ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! TUESDAY | MAY 15, 2018 Yokohama reports employing 650 in West Point Plant expansion could begin Perusse said Yokohama is “continually” hiring new employees, with about 15 hires Stacey Perusse, in coming years every Monday. senior human re- “About a year ago, we were right around sources manager for BY ALEX HOLLOWAY 500 (employees),” she said. “We actually Yokohama Tire Cor-
[email protected] had a job fair here in Starkville last August poration’s West Point plant, speaks to the and we had over 700 people come.” Yokohama Tire Corporation’s West Point Starkville Rotary Club Perusse said Yokohama offers competi- plant has come a long way in three years. at the Mill at MSU The tire plant opened in fall 2015, and tive pay for its employees, with starting wag- on Monday. Perusse said the company since then its workforce has grown to more es at $14.50 per hour and pay raises every is continuing to hire than 650 employees, Senior Human Resourc- six months for five years. She said the company is still hiring for employees, and cur- es Manager Stacey Perusse told Starkville rently employs more Rotarians Monday during their meeting at a range of positions, including production than 650 people. the Mill at MSU conference center. See YOKOHAMA, 6A Alex Holloway/Dispatch Staff Almost 91 NEXT STEP UP percent of Starkville third graders pass reading exam on first try Lowndes sees 95 percent pass rate; CMSD sees all third- graders pass at Fairview campus BY MARY POLLITZ
[email protected] Almost 91 per- cent of third- grade students at Starkville-Ok- tibbeha Consoli- dated School Dis- trict passed the Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff state-mandated read- Maulding Sudduth Elementary kindergarten graduate Sianna Scott, 6, dances to the song, “Shake it Off,” in her cap and gown with ing assessment this classmates Monday.