Out of all of Walmart's store closings, this one may be the most significant indicator of how the company has changed from a community-involved retailer to just another "money is all that matters" type of business. I say this because, as a former associate, store manager and attendee of the "Walton Institute" – a program initiated by Sam Walton at the University of Arkansas, focused on management skill development – the Corning store was always held in high regard in Walton Institute teaching sessions as a shining example of the company's commitment to the communities it served.
Many years ago, the July 4th Homecoming was Corning's only big annual celebration. There was no Harvest Festival, that would come a few years later. The big midnight giveaway was a Cadillac, not a truck. It was a HUGE deal. And every business was STRONGLY requested to close their doors on this day to support the celebration, except for those few businesses needed by out-of-town travelers arriving and departing (gas stations, convenience stores).
Walmart, on the other hand, did not close any of their stores on July 4... until they agreed to close this one, in support of the town's big event. Had they kept their store open (located right across the street from the celebration at Wynn Park), business would have been gangbusters on the 4th. But they did the right thing and showed their support of the community by closing their doors on what would have been their busiest day of the year.
Now, the Walton Institute (if it even exists anymore) must revise their teachings. Perhaps they can teach about how Walmart once supported but now turns its back on those same small communities that stood by them and helped to build them into the multinational behemoth they are today. It was towns like Corning that supported Walmart back in the day when they weren't even the largest retail company in Arkansas, let alone the world.