ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Stark Aerospace lays off 25 employees Higgins said. “They’ve already LINK trying to help affected workers find new jobs in area got some very promising op- BY SLIM SMITH 120,000-square foot facility opment LINK CEO Joe Max portunities for these people. [email protected] near the Golden Triangle Re- Higgins said he learned of the Now, it’s a matter of getting the gional Airport. It is heavily in- layoffs during an annual site word out to those employees Stark Aerospace has laid volved in unmanned aircraft visit to the Stark campus on who were laid off. Hopefully, off 25 employees, sources con- systems as well as weapon com- Wednesday. we can get them placed before firmed to The Dispatch on ponents and systems. “Any time any of our com- it becomes a major disruption Wednesday. According to Owler, a com- panies lay people off, the first in their lives. That’s our goal in Stark Human Resources pany that tracks businesses thing we do to help the people Costello Higgins this situation.” Director John-Paul Morgante throughout the U.S., Stark has who have been laid off is to get are going to be in the market.” Higgins said he believes the referred all questions to corpo- 140 employees with annual es- them placed as soon as possi- Higgins said LINK Chief employees laid off this week rate communications director timated revenue of $22 million. ble,” Higgins said. “As soon as Operations Officer Macaulay were trained in electric compo- Pete Costello, who did not re- Although company officials we heard about the layoffs at Whitaker had also reached out nent work. turn calls as of press time today. would not comment on the lay- Stark, we started contacting to East Mississippi Community “I do feel like there are a lot The Israeli-owned defense offs, word quickly circulated our companies that we think College’s Communiversity Di- of area companies who need the contractor began operations through the community. could use their skill set and rector Courtney Taylor. skill set these people provide,” in Columbus in 2006 at its Golden Triangle Devel- make them aware these people “Courtney is very engaged,” he said. BUSINESS MOVES FILLING THE FREEZER WITH MARY Smith Landscaping to become Walton’s Greenhouse PLUS: Mr. Appliance franchise comes to Golden Triangle BY MARY POLLITZ [email protected] s the new Ayear approach- Jennifer Mosbrucker/Dispatch Staff es, things Tony Harrison rolls a cart full of turkeys to a storage room with a freezer on Wednesday at Salvation Army in Columbus. may be Chancery Court Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis donated 50 frozen turkeys to the Salvation Army on Wednesday, and she says she looking will donate up to 100 altogether to organizations and families around the Golden Triangle. “You should want to do more out- side the courtroom,” Drungole-Ellis said. “I think each family should be able to celebrate Thanksgiving.” Community Benefit a little Committee chair and Columbus police officer Rhonda Sanders said 75 turkeys altogether had been donated for the Salvation different Army’s Turkey Drive as of this morning, and she expects a delivery of about 60 more from Harvey’s restaurant today. at Smith Landscap- ing and the Green- Mary Pollitz house. The plant nursery, 625 18th Ave N., will transition to Walton’s Green House by the start of 2020. Redevelopment possibilities revealed for Kerr-McGee site Alan Smith, Smith Landscaping and Greenhouse owner, said due to Greenfield Environmental EPA, Greenfield Trust officials urge current health issues, he reached Trust and consult with them,” out to Walton’s Greenhouse, a local Barber said. “The next step patience as cleanup efforts continue nursery chain, to take over. will be to go ahead and gen- Walton’s Greenhouse was BY SLIM SMITH heavily to open public spac- erate a redevelopment plan [email protected] founded more than 25 years ago by es, another emphasized res- itself. I’m reluctant to call it Lathen Walton and his son, Marty. idential/industrial use and a plan. It’s not a single plan Tuesday and Wednesday, Since 1991, one greenhouse shop the third focus on a “town because there’s not neces- Greenfield Multistate Trust in Itawamba County has expand- center concept.” Barber Beard sarily a single solution. The and Environmental Protec- ed to a more than 20 greenhouse Bob Barber, partner with plan won’t be static. It will be tion Agency officials invited Perhaps the best way to operation, with garden centers in Orion Planning+Design, the residents to review concepts think of it is to think of order- a spectrum of what you see Fulton, Amory, Tupelo, New Alba- for the redevelopment of the company hired by the Trust ing food at a