McMINNVILLE, Ore. — An Oregon air cargo business, Evergreen International Airlines, notified the state of Oregon on Friday that it plans to lay off 131 employees and cease operations by month’s end. In direct contradiction, Evergreen International Aviation founder and owner Del Smith issued a statement Friday saying “rumors that a decision has been made to cease operations at this time are false.”
The contradiction couldn’t immediately be reconciled. Evergreen officials did not return Associated Press calls Friday.
In a memo dated Thursday and filed Friday with the state, Evergreen Human Resources Manager Monique Gregory lamented the development, saying, “The loss of our company is very unfortunate,” the McMinnville News-Register reported.
Her memo was copied to Smith and other Evergreen executives.
The company has been a major employer in McMinnville, a town of 33,000 about 30 miles southwest of Portland.
