Operations cease at La Grande sawmill
Written by Bill Rautenstrauch, The Observer June 29, 2009 03:25 pm

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/Operations-cease-at...

Shovel operator Steve Campbell sets the last log on the bull chain Wednesday at the Boise Cascade sawmill in La Grande. The bull chain carries the log to the debarker, head rig and then through the mill. Now that the final log has been cut at Boise Cascade’s La Grande sawmill, the timber products giant says it has no plans to sell or dismantle the facility.

Boise announced last month it was planning to close the mill, which has been an economic mainstay in Union County for decades. An estimated 120 employees are affected.

The last log was put to the saw Wednesday afternoon. John Sahlberg, a media relations specialist in Boise’s corporate office in Boise, said the plant will be mothballed.

“We’ll have people doing maintenance and fire protection. I can tell you there are no plans to sell it or tear it down,” Sahlberg said.
He added there are numerous details to look after before the mill is completely shut.

“We’re making preparations for shutdown. We’ll be running product through the planer and some people will be working through mid-July,” he said.

Sahlberg said closing the mill was something the company hated to do.

“It’s a sad, sad day for us. It’s a day we wish we weren’t looking at,” he said.

On April 30, Boise announced its plans to shut the mill and also one in Kettle Falls, Wash.

The company cited numerous problems, including turmoil in financial markets, continuing home foreclosures, elevated inventories of unsold homes, falling median home prices, rising unemployment and low consumer confidence.

All those factors contributed to a weak demand for the building products made by Boise, said Human Resources Officer Steve Lyon.

Boise has been struggling with poor market conditions the past several years, cutting back production and reducing the work force at the

La Grande sawmill, the particleboard plant and facilities in Elgin.

Boise employees are represented in labor negotiations by the Carpenters Industrial Council. In a last-ditch effort to cut costs, Boise asked locals in the Inland Region to approve an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement.

The amendment called for deferral of wage increases and temporary reductions in vacation and holiday provisions. It was rejected in a vote in April.

Union representatives told The Observer employees voted against it mainly because Boise could not guarantee the mills would continue to operate. They also said workers had already made significant sacrifices in wages and health insurance benefits.

A subsidiary of Boise, Boise Building Solutions, did recently announce that it has acquired the Kinzua sawmill in Pilot Rock.

Views: 53

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted a video

How Corporations Are Secretly Poisoning Our Food Supply

Dupont and 3M have been secretly poisoning America for decades. PFAs — also known as forever chemicals—are now in our food, water, clothes, and our blood. Th...
7 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post
14 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

They Won’t Stop

 The demonically driven left will not stop. Makes no difference how much violence they call for or…See More
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

What US Scientist unwittingly helped the Nazis devise the V-2 Missile?

  In the early 1920’s and leading up to World War II German technology outpaces the peace time…See More
Monday
tjdavis favorited Sandy's video
Monday
tjdavis posted a photo
Monday
Christopher Walker is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Sunday
tjdavis posted videos
Sunday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Saturday
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Saturday
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
Saturday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
Saturday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Oct 18
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post What Four UFO Whistle Blowers All Suffered in Common?
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
Oct 18
Burbia posted a blog post

Sebastion Piñera and 5G

 Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
Oct 18
tjdavis posted a photo
Oct 16

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted