MONTGOMERY COUNTY THURSDAY ALWAYS MARCH 5, 2020 CLEAN AND 22 PAGES NEWSY! 1 INSERT $1.00 PER ISSUE Montgomery County’s day for ‘Prosperiti’ Prosperiti Partners to occupy former Southwire facility in Coffeyville; 120 new jobs probable over next three years BY ANDY TAYLOR [email protected] COFFEYVILLE — At least 120 manufacturing jobs with a pay scale above the median county wage are coming to Montgomery County. At Monday’s Montgomery Coun- ty Commission meeting, Coffeyville and county official unveiled plans by Prosperiti Partners to locate its new manufacturing plant at the former Southwire Manufacturing facility at the Coffeyville Industrial Park. Prosperiti Partners, which is based in Springfield, Mo., plans to manufacture components for its pre-manufactured, modular hous- ing dwellings at the Coffeyville plant. The company plans to hire 120 workers over the course of three years, with the goal of having the plant in operation by the end of the 2020 calendar year. Production equipment and in- stallation could begin as early as April. The company’s total capital investment will be nearly $20 mil- lion, with various state and local economic development incentives being offered to the company. Prosperiti Partners, through its subsidiary Prosperiti Builders, will manufacture the housing compo- nents at Coffeyville, with the com- pany using as many local or re- gional raw materials as possible, said Javier Garcia, Prosperiti’s di- rector of manufacturing. Prosperi- ti’s pre-manufactured modules are Javier Garcia, director of manufacturing for Prosperiti Partners, discusses the company’s plans to manufacture housing components at its Coffeyville then delivered to housing develop- plant. Garcia was speaking at Monday’s meeting of the Montgomery County Action Council. Sitting behind Garcia are county commissioners Larry Mc- ment construction sites, set in place, Manus and Fred Brown. ANDY TAYLOR / MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHRONICLE and prepared for final finishing. The housing units fit the sin- complexes, he said. it ensures reduction in construction chose Coffeyville? Garcia said the periti’s footprint. Additionally, the gle-family housing market as well Garcia said the pre-manufac- materials waste and improves the availability of a large manufac- Coffeyville site has direct access as the multi-density or multi-family tured, modular housing industry timeline for site development. turing facility such as the former to a rail spur, which will assist in dwelling market, such as apartment has proven to be successful because Why did Prosperiti Partners Southwire Manufacturing fit Pros- the delivery of raw materials. The plant’s location to highway access also played a role in the company’s decision, as was Montgomery Coun- ty’s pool of a skilled labor force, he SKO Railroad to receive $27 million federal grant said. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on Friday Program. their homes in rural communities rely on rail “We are fortunate to find a facil- announced the Kansas Department of Transpor- Last month, Sen. Moran spoke with FRA transportation to move their products to markets ity that was a great fit for us,” said tation was awarding $27 million for upgrades to Administrator Ronald Batory in support of this around the state and country,” said Sen. Moran. Garcia. “It is a great area, and it the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, which project and also wrote a letter of support last “This grant will allow the South Kansas and hits in all three areas that we were is based in Cherryvale and provides short-line October. This grant will help replace the current Oklahoma Railroad to modernize their railways, needing for a manufacturing facili- rail service to southeast Kansas and northeast rail with heavier rails that can accommodate increasing the speed of transportation and per- ty.” Oklahoma. trains moving at faster speeds and carrying a mitting heavier shipments to be moved across The company also plans to tap This funding was awarded through the U.S. higher capacity. Additionally, these changes will the region. I’m excited for the new economic into the educational and training Department of Transportation’s Federal Rail- help enhance safety, increase efficiency and opportunities this grant will afford our farmers resources at Coffeyville Communi- road Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail reduce fuel usage, Moran said. and manufacturers in rural Kansas.” ty College, where vocational train- Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) “Farmers and businesses that have made ing programs are a main staple, he said. The company will offer jobs that are now “competitive” with most other private industry wages but would be higher than the county median wage, said Trish Purdon, director of the Montgomery County Action Council, which recruited the company in locating its manufactur- ing plant to Coffeyville. “The economic impact this com- • see PROSPERITI, page A9 OPINION: News of Prosperiti Part- ners’ arrival, combined with other recent industrial