Covidien to close

First it was Kendall. Later it became Tyco. And then Covidien. But now the maker of medical care products, with its large plant near Seneca, is headed to Central America. And the decision means the loss of nearly 600 jobs at the highway 28 plant in Bountyland. Today’s the day that the executive director of the S.C. Department of Commerce pays a visit to Oconee County. Bobby Hitt’s talk at a luncheon is expected to center on the economic development relations between Oconee and his department, but attendees likely will expect Hitt to comment on the loss of Covidien, a major county employer.