A report made on a statewide radio talk show about the Bismarck Bobcat plant and a rumor that it might close had many officials looking for answers on Wednesday.

During Wednesday's Mike McFeely talk show on KFYR and KFGO in Fargo, KFGO radio talk show host Joel Heitkamp said he was told by an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation that the Bismarck Bobcat plant could close and the jobs be moved to the company's plant in Gwinner.

Laura Ness, a spokeswoman for Bobcat, said Wednesday that the company had no announcement to make.

"At this point we don't have anything to discuss today," Ness said, adding, "I can't say we're not always considering our options."

During an interview with the Bismarck Tribune, Heitkamp said he trusted his source and that he would apologize if the information turns out to be false. He said he wanted to put the information out there so officials could confirm or deny it.

"I think my source is a good source," Heitkamp said, adding that the unnamed source lives in Sargent County. "I said I'd be the first one to apologize if this isn't the case. This is serious stuff for them. This is their life."

On Wednesday, Bismarck, Gwinner and labor officials said Heitkamp's remarks were the first they had heard of any possibility of the Bismarck plant closing.

"Only thing I know is I don't think this rumor is correct," said Russ Staiger, the president and CEO of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association. "I guess we all have our sources and let's just say that I have been told that is not correct. I guess it remains to be seen."

Don Canton, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven, said any announcement would have to come from the company.

"You're going to have to ask the company about that," Canton said. "It's their responsibility to make an announcement like that."

Canton said the governor's office has aided Bobcat employees through the series of layoffs that started more than a year ago amid a faulty national economy. The company laid off 195 employees earlier this month.

Kelvin Hullet, president of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, called the rumor "unsubstantiated."

"We have talked with our sources and to our understanding closing the Bismarck plant is not in the plans that is in consideration at this time," Hullet said.

Jeremy Bauer, president of the Bismarck United Steelworkers Local 566, said Wednesday's talk show was the first time he heard the information.

"None of us knew about it," he said.

Calls made to Tom Ricker, president of the United Steelworkers Local 560 in Gwinner, were not returned Wednesday.

Bismarck Mayor John Warford was not available for comment on Wednesday. Gwinner Mayor Dan McKeever said he heard the information on the radio but knew nothing else.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@;bismarcktribune.com.)