing eventually they would close it down. They are a ruthless company who only see dollar signs in their eyes. Put blame where blame needs placed.

Posted by disgruntledcitizen (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Also everyone is making it sound like Emporia is going to go into a great depression and will not come out of it. THat's crap, Tyson has closed down in numerous cities most notably Norfolk, NE. Norfolk is about the same size of Emporia and the first year it closed down it hurt a little, but the next two years they flureshed and actually attracted two large industries to come to own because Tyson was gone. So yes it will hurt a little at first, but get real people, Tyson closing will not send us back to the dark ages. I do feel bad for all the families losing their primary income and for all the people who have worked there for many years and are just being told to pack up and get out. It doesn't seem right, but thats what this country is coming to, there is no such thing as job security. My thoughts go out to the paople who lost their jobs, but maybe this is a chance to get a better job or go back to college and better yourslef. Just keep your heads out of the sand and there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Posted by tmt (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with emporiamainstreet - its a sad sad day!

Posted by just_a_concerned_emporian (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My compliments to you "disgruntledcitizen!" I think that you are right on tract! I hate to hear that anyone will loose their job. I know that is not easy to contend with. Finding a new job and maybe re-locating is never fun or easy. This will also have a trickle down effect on businesses that provide services for Tyson. This is what happens when a community is not diverse enough.

Every ten years when the census are reported statewide, it always concludes that communities that are away from the major metropolitan areas such as Kansas City or Wichita are either not growing or even loosing population. Here in Emporia we just struggle to maintain. It's been that way since the early 80's. It's a tough go to attract new good paying jobs! We can't give up though.

The 1,500 employees that are effected from this, I would guess that 500 of those people are high turnover employees that don't keep or spend a lot of money in Emporia. I would guess that another 500 people commute from other towns and counties and don't spend or keep a lot of money in Emporia. Will it hurt Emporia short term? Absolutely! Will it help Emporia in the long run? I think so! I think Emporia will be more attractive to new industries with higher skilled jobs.

Posted by justaflushaway (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HEY, TYSON ain't leaving,

a lot of you seem to be saying alot but no one is saying a thing how tyson will continue screwing emporia, almost free water, lower taxes, and everything else they force the city to provide for them. they will continue to LIE about everything, the talking heads will continue to LIE and on and on.

I can see it now, in a few weeks tyson will be receiving monies from everyone in town, city commission, county commission, and oh don't forget about the $109,000 grant to help immigrants to come to emporia, hell, nothing is changing, just a new fresh bunch of slaves for tyson JMO

Posted by my2cents (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

RE: Tysonworker
You are absolutely valid in how you feel. I am sorry that you have to go through this. Losing a sole means of income is painful and is hard to deal with.
for those of you that don't know what was said:
THEN ASI IS, I WAS WORKER OF "" TYSON FOODS "", and TENDRE WHO TO LEAVE the CITY and TO CHANGE ME To ANOTHER STATE and OBTAIN ANOTHER EMPLOYMENT, is SOMETHING DIFICIL TO BELIEVE, despues OF AS MUCH TIME WORKING FOR a COMPANIA LIDER IN the BRANCH OF the FOODS, THAT OF a DAY FOR OTHER SAY to YOU THAT NO LONGER YOU HAVE WORK.

Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The thing we need is an organized job fair and invite those companies with openings within 60 miles or so to come together at one place and recruit anybody around here willing to work. We also need to get some type of retraining program going. There are jobs besides meat processing in Kansas.

Posted by emporia (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A lot of the people who are in the process of losing their jobs will be our hispanic families. These are hard working families, often times both the mom and dad working to provide for their children. They can't just stop and go to college. Unfortunately, a lot of them haven't had the opportunities we have had to get a complete and uninterrupted education in their lifetime. I feel very sad for them knowing that they will probably have to leave Emporia. Which in turn means I will lose some of the most special students I have ever taught. God bless all of the families that this has affected.

Posted by ktlaw (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ha, iamconcerned and open my eyes remember me, I told you two that you were on the only two on the refugee forum trying to make things work out and what not. Well let me tell you two something you worked so hard to get everyone to like them but look, now you made everyone else's wish come true, they will finally be leaving. Tyson is closing for one thing and one thing only- to ship these somolians out. Tyson has bent over backwards for these people and they do not give respect back. They have ruined the apartments they live in, do not tell me they haven't cause my aunt owns one complex. and let me tell you we gave them a place to pray at out at tyson- whose tax dollars paid for that and why did we do that when the schools had to take out any religion for them. tyson has been opened how long and never had any real big issues until these somalians came over. yes tyson closing will hurt a lot of people and especially this town. thanks to people who think refugees need to be brought here with out knowing our expectations and way of living, maybe they need to be more respectful in the way we all live, you move to a different country you better be willing to change the way you take care of yourself and ADAPT to the culture. Common sense. I feel 100% bad for those who have been at tyson, IBP, and what ever it was before that , including the hispanics because they have done a great job. they never shut done when the hispanics or asians came in only when the somalians did. tell me who didn't ADAPt to america? that is all i need to say!!!!! Good luck to those who had to be laid off because of somalians

