| WORLAND, Wyo. (AP) - The Washakie Beetgrowers Association has entered
the first phase of an agreement to buy Imperial Sugar Co.'s Worland
sugarbeet processing plant. "We had a very positive proposal to
present to the growers," said Dick McKamey, association president.
The association has been negotiating a purchase deal with Imperial
since the company announced it would no longer operate the factory.
To keep the factory open this year, the group leased the factory and
hired Imperial Sugar to run it.
McKamey said he and accountant Steve Stine reached an agreement
recently with Imperial's new CEO and president, Robert McLaughlin, in
Sugar Land, Texas, where Imperial is based.
The board now must obtain a commitment from farmers to grow sugarbeets
on a certain number of acres.
"We've got a lot of work to do and a short time to do it,"
McKamey said. "It's something that needs the support of the growers,
the employees and the community." |