Local manufacturing era ends

A caller to 101.7/WGOG said yesterday was the final day for production at the Covidien plant near Seneca. True to its word three years ago, the company has halted the production of medical products at a highway 28 location—which for decades was a mainstay of Oconee’s manufacturing community. Richard Blackwell, director of Oconee Economic Alliance, says whether under the name of Covidien, Tyco or Kendall, various textile manufacturing took place there since around 1960. A sign in front of the building advertises the sale of the location.