WALKER COUNTY COMMISSIONER BEBE HEISKELL SAID FRIDAY THAT SHE IS "DEEPLY SADDENED" TO HEAR THE NEWS THAT BLUE BIRD NORTH GEORGIA IS CLOSING ITS OPERATION IN LAFAYETTE.

"I MUST SAY I WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISED BY THE ANNOUNCEMENT", HEISKELL SAID.  "I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PLANS TO CLOSE THE PLANT UNTIL I RECEIVED THE CALL."  SHE CONTINUED:  "MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS LOSS OF JOBS – IT IS CERTAINLY A BLOW TO ALL OF US."

ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE, THE COMMISSIONER IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PROSPECTS INTERESTED IN LOCATING NEW JOBS IN WALKER COUNTY.  "WE ARE SEEING A HEIGHTENED AMOUNT OF INTEREST FROM BUSINESS PARTIES CONSIDERING LOCATING HERE…" HEISKELL SAID.  "I WANT THE PEOPLE OF WALKER COUNTY TO KNOW THAT I AM COMMITTED TO LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED WHEN IT COMES TO ATTRACTING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR COUNTY.  HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FILL THE GAP LEFT BY THE CLOSING OF BLUE BIRD IN A TIMELY MANNER," SHE SAID.

WQCH