restaurant, he here today.” ny and soon in Columbus. former Kerr-McGee site in to plan and market the site, said. The concepts are menu The Greenfield Trust is Walton’s is leasing the business north Columbus. was adamant to note what the items 1, 2 and 3, but it’s most using $68 million from a fed- but could buy it in the near future. In three sessions, res- public was viewing was not a likely that the final results of eral court settlement to clean “I would love to sell it to Wal- idents could review three matter of picking one of the redevelopment will be more up creosote at the former tons,” Smith said. “We’ve always conceptual maps on display three concepts on display. like ordering a la cart. Kerr-McGee site and stage been real proud to create a place in the Multistate Trust’s “It will probably be a com- “We will synthesize the the property for private re- that people found pleasurable. community resource center bination of elements from feedback we’re getting development. Kerr-McGee We’ve been very fortunate.” on 14th Avenue North. all three of these concepts,” from the residents, then get and its successor, Tronox, My entire life, my grandfather One concept was devoted Barber said. with our client, which is the See KERR-MCGEE, 6A See BUSINESS, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 Which World’s Fair was Seattle’s Space MEETINGS Friday Dec. 2: Needle Built for — 1902, 1952, or 1962? ■ MUW Jazz Band: The Missis- 2 What does P.S. stand for at the end of Lowndes County sippi University for Women Jazz a letter? Supervisors, 9 Band presents a free concert at 3 What kind of juice do folk remedies rec- a.m., County 7:30 p.m. in Poindexter Hall on ommend for eliminating skunk stench? Courthouse 4 In what educational computer game do campus. For more information, Dec. 3: Ashton Allin players try to avoid dysentery while trav- call 662-241-6399. eling in a covered wagon halfway across Columbus City Second grade, Caledonia the U.S.? Council regular 5 What three letters do 60 percent of all Saturday meeting, 5 High 69 Low 55 Danish family names end in — ton, sen ■ Holiday Market: Get festive p.m., Municipal or ard? at this expanded farmers market Complex Clouds and sun Full forecast on Answers, 6B from 9 a.m.-noon, featuring Courtroom page 3A. holiday gifts, arts and crafts, Dec. 9: homemade goodies and local Columbus produce at the Hitching Lot Farm- Kendre Heller moved to Co- Municipal INSIDE ers Market at the corner of Sec- lumbus from Columbia, South School Board of Business 4B Dear Abby 4B ond Avenue and Second Street Carolina, to be near his family. Trustees regular Classifieds6B Obituaries 5A North, Columbus. For more He likes to watch sports and read meeting, 6 p.m., Comics 4B Opinions 4A information, contact Main Street comics. His favorite team is the Brandon Central 140TH YEAR, NO. 217 Crossword 3B Columbus, 662-328-6305. Los Angeles Rams. Services DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com Trump directed Ukraine quid pro quo, key witness says Ambassador to the European Union: AP source: FBI has asked President and Rudy Giuliani leveraged an for interview with whistleblower Oval Office visit for THE ASSOCIatED PRESS WASHINGTON — The FBI last month requested an interview with political investigations the whistleblower whose complaint fueled the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and Ukraine, a person familiar with the of Democrats situation said Wednesday. An agent from the FBI’s Washington field office reached out to the BY LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE whistleblower’s lawyers last month to seek an interview about the sub- JALONICK anD ERIC TUCKER The Associated Press stance of the complaint, according to this person, who insisted on ano- nymity to discuss the request with The Associated Press. WASHINGTON — Ambassador The person said it was clear from the FBI that the whistleblower was Gordon Sondland declared to im- not regarded as the target of any investigation but rather a potential peachment investigators Wednes- witness. It was not immediately clear what specifically the FBI might be day that President Donald Trump looking into. The requested interview has not taken place. and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani ex- plicitly sought a “quid pro quo” with dent did nothing wrong. But the about it on July 25, which was the Ukraine, leveraging an Oval Office ambassador said his dealings with day of Trump’s phone call with visit for political investigations of Giuliani, as well as administration the country’s new president when Democrats. But he also came to be- officials, left him with the clear un- Trump first asked for “a favor.” lieve the trade involved much more.