Wal-Mart distribution center near Bartlesville opens for business

Wal-Mart says it's the most advanced distribution center they've ever built. Tuesday, they held an open house for the hundreds of employees that will soon work there, just south of Bartlesville.

News on 6 business reporter Steve Berg explains that Wal-Mart says this plant is one of only three of its kind in the Wal-Mart empire. They say it has some of the most high-tech, mechanized processes they've ever used, but they didn't allow the media today to see any of it. We did see the hundreds of workers Tuesday for the ribbon-cutting. The new jobs are certainly good news.

They've hired about 600 and might hire more in the future. Traffic is a concern, as they will have hundreds of those coming and going as well. But all in all, people seem excited about the progress. Bartlesville resident Barbara Shaw: "I think that we need to look for other resources to bring into the community and I think that Wal-Mart, as far as I'm concerned, is a good neighbor."

Besides the jobs, there is talk of new housing and commercial development in the area. Officials believe much of it is the ripple effect from the new distribution center in Washington County.

The center will be fully operational in mid-May.