Posted by just_a_concerned_emporian (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Replying to "emporiamainstreet"comment... "The comments here are typical of the upper class elite sitting in their $100K+ houses with the $30K SUV's in the driveway...."These folks would just as soon the middle and lower middle class element go away. What they don't realize is it is these are the folks that keep a town alive."

When I was growing up, I lived in a small community with little job opportunity. I knew I had to leave to better my life. I moved to Emporia to attend college and find a part time job. No one paid for my college expenses (except me) nor did I ever obtain a degree. When I struggled I moved to better myself. When that job went belly up, I moved back to Emporia to another job. When that job went stale, I went to another. When that job went stale, I started my own business and we began a family. Even though I can move and make more money, I chose years ago to stay in Emporia. Have I employed or taken advantage of low pay workers in my business? NEVER! Do I have a $100K+ house and a $30K SUV? Yes! They are owned and paid for because I took the initiative to better myself. Were times different then than now? Not much! When I started my business, I took out a 19% loan. Some people said we were in a recession and it was a bad time. My point is... People need to accept change, take chances, be prepared to better themselves and change along with it.

Posted by ktlaw (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

and by the way, there has been many people who have applied at tyson but were not called back for an interview or was denied a position there. you can not say that if it weren't for emporians who didn t want to cut your meat blah blah blah to have come and work, then the somalians wouldn't have gotten a job. well look at it this way, we have all tried and get treated like crap there and have been rejected for a job. so no this is not the emporians fault in anyway, people lost their jobs or were fired if they didn't want to hire somalians then why get rid of emporians that are doing their job there.

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@emporiamainstreet
I disagree.....WHY do people bash anyone who makes enough to afford a 100k + house and amenities....THERE are bad people in all walks of life....NOT ALL are bad that make enought to have that...ITS not as easy as some of those who think it is for those that make more .....LONG hours, sacrifices, legalities, continual looking ahead for betterment of all and company,,,,not to mention shouldering all those that are under their lead......WORK is work......and those PAID to do a job no matter how much it may be, THAT take PRIDE in what they do and BELIEVE in integrity, morals, accomplishments, character, motivation and respect for themselves and fellow workers..ARE people working toward the same goals....to provide for loved ones. THERE is much upset for all walks of people at this point.....YOU dont KNOW or can say unless you are the one walking in those shoes. People OF all walks need encouragement and support in times like this.....THIS is happening across the US where companies are closing, laying off, cost of living increasing....we are not alone...but is this community hard hearted to the point we have nothing but attacks to offer..........OR are there people here who genuinley care enough to set aside opinions and reach out.

Posted by amber_b (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE HAPPY YOUR GETTING YOUR WISH THAT TYSON IS CLOSING. IM OUT A PAYCHECK WILL LOOSE MY CAR AND JUST FOUND OUT IM GOIN TO HAVE A BABY THAT I NOW DONT HAVE INSURANCE FOR WELL I GUESS IM GETTING ON WELFARE.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

amber_b

Please don't generalize. Some of us are in the same boat as you. But I do agree with you. Anyone can see by reading the Gazette online that there are those in Emporia that did NOTHING but bash Tyson. If I was Tyson and on the fence about what plant to close just reading what's on this site would have made my mind up for me. Why would Tyson corporate care about Emporia when it would seem there were some in Emporia that could care less about Tyson?

Posted by nannergirl (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know just Thursday, my father told me about how the head of the Tyson corporation got a $27 million bonus last year and that he couldn't wait to get out of there. Since Tyson bought out IBP, guaranteed hours went down from 40 to 32. Hamburger has gone up from a dollar a pound to two dollars a pound or more. My father has worked at the beef plant for almost 24 years and now he is being tossed out like an old rag, while somebody who has been working there two weeks who just happens to work first shift processing gets to keep their job.

