Southwest Missouri News--Southwest City

by Carol Harris, Branson area, and Mary Engler-Guccione, Joplin area

A local poultry plant was shut down after sewage leaked into a local lake.

The Simmons Foods Inc. poultry plant shut down at the end of last month after a malfunction in the discharge unit was discovered.

Fish were killed and waterways were polluted near Southwest City.

Doug Siemens, community relations manager for Simmons Food, said the plant would continue to operate at limited capacity until the company is sure the problem has been fixed.

Treated wastewater will be trucked to other municipalities that can complete the treatment process.

Missouri's Department of Natural Resources is investigating the leak. It will cite any violations that may have occurred as a result of the malfunctions.

There is no word on how much the spill will cost the plant.