Aunt Aggie's Yarn Barn to Take Over Freight Car Plant

 

Yes, Aunt Aggie's has been needing more floor space for quite some time and will be moving into the 2.2 million square foot Barton freight car plant. Didn't see that one coming? Only those blinded by over 15 years of freight car promises and 40 years of Yellow Creek/Teledyne blarney would believe that.

Yet, officials say the now vacant freight car plant, a one-mile long facility, has several prospects. Perhaps a new homeless shelter?

We eagerly await more news...

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Our guest blog on the closure of a local Subway has brought a very interesting rebuttal:

I realize that political opinions matter more to some people than actual facts but…. sometimes I just feel that facts and common sense matter. Case in point the Megan Rapinoe Subway comment.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/06/23/fact-check-megan-rapinoe-didnt-stomp-flag-isnt-subway-spokesperson/7734385002/ 

In addition the Subway ad campaign referenced has just recently begun showing on TV. Any Subway closing right now had troubles or reasons for closing long before Rapinoe. I suspect these rumors were created by people who are offended by Ms. Rapinoe being a lesbian. Which brings this question to mind - If Jared Fogel, a convicted pedophile, didn’t destroy Subway why would the STAR of the USWNT?

FreightCar America - What's Next?

Today FreightCar America in Barton (mailing address Cherokee) in Colbert County announced 145 layoffs. The company cited a slight downturn in the economy related to rail cars and promised to rehire those permanent employees who were affected as soon as possible. 

Many immediately emailed us asking if OSHA violations or similar problems at the plant had contributed to this decision. That we don't have an answer to, but we can enumerate some interesting fine statistics from the plant's record. There have been at least nine government fines levied against the company since 2004. Four of these have been at the Barton plant since 2015 and are enumerated below.

OSHA  February 24, 2015 Safety Violation  $7,000.00

OSHA  September 29, 2015  Safety Violation  $5,000.00

National Labor Relations Board  November 4, 2015  Unfair Practice  $60,000.00

OSHA  March 3, 2018  Safety Violation $12,934.00

A fatal incident from last November and at least one other incident is still being investigated and does not appear in the above list. Will FreightCar America return a stronger and wiser economic force in the Shoals area? Sadly, no one knows the answer to that.

An End to Navistar Complaints?

A source at Navistar Barton has indicated air quality and other working conditions have caused over 20 employees to leave the would-be truck manufacturing facility. Unionization has also been widely discussed--something we're surprised hasn't already taken place.

Perhaps the new tenant FreightCar America will do much to correct some of these problems. The company's press release states it will occupy approximately 25% of the mile-long plant. It might be fortuitous to Navistar if FreightCar expands to fill the entire manufacturing facility. Financial pundits have not exactly predicted a banner year for Navistar.

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A source reports that Corey Leighann Thornton has contacted friends to relate she is safe; however, it appears the Franklin County woman has now made the area's most wanted list.

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Part of the Railroad Bridge may be history, but you can still own a copy of the original plans for the historic drawbridge: Link



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