DEXTER FIRM EXPANDING

NEW MADRID -- Heartland Industries Inc. of Dexter is expanding to New Madrid.

The company, which has developed technology to recycle waste tires in an "environmentally-sound" manner, will recycle from three to five million tires annually at the new facility, which will be located on a site adjacent to the slack water harbor of the New Madrid County Port Authority.

Bill Pinnell, port authority director, said construction of a 100,000 square foot plant, and office facility on a 12.5 acre site along the port harbor is expected to start within 30 days.

Jim Jarrell, founder of Heartland Industries, said the new facility would employ between 35 and 55 people, and will operate in conjunction with the firm's facility at rural Campbell, which will evolve into the company's research and development site.