VIDALIA &045; Several shoppers at the Natchez Wal-Mart said they would likely use a Wal-Mart in Vidalia, something that might become a reality soon.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the town has talked to Wal-Mart about the possibility of opening a 24-hour Supercenter, like the one in Natchez, in Vidalia.

Wal-Mart officials did not return phone calls Thursday.

Local shoppers said they would like to see a Wal-Mart in Vidalia.

&uot;A store in Vidalia would be closer to me in Jonesville,&uot; Jonesville resident Rosie McCarthy said.

McCarthy said she usually comes to Natchez so that she can also shop at other stores in the city. She said she rarely goes to the Wal-Mart in Ferriday even though it is much closer to her home.

Wanda Smith lives in Natchez but said she goes to Vidalia often.

&uot;Our business is in Vidalia, and we would probably use a Wal-Mart there some,&uot; Smith said. &uot;I can certainly see the office crew stopping by there.&uot;

Copeland stressed that the plans are still in the early stages and the store is by no means a certainty.

&uot;We’ve been talking to them for several months about it, but we’re just in discussions about the possibility of their coming to Vidalia,&uot; Copeland said.

A new Wal-Mart store would be a boon for Vidalia, Copeland said.

&uot;If they do come here, that’s job creation in the Miss-Lou area,&uot; Copeland said. &uot;You’re looking at $500,000 in sales tax revenue and a good utility customer. But more importantly, it’s job creation, maybe 300-350 jobs.&uot;

Copeland said that surveying and soil-boring tests are being conducted on a cornfield along U.S. 84 to the west of downtown Vidalia, though it has yet been determined if that would be the site of the store.

Concordia Parish resident James Wright said he worried that a new Wal-Mart in Vidalia would likely mean the closing of Ferriday’s Wal-Mart.

&uot;I come here pretty often,&uot; Wright said. &uot;I wouldn’t like to have to go to Vidalia. I’d probably just end up going to Winnsboro more often than I already do.&uot;

Copeland said that he personally shops at both the Natchez and Ferriday Wal-Marts often.

Ferriday Mayor Gene Allen said he had no information that Ferriday’s Wal-Mart would be closed but said it wouldn’t affect his city.

&uot;It doesn’t matter to us,&uot; Allen said. &uot;Wal-Mart is going to do what they’re going to do, but it doesn’t matter.&uot;

Copeland said other companies may come to Vidalia if a Wal-Mart is built there.

&uot;We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest from other companies in coming to Vidalia, with the talk of Wal-Mart coming,&uot; Copeland said.