Tuesday, November 06, 2007

KODE story fails to note background of Polymer-Wood Technologies CEO

KODE's story on the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts on the Lamar City Council's decision to table its go-ahead on the first phase of a project that is designed to bring industry into town and put the city's workforce, stung by the shutdown of O'Sullivan Industries, back on the job.
The story, both on the newscasts on the station's website, begins with a loaded line- "A local council vote could kill the deal bringing hundreds of jobs to town." The story mentioned the council wanted to receive more reassurance from Polymer-Wood Technologies, the company that has said it will bring 475 jobs to Lamar, that it will come through with its part of the deal.
City Administrator Lynn Calton was quoted as saying this could kill the deal.
What the story does not mention is the reason why Lamar city officials feel they need the guarantee that Polymer-Wood is on the level. As noted in the Nov. 4 Turner Report, company CEO Evan R. Daniels has had a checkered history with his previous firm, Trio Industries, including incentive-laden deals to bring his company, and of course, jobs, to Kalamazoo, Mich., Mesquite, Texas, and Greenville, Miss. Though court records do not make it clear who is at fault, and Daniels and his former partner Robert Gyemant are blaming each other, who can blame the City Council for wanting to get some guarantees before it commits $1.5 million of taxpayer money?

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