Spearville ? Merchants and residents of this town of 850 people are wondering what the future holds, after Yellow Book USA announced last week that it would close its plant here.

The decision eliminates 60 jobs and ends the town’s association with a company that started in a living room here 30 years ago as Feist Publications before selling out to Yellow Book in 2004. The phone book publisher, which locals still refer to as Feist, is one of the town’s largest employers.

The plant won’t close until July 31, but last week’s announcement that Uniondale, N.Y.-based Yellow Book will move the Spearville office’s operations to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, surprised many in town.

In Spearville, where the other major employers are the Spearville school district, USD 381, and CrustBuster Inc., a farm implement manufacturer, losing 60 jobs is a big blow.

“It’s not going to be good for the town, there’s not any doubt about that,” said Mayor Ken Domer. “We’ll have to suffer through it.”

Steve Knoeber, who runs the Spearville Mercantile Co., a supermarket, said the impact of the closing will be felt throughout Ford County and beyond. More than half of Feist’s workers come from Dodge City, Kinsley, Jetmore and other nearby communities.

“Those 60 jobs bought cars, bought clothing, used lawyers, used doctors,” said Knoeber. “It’s not only a loss to Spearville, but a loss to Ford County.”

Tom and Roberta Feist launched Feist Publications in 1977, initially working out of their home. The firm steadily expanded, distributing 20 phone directories in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas before the Yellow Book sale.

Yellow Book said it was closing the Spearville office to streamline company operations. “It was a business decision, a strategic business decision,” said John Hartz, a Yellow Book spokesman.

He emphasized that all Feist employees are encouraged to apply at other Yellow Book plants. And, he said, workers will get a generous severance package based on their years of service and pay level.