Clarendon Manufacturer to Expand Georgia Pacific Announces $4.5 Million in Capital Improvements for Alcolu Plant
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Sumter County EMS could be moving A2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 | Serving South Carolina since October 15, 1894 75 cents Clarendon manufacturer to expand Georgia Pacific announces $4.5 million in capital improvements for Alcolu plant BY BRUCE MILLS No jobs are directly 30,000 square-foot warehouse, a may possibly lead to increased em- [email protected] related to the capital ex- state-of-the-art laminating line and ployment down the road, but there pansion, but the invest- additional equipment. are not any full-time jobs attached A large area manufacturer is set to ment could lead to addi- The company's Clarendon County to this specific expansion." begin major facility upgrades and an tional employment in OSB facility currently employs With the announcement, Georgia expansion to ultimately become more the future at the plant. about 150 workers, and the expan- Pacific has now pumped in about high-tech. George Kosinski, ex- KOSINSKI sion work will begin in December or $10.5 million in capital projects' Georgia Pacific's oriented strand ecutive director of the January, Kosinski said. work in the last year at the facility, board (OSB) manufacturing plant, Clarendon County Eco- "This is an automation-type ex- which is just passed the Sumter based in Alcolu, announced Thursday nomic Development Board, spoke pansion that will allow Georgia Pa- County line and near Interstate 95, that it will soon begin work on a $4.5 Thursday about the manufacturer's cific to be more efficient and run a million capital investment project. expansion, which will include a new 24/7 operation," Kosinski said. "It SEE GEORGIA PACIFIC, PAGE A10 The Holy Quail Manchester Farms strives to always improve standard of quality after 50 BY ADRIENNE SARVIS [email protected] earing its 50th year of operation, Manchester NFarms, America’s oldest quail farm, continues to provide the same quality of product as it did decades ago. Since the 1970s, the farm has expand- ed its operations and now ships its prod- ucts, fresh and frozen, to retailers and restaurants across the country includ- ing Vegas, California, Miami New York. Locally, Manchester Farms quail meat and quail eggs can be found in Kroger, Bi-Lo, Piggly Wiggly, Harris Teeter and IGA. Brittney Miller, second gen- eration owner and operator of the farm alongside her husband and brother, is just as passionate about providing con- sumers with the same quality of product as her fa- ther who started the business years ago proving that passion is the driv- ing force behind the family’s suc- cess. “IT’S YOUR ALL- PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM AMERICAN Brittney Miller, second-generation owner and operator of Manchester Farms, holds two baby quail at the farm HOMEGROWN in Hopkins. In the background is a tray of non-fertilized quail eggs. BUSINESS.” Manchester Farms EXPANDING THE FARM THE FLOCK started in the 1970s with Bill raising quail safely and humanely with- Odom, a former flock supervi- The farm moved from Dal- “It’s in your blood,” said Miller, who out antibiotics and stress, Miller said. sor for Campbell Soup Company in zell to Hopkins after Hurricane also has a degree in poultry science Consumers can be confident that the Sumter, who was offered a promotion to Hugo touched land in 1989. from Clemson. products they purchase this year are the corporate office in New Jersey for Miller said her father had already She remembered inspecting the barns consistent with the products they pur- his great skill. purchased the land in Hopkins where with her father on Saturday and Sun- chased 40 years ago, she said. He raised the birds the best they had the processing plant and hatchery are day mornings as a child. “When you’re Manchester Farms’ processing proce- ever seen naturally and without antibi- currently located but the hurricane a farmer it never stops,” she said. dures meet USDA and FDA regulations otics, Miller said. sped up the moving process. But the Manchester Farms family however quail is not regulated under Odom turned down the offer to work Manchester Farms now has three and the love for the business extends far the USDA because they are considered up north to stay true to his southern farm locations: one near St. Mat- past blood relations. game birds. roots and to make his own way in the thews and two north of Camden; a “We have 100 families that rely on this To ensure the quality of its products poultry business. processing facility and hatchery — farm,” Miller said. the farm has partnered with South Car- An avid quail hunter, Odom used his built in 2007 — in Hopkins; and a It’s magical to see all the passion that olina state to participate in a program skills in