Posted by Bluecollarguy (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Having moved here to attend college in the 70's, I remember "the beef" as being a place where alot of Emporians worked, and although the work was hard, they were paid well. The large industries here were Modine, Dolly Madison, Hopkins, Iowa Beef, Didde-Glaser, and the Santa Fe railroad. They all paid decent wages, and some paid higher than others. Then, several years ago Iowa Beef LOWERED their wages to "be more competetive" (meaning-raise profit margins). Soon, most of the other industries in town started lowering their wages also. And this is not just a local trend, but it is the way big business works now. ( Reduce wages and all benefits to increase profit margins). Then, and I know this as fact, the leaders of the large industries in this town started to get together and compare and freeze wages and wage hikes. That soon led to the importation of workers who would do these hard labor jobs for less money. Which also led to several companies going out of business and leaving Emporia. I have been laid off from two of these major industries in Emporia, so I have first hand knowledge of what is is like to lose your job and not know what the future will hold. Yes, I have a 100k home and a couple of used vehicles (none newer than 1999) and I am still struggling to pay for them, but I love Emporia, and I will stay here and try to make a living the old fashioned American way by hard, honest, ethical work. It is NO ONE'S fault but Tyson that this has happened, and blaming others is ignorant and counter-productive.

Posted by rah (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We will all survive! Tyson had made this decision long ago and it just finally surfaced. Tyson/IBP has took hand outs from the city for years and we almost paid them to be here. It is sad and I hate to see anyone loose there job but most who will are imigrants of either race that float from one packing plant to the next. The will pull out there families yes but with that we also gain in all the free schooling and lunches,books, health care ect... I have watched and seen most immigrants send there money home it doesnt stay here. The bills if they jump there bills and rent they just move put it under another name too first hand expierence there. The people who want to stay will and can find jobs may not be what you want but can make it. Think positive! We cannot fold to Tyson wanting more money out of us in free hand outs we all end up makeing the difference in the end. I have never seen a packing plant town grow look and watch, investigate even. Norfolk, Neb. is the same size approx. as Emporia yes unemplyment went up at first then came down as with crime and business's moved in and the town is growing WOW!. Change is hard but Im ready for it. I worked at beef for 10 years and I know how there system works dont let them feed you a bunch of balogne. The wages in Emporia would be higher they (IBP/TYSON) always strived to keep them low. I say to the workers that are loseing there jobs keep your chin up you can make it I did. Im alot happier too.

Posted by seeya32 (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

amber-b,Why dont you take advantage of Tysons relocation program? Then you could keep your car,have your baby and life will be good

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's your research rah

Looks like Emporia is the only Meat Packing town I looked at not growing!

Lexington NE
1990 - 6,601
2006 - 10,251

Dakota City NE
1990 - 1,470
2006 - 1,907

Garden City KS
1990 - 22,852
2007 - 27,175

Pasco WA
1990 - 23,553
2006 - 49,927

Amarillo TX
1990 - 187,514
2006 - 232,800

Emporia KS
1990 - 25,621
2006 - 26,188
-1,000 Somolias
25,188

Posted by disgruntledcitizen (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To Amber_b
It's people like you who are giving this shut down such a bad outlook. Instead of moving on and looking for a better job or god forbid move to a different city to provide for you and your new baby. You would just as soon go on welfare and live off the system. There are plenty of jobs in this world and as I hear Tyson is offering a relocation plan also. Like I said before, this is not the end of the world and instead of just giving up and going on welfare and being poor the rest of your life why don't you look for a new job and provide for you and your new family. And for the people saying this is coming from a person living in a 100k house and driving a 30k vehicle. Yes I have both but as a poster said earlier, I have learned the hard way and come from nothing to better myself and I now work three jobs and my wife works two to support our way of living. Life is all about the choices you make. Also I see a lot of these 30k vehicle in the Tyson parking lot. In fact the other day at wal-mart, I waited in line behind a person with a Tyson coat on paying with food stamps and then I went out to the parking lot and saw them getting into a brand new $40k vehicle. Tell me thats not about the choices people make.

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

disgruntledcitizen

Tell me about the good outlook? I must be missing something.

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ktlaw, I honestly don't think you have ever really read a single post I've ever posted. You have absolutely no clue what I've argued for and against.

Here's a stretch prediction:

6 months, a year from now, Tyson re-opens the slaughter side with ALL imported help. Easy way to get rid of the expensive people.

Just a wild, out-on-a-limb far-fetched idea....

Posted by iamconcerned (anonymous) on January 26, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ktlaw, you are so stupid that your posts do not deserve a comment but I will try. I posted one time on the somali refuge sight and that comment was against those of open eyes and now I have to agree with open eyes (you have no idea what you are talking about.) I was not for the somali's coming to Emporia or against it just trying to adapt. There is only one thing for sure in life and that is CHANGE and if people are not open to change or unwilling to adapt to change they are securing themselves on place in the future and that place is history. I have many close friends that work at Tyson and they will be affected by the closing but thank God they are smarter then what you are and will adapt and survive. It may not be in Emporia but they will survive. God bless the people of Tyson no matter what race you are as you have supported this city and community and you will be missed.

Posted