Viskase plant in Osceola closing after 50+ years

OSCEOLA — A company with longtime ties to Mississippi County will be closing next month, with an estimated 200-plus employees losing their jobs.

Officials with Viskase made the announcement late Tuesday about the facility on Highway 198.

In the announcement, officials cited an effort for improved manufacturing efficiency and costs as reasons for the closure.

“Viskase is committed to investing in the future, positioning our business to be successful for many years to come with high-quality casing solutions, efficient operations and opportunities for great people. In our continued effort to drive for improved manufacturing efficiency and to position ourselves with a cost structure that supports continued investment, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations at our Osceola, AR facility effective April 30, 2025,” the company said. “Our US extrusion operations will be focused on our Loudon, TN plant.”

The company, which has been in Osceola since the late 1960s, manufactures food packaging, including cellulose casings for meats at facilities around the country.

Company officials also thanked their employees for their service.

“While this change is an important and necessary step in securing a good future for our company, it is an event of great sadness for our colleagues in Osceola, a plant that has operated for over 48 years and where much has been achieved over that time,” the company said.

In the statement, the company also thanked manager Dwayne Lucius and every Osceola team member for their hard work and dedication as the company enters another chapter in its history.

“At the same time, we are investing significant capital in our Loudon, TN facility to add both capacity and manufacturing capability – this will allow us to improve our US cost structure and ability to serve customers moving forward,” the company said.

“Where possible, we will look to create opportunities for colleagues from Osceola in Loudon.”

An attempt to reach company officials at the Osceola facility Wednesday was not successful.

Mississippi County economic development official Clif Chitwood said while his office and the offices of Mississippi County Judge John Nelson and Osceola Mayor Joe Harris Jr. have not been formally notified of the clo-

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“Viskase is committed to investing in the future, positioning our business to be successful for many years to come with high-quality casing solutions, efficient operations and opportunities for great people. In our continued effort to drive for improved manufacturing efficiency and to position ourselves with a cost structure that supports continued investment, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations at our Osceola, AR facility effective April 30, 2025,” the company said. “Our US extrusion operations will be focused on our Loudon, TN plant.”

The company, which has been in Osceola since the late 1960s, manufactures food packaging, including cellulose casings for meats at facilities around the country.

Company officials also thanked their employees for their service.

“While this change is an important and necessary step in securing a good future for our company, it is an event of great sadness for our colleagues in Osceola, a plant that has operated for over 48 years and where much has been achieved over that time,” the company said.

In the statement, the company also thanked manager Dwayne Lucius and every Osceola team member for their hard work and dedication as the company enters another chapter in its history.

“At the same time, we are investing significant capital in our Loudon, TN facility to add both capacity and manufacturing capability – this will allow us to improve our US cost structure and ability to serve customers moving forward,” the company said.

“Where possible, we will look to create opportunities for colleagues from Osceola in Loudon.”

An attempt to reach company officials at the Osceola facility Wednesday was not successful. Mississippi County economic development official Clif Chitwood said while his office and the offices of Mississippi County Judge John Nelson and Osceola Mayor Joe Harris Jr. have not been formally notified of the closure, he added he felt optimistic about being able to fill the jobs that were lost.

The announcement this week was the second one involving job losses in about a year in the Mississippi County town.

In February 2024, officials with Denso announced they would be shutting down their Osceola operations by October 2025 with around 650 jobs lost.

Chitwood said Wednesday that officials have prospects for both the Denso and Viskase buildings and will make every effort to locate an industry in those buildings.

He said there has been a lot of movement in the economy in recent months, especially with the debate over tariffs and trade. Officials are also working on a series of projects to help with everything from housing to infrastructure, for people to live and work in the county.

As for the future, Chitwood said he would love to see U.S. 61 and Highway 198 – both roads leading to and from major industry – expanded to four lanes to help with traffic in the area, noting, “It is definitely dangerous.”

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Multiple charges filed in rape of juvenile

SEARCY — A Floral 30year-old officially is facing three rape charges involving a juvenile.

A warrant was issued for Brandon Mycal Altom earlier this month at the request of the 17th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office on the class Y felony charges. He is being held in the White County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond as well as a $50,000 bond for public display of hardcore sexual conduct. Altom is set for a pre-trial hearing in White County Circuit Court May 6.

Altom was arrested in December by White County detectives after deputies had responded to Unity Health-White County Medical Center on Dec. 14 'in reference to a rape involving a juvenile victim,' Detective Sidney Marini wrote in the affidavit.

The teenager 'was sent' to the Child Safety Center of White County for 'a sexual assault exam and forensic interview,' Marini wrote. She reportedly said that she had been assaulted by a relative who 'entered her room' Dec. 13.

Sexual acts by Altom reportedly included 'penetration by an unknown object.'

'During the medical exam, injuries were found consistent with sexual trauma,' Marini wrote.

Altom reportedly was interviewed Dec. 18 at the White County Sheriff's Office and admitted to the sexual acts, including using a sex toy on the juvenile.

The class D felony charge of public display of hardcore sexual conduct stems from an April 5 incident outside the then-Searcy Public Library at 113 E. Pleasure Ave. Searcy officers responded to the library around 1:50 p.m. 'in reference to indecent exposure,' Detective Haley Di-Napoli wrote in the affidavit.

It had been reported that two individuals were having sex 'in the front cab of a red Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.'

Altom was interviewed as one of the individuals. Video footage showed Altom arriving at the library and getting into the pickup with the other individual. He could be seen 'moving his lower body back and forth repeatedly in which can be identified as a thrusting motion,' DiNapoli wrote.

The other individual reportedly admitted April 11 in a phone call with DiNapoli 'to engaging in sexual intercourse' with Altom. Altom also reportedly admitted to it in a phone call with DiNapoli the next day.

'At the time of the sexual intercourse, there were kids around the area and playground equipment for children close by,' DiNapoli wrote.

A warrant also was issued for Roger Cleveland Cagle, 52, of Bald Knob on charges of class Y felony trafficking of persons (minor) and class B felony sexual assault in the second degree. Cagle was not in custody in White County on Wednesday and no court date had been set.

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