Omega Apparel to close putting over 100 people out of work

September 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Approximately 130 workers at a military garment industry in Smithville lost their jobs today (Wednesday).

Two of the employees independently confirmed that the local Omega Apparel factory is shutting it’s doors, with the cutting department closing immediately and the sewing department employees offered the opportunity to stay a few days longer.

“You have a lot of upset people,” one long-time employee told WJLE. “People were just hurt.”

The closing comes just over one year after Omega was awarded a maximum $8.2 million Department of Defense contract for trousers. The contract included four one-year option periods and the dollar amount was for the life of the contract, including options.

However, one the employees who spoke to WJLE, and asked not to be identified, said the local plant was working on more than military clothing.

“We had the contract for the Navy dress blues, the women’s white slacks and the last cut of the Armed Services uniform skirt,” he said. However, the plant was also under subcontract with an east Tennessee company to produce parkas, some for the military and some commercially.

The contracts left employees wondering why the plant was shutting down. “We did not see this coming,” he said.

After one employee asked why, a company spokesman reportedly said the plant was closing due to a large previous debt too big to overcome.

“People were put in a bad situation today,” the employee said, adding no severance package was offered.

Repeated phone call requests to talk with company officials went unanswered and WJLE was not able to confirm the allegation of a large debt. Employees were reportedly told of the shut down just before noon today (Wednesday).

Omega Apparel began operation here in 1994 and later changed ownership

September 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Road Supervisor Danny Hale has announced that Jacobs Pillar Road, between Patterson Road and Lonnie Cantrell Road, will be closed for much of the day Friday, September 6 for repairs. Motorists traveling that section of the road will need to take an alternate route that day.

September 4, 2019
By:

DCHS Golfer Anna Chew has been selected as District Girls Player of the Year.

Chew finished 2nd in the Cookeville High School Early Bird Tournament with a 73 and won the Cumberland County Girls Open, also with a 73. Anna consistently scores in the 30’s in her 9-hole matches.

The Tigers are in the Large School classification, District 6, along with Cookeville, Cumberland County, Hixson, Livingston Academy, Red Bank, Rhea County, Soddy-Daisy, Stone Memorial, Warren County, and White County.

Last year Anna shared the title of Player of the Year with a golfer from Cumberland County and one from White County. This year she holds the title all to herself.

Anna is preparing hopefully for a return trip to the state tournament October 15 and 16. First, she will play in the District Tournament September 30, at the Golden Eagle Golf Course, one of Anna’s favorites. If she qualifies, next would be the Region Tournament, also at the Golden Eagle on October 7. Then it would be onto State at Willow Brook in Manchester.

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