Tyson address workers
Community means neighbors, family and friends, church and school. It’s where we work, the stores where we shop, the restaurants where we eat and where we go to enjoy ourselves. It’s the everyday moments, and probably the things I’ve taken for granted, that make me proud to be a member of the Carthage community.
COVID-19 has disrupted our community and forced changes on us all, but these changes are to help keep us safe. As the complex manager of the Carthage facility, safety is a top priority. What we can do to improve safety is an open-ended question that is continually discussed amongst the leadership team and team members. The goal of these conversations is to implement improvements that keep all 1,500 plus members of our Tyson community safe.
Daily, I am reminded of how critically important it is to practice frequent hand washing, social distancing and CDC guidance to protect our team members from coronavirus, not only on the job, but also at home.
We’re working hard to protect our team members in Mississippi during this ever-changing situation, while also ensuring we continue fulfilling our critical role of helping to feed people across the country and in keeping thousands employed. We check worker temperatures and require they wear protective face coverings. We’ve implemented social distancing measures, such as installing workstation dividers in our production areas and barriers in our breakrooms. In addition, we deep clean and sanitize our facilities daily. In March, we relaxed our attendance policy to encourage people to stay home when they’re sick and we continue to remind them to follow CDC guidelines at home as well as at work.
Our team members have mandatory health care coverage and we’ve made changes by waiving a five consecutive day waiting period for Short Term Disability benefits so employees can receive pay while they’re sick with the flu or COVID-19. In addition, we’re waiving the co-pay, co-insurance and deductible for doctor visits for COVID-19 testing as well as eliminating pre-approval or preauthorization steps. We’ve waived co-pays for the use of telemedicine and are relaxing refill limits for 30-day prescriptions of maintenance medication.
A facility certainly starts with a structure and equipment, but it takes a team of individuals coming together to get product in a box and out to the customer. Our focus is to do all we can to take care of this team and the communities in which we live. I want everyone to know we are committed to maintaining a safe working environment at the Carthage Tyson Foods plant.
I’m extremely proud of this team for their hard work and determination. I’m also grateful for the phone calls and support we’ve received from members of the local community. Together we’ll get through this.
Sincerely,
Lester Nemec, Tyson Foods Complex Manager
Carthage, Mississippi
To Whom It May Concern:
This is in response to information what my nephews said about me. They said that I abandoned my mother and left her at the temporary Winston County Medical Center on December 14, 2015. This rumor was started by my nephews in February 2020 and they spread it throughout the community. On December 14, 2015, my mother became ill soon after her home health nurse gave her a bath. I called an ambulance while the nurse was there. I followed the ambulance to the temporary hospital – Winston County Medical Center, which was December 14, 2015. My nephews said my mother stayed all night at the temporary hospital because someone gave them that misinformation and that I left her there. My mother was not at the temporary hospital all night because she was transferred to Anderson Regional Medical Center, Meridian, MS and I went there, also. My mother was admitted at 8:19 p.m. on December 14, 2015 by Dr. Heather Hill, according to the hospital records.
My mother passed on December 21, 2015 at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Mom was a joy to know. If you never knew her, you missed knowing a great person. She loved her clothes and shoes. She loved people. It is disheartening to know that misinformation is going through the community that I abandoned my mother and I am attempting to stop it. My mother was Nannie Mary Gladney.
Mary Coleman
Ramblin
Praise the Lord everyone. I truly hope this will find everyone doing okay. I know we are all under a lot of pressure trying to stay safe and avoid this virus that is claiming so many precious lives. I never thought that this kind of thing could happen to us here in America. I never considered the possibility that there would be a virus that would come into our country and take over because there doesn’t seem to be a cure. But, that’s what the doctors are saying.
I’ve always been a person who believes everything happens for a reason. I asked myself the question: what could be the reason for so many people suffering and so many dying? When our son died from a brain tumor, I cried for months and begged God to show me why he took our son and left a young wife with the responsibility of raising three young children? God never showed me why but he did give me a peace that passes all understanding. There’s nothing that can take the place of the peace of God.
I know I’m not smart enough to advise our president or governor. God hasn’t shown me anything, but in my heart I have a strong feeling that God is allowing this virus to take a toll on the world because we as a whole have turned our backs on God. I don’t think he sent the virus to destroy his people but since it’s here to let it teach us that he is still God.
Look around you at all the churches at the falling away. People that I never thought I’d see walk away and turn their backs on God. He’s done so much for his people. I can’t imagine how it must hurt him. In my babysitting business, I’ve helped people every way that I could just to have them leave my daycare and leave owing me money. It really hurt me but it didn’t stop me from helping the next person.
I believe with all of my heart that God has not turned his back on us. We are his children and he loves us. We’ve got to trust him to keep us well and we’ve got to do our part. Talk to God every day. If you’ve left your church, go back. If you don’t have a church, find one. Most of the churches are closed right now, but soon they will be going again. Get your Bibles and read Psalm 91. A lady comes on TV every once in a while and says to read it. It really will bring you comfort.
Joe and I are staying in. Our children are getting us groceries and helping to keep us safe. We’ve all got to do what we know is right. That includes making God number one in our lives. If you once knew God, you know how important it is. If you’ve never known God, you’re in for a treat. Call me at 662-803-4690 or write me at 40 West Alice Street, Noxapater, MS 39346 to share your thoughts. I love you all. I’m praying for people everywhere to be safe and this virus to go away and never return. God bless you all.
Arlene Barrett
