Tyson plant in Jefferson shut indefinitely

Tyson Foods Inc.'s processed meat plant in Jefferson, which employs 500 people, will remain closed indefinitely because of flooding problems in the area, a company spokesman said Wednesday.

Officials voluntarily closed the plant last Wednesday at the request of the City of Jefferson in order to help reduce the flow of wastewater going into the city's overtaxed wastewater treatment plant.

Libby Lawson, a Tyson spokesman, said the plant itself has experienced some flooding, which she said the company was addressing.

"It remains unclear when the plant will resume operations," Lawson said in a statement.