poultry husbandry and degree headquarters office on Garner’s everyone has, she said. to inspect its quail. in poultry science from Clemson Uni- Ferry Road. Miller said one of the most beautiful And, Manchester Farms is also the versity, to raise quail to train his bird In the old world of poultry, busi- things is two of the managers are vege- only quail farm in America that falls dogs. nesses usually contracted everything tarians who are with the birds every within the Global Food Safety Initia- After a while, his flock grew, and the out, putting the risk on the land day of the week. That’s how much peo- tive which makes sure food products neighbors said if he dressed the birds, owner and grower, Miller said. ple love working here, she said. from around the world meet the same they would eat them, Miller said. “And But she and her brother, who pur- “IT’S WHAT WE HANG OUR HAT ON: standards, Miller said. literally it started in the backyard on chased the farm from their parents in QUALITY, SAFETY AND PRIDE.” To be honest, she said, Manchester the picnic table,” she said. 2008, decided to create the most Farms is not the least expensive, but Manchester Farms was founded in sound program by staying involved Almost 50 years after its humble other farms don’t undergo the same 1974, in Dalzell, making it the oldest and surrounding themselves with start, the farm is still committed to quail farm in the country. people of the same passion. maintaining the same ode of respect to SEE QUAILS, PAGE A7 VISIT US ONLINE AT DEATHS, B4 WEATHER, A12 INSIDE Ronald Gene Geddis Reatha Mae Ingram China FINALLY FRIDAY 3 SECTIONS, 30 PAGES Kay Cress Juanita Yoakum Byrd VOL. 124, NO. 4 The weekend is here, the .com Van Telberg Newman Jr. Frankie Talbert Geddings Religion A4 Opinion A11 the sun is out and it’s a great Frances Fludd Carol Ann Cody Classifieds B5 Sports B1 John Pawluk Jr. The Rev. Dr. Ellie Winfield N. Palmer day to be outdoors. Comics C10 Television A7 Everett Levon Russell Joseph Charlie Floyd HIGH 73, LOW 63 Eugene Wells Thelma Inez Burke Black Clarendon Sun C1 Andre Tyrell Simmons Diana Marsh George Britton A2 | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2018 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Manufacturer celebrates family day, president’s retirement SUBMITTED and Greg Thompson, president of Thompson Industrial Group, offered On Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, new EMS- special comments as well. CHEMIE President Robert Meyer zu Plant tours described the EMS pro- Westram hosted a Family Day event to cess to make polymer, then led guests thank all employees for their commit- through the production departments ment to the company and to mark the where raw materials are combined retirement of Guido Hobi, under specific conditions to produce former president. Hobi strands of polymer, which are cut and was instrumental in devel- sold to customers. oping and building up The tour included the Application EMS-CHEMIE in Sumter Development Center where EMS engi- since its establishment 37 neers support customers to improve years ago. their products to be more competitive HOBI At 2060 Corporate Way in the market. A typical example of a in Sumter Industrial Park PHOTO PROVIDED metal-to-plastic conversion was demon- South, EMS-CHEMIE employs more EMS-CHEMIE Application Development Manager Hans Kreil, second from left, explains strated, and application examples were than 100 people and produces the wid- injection molding of a wheel hub on a plant tour recently during a Family Day event shown ranging from automotive parts est range of specialty nylon plastic ma- and retirement celebration at the plant. (in steering columns, fuel line tubing, terial in the U.S. air vanes, valve covers, headliners, etc.) With blue skies and warm tempera- Swiss National Councilor, Magdalena state Sen. Thomas McElveen, D-Sum- to industrial and consumer products tures, more than 280 guests, employees Martullo, traveled from Switzerland to ter, presented the Order of the Palmet- (surfboard fins, pneumatic hoses, secu- and family members came together share the occasion and used the oppor- to — the state’s highest civilian honor rity camera domes, mascara bottles, under a large tent to celebrate. Carni- tunity to speak to the audience. State of service — to Hobi, former president, sunglasses, etc.). Finally, the guests val rides were enjoyed by the kids. Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, of the on behalf of Gov. Henry McMaster. could see the parts all made with EMS The chief executive officer of the state House of Representatives, along Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen be- polymers from Sumter mounted in two EMS Group, main shareholder and with Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter, and stowed upon Hobi a “Key to the City,” high-end cars.