We could be wrong, but genius-level thinking isn’t required to make a good guess as to what the “advanced manufacturing project” that might create thousands of jobs in the West Memphis area is all about. The Arkansas Legislature this week authorized transfer of up to $300 million in state surplus funds into an economic development incentive fund for construction of a “non-data center.” It’s not going to be an automobile plant or a steel mill. The U.S. has plenty of both. What the U.S. needs to manufacture right now are two things. The first is a facility to make mountains of microchips. While there’s every reason to build one of those in California, there’s absolutely no reason to build one in Arkansas. The other big need, say it with us, is for LITHIUM BATTERIES. Every data center needs lots of lithium batteries in which to store electricity in case of power outages. The electric vehicle industry has pretty much settled into Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Georgia. Guess where millions of tons of lithium will be produced in the near future. If we’re right, and thousands of people are building lithium batteries in West Memphis in a few years, we are going to be pissed. We can’t stand the thought that workers in Columbia, Lafayette and Union counties might be producing the lithium, only to see it shipped off for further processing, which is where the real money exists in natural resources. Yes, having up to $10 billion invested in our region, creating hundreds of good jobs, will be great. But it’s less great if the facilities where South Arkansas lithium is turned into useful products wind up in another state, or a different part of our own state. We want our fair share of lithium product manufacturing, too.
Remodeling work continues at Murphy’s Jewelers on the south side of the Magnolia Square. It is not closing. Murphy’s has been remodeled many times through the years and each time, it has been impressive. We’re certain the renewed Murphy’s will be beautiful.
The theme of the 2026 Columbia County Fair and Livestock Show will be “Boots, Beads & Blue Ribbons.” The fair is September 21-26…