projects, will be a ‘game changer’ for Montgomery County. See page A4 Remember to move your clocks ahead one hour! This weekend marks the time on the calendar when clocks are moved forward one hour due to the start of Daylight Saving Time. Red Ravens bound for NJCAA national tournament Daylight Saving Time officially Players and coaches at Coffeyville Community College pose with the NJCAA Region 6 championship trophy they earned late Tuesday night in Dodge begins at 2 a.m., Sunday. Be sure to City. The Red Ravens defeated the Butler Grizzlies, 83-81, to earn the Region 6 title and punch a ticket to the national tournament. For more details, move your clocks and time devices see story on page B2. PHOTO BY YVONNE HULL / COFFEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ahead one hour by that time. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Opinions .............................Page A4 Today’s Sports .......................Pages B2-B9 Public notices .........Page A11-A12 Chuckle FunnierU.com Classified ads ...........Pages B8-9 Obituaries .........................Page A2 Here’s what we learned about Super Tuesday: SEE CHRONICLE SUBSCRIPTION for only 500 million OFFER ON PAGE A9 All Shook Up! State champion! ‘Newsies’ production ready dollars you can be Field Kindley students to present Indy’s Alexis Allen earns championship Independence High School to present President of American Elvis-influenced musical. Page A7 at state wrestling meet. Page B3 ‘Newsies’ this weekend. See insert Samoa. Page A2 Montgomery County Chronicle Thursday, March 5, 2020 OBITUARIES Obituaries are printed in their entirety for a $35 fee. To death. Funeral services were Wednesday, March 4 and she taught nursing at Marymount. Luc- submit a paid obituary, contact the Montgomery County She was united in marriage to Tracy Estes, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons, ien passed away on July 5, 2000. In 2001, she Chronicle at (620) 336-2100 or (620) 879-2156. Or, sub- and they later divorced. with Marty Warren officiating. Burial was in married Ray Hemphill. mit an e-mail to [email protected]. Sherrica worked as a home care worker Harmony Grove Cemetery, southwest of Den- Joyce was preceded in death by her par- with Windsor Place Home Care. She also wait- nis. ents; first husband, Lucien; granddaughter, ed tables in her younger years. Memorials are suggested to the Dennis Missy Regnier in 1993; and grandson, Randon Charles Francis She loved caring for people United Methodist Women. They may be left at Regnier in 2012. and her family. She also or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Box Survivors are her husband, Ray; children, McCandless enjoyed being with her 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages Bernie (Cindy) Regnier of Bennington, Kan., STILLWATER, Okla. — Charles Francis Mc- dogs and cats. may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com. Doug (Tasha) Regnier of Black Forest, Colo., Candless, age 73, formerly of Caney, passed Survivors include her and Michelle (Stephen) Loganbill of Cherry- away Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. father, Larry Medlock of vale; step-children, David (Michelle) Hemphill Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Fri- Cherryvale; sons, Jeremy Joyce (Bartley) and Dawn Ward; seven grandchildren, Ty day, March 6, at Strode Funeral Home in Still- Palmer of Independence, (Rachel) Regnier, Nolan (Kasey) Regnier, Matt water, Okla. He will be laid Katlyn Medlock of Law- Regnier, Laura Regnier, Nick (Sarah) Logan- rence, Kan.; siblings, Larry Regnier Hemphill bill, Trenton (Dani) Loganbill, and Chris- to rest at Sunset Memorial CHERRYVALE — Joyce (Bartley) Regnier Gardens. Strode Funeral (Becky) Medlock of Cher- tine Loganbill; two step-grandchildren, Sam ryvale, Kansas, Curtis (John) Medlock of San Hemphill, age 79, of Cherryvale died Friday, Hemphill and Dalston Ward; and brothers, Ju- Home and Cremation is Feb. 28, 2020 in Coffeyville. handling arrangements. Diego, Calif., Todd (Toni) Medlock of Cherry- nior (Donna) Bartley of Blue Springs, Mo., and vale, Taniena (Rodney) Whittley of Cherry- She was born July 22, 1940 in Miltonvale, Leroy (Betty) Bartley of Clay Center, Kan. Chuck was born to John Kan., to Bernice and Venita (Pitts) Bartley. and LuElla McCandless on vale, Brad (Christi) Medlock of Independence, Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and Joyce and Lucien Regnier were married March 7 at the Bennington Bible Church, 824 Oct. 1, 1946 in Tulsa, Okla. Aug. 6, 1958. She was a 1958 graduate of Chuck attended elemen- great nephews. N. Nelson, Bennington, Kan. Burial will follow Celebration of Sherrica’s life will be held Miltonvale Rural High School and in 1973 she in the Bennington Cemetery. Visitation will tary school in Caney be- graduated with honors from Marymount Col- fore moving to Stillwater. 10:30 a.m., Friday March 6, 2020 at Wickham be Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Family Funeral Home, 216 E. 4th, Cherryvale, lege with her bachelor of science in nursing church. He graduated C.E.