Editorial—-50 year at West Union

Oconee County and the employees who work there can be grateful to the large manufacturing complex in West Union that marks 50 year of business this month.

The plant known for its electric meters originated in 1962 under the shield of Illinois’s Sangamo Electric Company and today is operated by Itron of Washington State.

In cost-cutting moves that are the norm for this new economy of ours, a stable Itron plant, with its two shifts and 650 workers, and its hopes for a bright future is a blessing to a county that has lost manufacturing jobs and struggles to attract new ones.

So, if you see an Itron worker or plant official, say thank you for all of us!

That’s our view. What’s yours?