ELKHART — Navistar Corporation has officially purchased Monaco RV's assets, including two plants in Oregon and two local factories. But the buzz around our area now centers on Navistar’s plans to resume production at some those facilities.

“The people are chomping at the bit to get back to work,” said Stan Cook, owner of Cook’s Pizza in Wakarusa.

News of the Navistar deal spread fast in Wakarusa. The town, hit hard by RV plant shutdowns, is anxious to get back to work.

“I think everything is going to settle down here and they'll get production going again,” Cook said. “And the most logical place would be Wakarusa plants because, especially the new paint shop they've invested so much money in, it only makes sense that this will be the place.”

“I have employees of Monaco, former employees, calling me daily almost, asking, ‘Do you know anything? Is there going to be jobs again?’” said Tom Roeder, Wakarusa Town Manager. “Now I think we can say, ‘I think so.’”

For many in this community of 1,700, whether a resident or business, it provides a ray of hope for the future — another possible sign that things are turning around.

“We’re starting to see the light flickering at the end of the tunnel,” said Kenny Twa of Pro Hardware. “Now hopefully Navistar will be coming back. We're hearing stories that they are, nothing definite, but it all points to good signs and we're all ready for some good news.”

Reports have surfaced that Navistar may be laying the groundwork to resume production locally.

“The ink has just dried. When we have something to announce, we'll announce it,” said Roy Wiley, Navistar spokesperson. “We don't deal in rumors or speculation.”

But residents remain optimistic.

“People seem to be a bit more positive in their thinking, so good things are in the works,” Cook added.

Navistar will only say that decisions about where RV production will be resumed at vacant Monaco plants will be made in the coming months.