Bus builder to close FS plant
FORT SMITH - A company that manufactures funeral hearses, limousines and buses says it plans to close its plant in Fort Smith next spring.
The plant closure by Federal Coach will eliminate 140 jobs. Bill Flint, a spokesman for Federal Coach’s parent company, said the plant’s workers will be laid off between March 12 and June 30.
Eric Yeager, a company vice president, told Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker in a letter that Federal Coach has experienced a significant downturn in business.
The letter said the company is combining some of its product lines made in Fort Smith to plants elsewhere.
Flint said the Federal Coach bus line has been sold to Starcraft in Goshen, Ind. The company’s hearse line will continue to be marketed but now will be made at a plant in Amelia, Ohio.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMan sues bar over wreck injuries
TEXARKANA - A man disfigured in an alcohol-related accident has sued the bar and some of its employees, saying they are liable for his injuries.
Daniel Allen filed the civil lawsuit in Miller County against Shooters Sports Bar; its manager, Collins Ferguson; the alcohol permit holder, John Coker; and an unnamed bartender who allegedly served alcohol to Allen, who was 19 at the time.
Allen was injured and 20-year-old Cassidy Cutchall of Fouke died in the vehicle accident on Nov. 21, 2008.
Allen’s lawyer, Alan LeVar of Arkadelphia, says the bar should be held accountable because state law states that bars are liable when they sell alcohol to minors.
Shooters owner Perry Steitler, speaking for the defendants, says his staff carefully screens customers but some who should not be in the bar do slip in.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Road rage cited
in deadly crash
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Kansas Highway Patrol has blamed road rage for a deadly crash in Wyandotte County.
The patrol says Tamiko M. Suttington, 29, and another driver had been swerving at each other early Saturday on Interstate 635.
Suttington was killed when she lost control of the sport utility vehicle she was driving and crashed into a wall. The patrol says two of her passengers were taken to a hospital with possible injuries.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSKC university
fires president
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
- The president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City University ofMedicine and Biosciences has been fired.
Karen Pletz had led the school since 1995.
The school said in a news release that it could offer no explanation for why it was terminating her employment.
The chairman of the school’s board of trustees, Dr. Danny Weaver, will fill in as acting president. The release said he is taking a leave from his medical practice in Florida.
The Kansas City Star reported that Pletz had been applauded for being behind the school’s dramatic transformation.
Under her tenure, the university went from having no endowment to one worth $70 million.
The paper also reported that there has been marked improvement in the number of students passing the medical boards.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOklahoma school to open four days
MOUNDS, Okla. - The Liberty school district is joining four others in Oklahoma in changing to a fourday week.
The Liberty School Board cited declining state revenues as the primary reason for the switch. The new schedule for Liberty students will start Jan. 5.
The change is expected to save the district money on transportation, utilities and food. Also, bus drivers and cafeteria workers are paid for one less day per week.
Superintendent Donna Campo said the district expects to save about $45,000 this school year because of the switch.
The Liberty district has about 600 students from pre-kindergarten through high school. It is located south of Bixby and east of Mounds.
The Prue, Barnsdall, Gore and Central High districts all previously have decided to move to a fourday week.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoma sees jobless rate drop
TULSA - Oklahoma’s unemployment rate has fallen for the first time in almost two years but an economist is urging caution in interpreting the drop.
The state’s jobless rate for November was an even 7 percent, down threetenths of a percent from October. The last time the rate dropped in Oklahoma was February 2008, when the state had a 3.2 percent unemployment rate.
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma gained about 5,500 workers in November and had about 4,800 less people on unemployment rolls than in October.
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s survey of employers said the state actually lost 6,000 jobs in November when compared with October.
Lynn Gray, the chief economist for the OESC, said the drop in the unemployment rate is good news but that it’s only for one month.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/21/2009