Construction continues on the new Mack Colt, Inc., office building at the corner of Jefferson and Monroe. The two-story building will replace the firm’s offices at 110½ South St.
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KINCAID — The nine apartment units in a Farmers Home Administration project for the elderly were completed nearly 90 days ahead of schedule and have been turned over to Richard Prather of Prather Realty to be rented to qualified applicants. The project cost $215,000. Renters must be 62 or older. Rent will be 25% of the adjusted gross income of the applicant.
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Iolans will soon lose their telephone business office in order for Southwestern Bell to consolidate its customer records and better use its computers in a central location. Customers will be given a toll-free number to use to place orders for service or discuss their bills, said Don Vaughn, manager of the Iola business office. Vaughn said Bell employees will continue to be stationed in Iola to handle installation and maintenance duties. The office at 222 S. Sycamore will close by Jan. 29. Presently, Bell has nine persons employed in Iola. After the closing there will be eight.
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Riley Pope, new sales manager for IMP Boats, said the firm’s prospects are good. “I’d say any boat manufacturer in the country which survived 1979 and is still in business is pretty lucky.” He believes the key to selling boats will be to tap young adults born after World War II.
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MORAN — An expansion of the Klein Tool Co. plant that could bring employment to between 400 and 500 people within five years is back on track as a result of the purchase of the natural gas distribution system by Gas Service. John Smith, manager of Klein, said a consulting engineer would be in Moran within two weeks to begin an extensive review of the current operations and plan for the expansion.
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Klein Tool Co. of Moran played host Friday afternoon to visitors from over the county as part of Iola’s Farm-City Days celebration. Klein manufactures hand tools for an international market. Parts are forged with 18 huge drop hammers as well as a new $1,200,000 press. Klein now hires 148.
