Published: January 06, 2009 10:39 pm      

77 will be affected by shutdown

RONCEVERTE — Mullican Lumber officials say about 77 employees will eventually be affected by the shutdown of a Greenbrier County sawmill.

Mullican Lumber announced last week that the Ronceverte sawmill would decrease from two shifts to one and would cease lumber production in about eight to 10 weeks.

Terry Brennan, director of sawmill operations for Mullican Lumber, said 30 employees will initially be laid off and the remaining 47 will be laid off when the sawmill shuts down.

Brennan cited the nation’s economic problems as the core reason for the layoffs.

“The hardwood lumber industry produced approximately 13.5 billion board feet in 2000 and estimates are that about half of this amount was produced in 2008,” Brennan said. “Even with this dramatic reduction in supply, demand fell even more. Mullican Lumber Co. and the entire industry are taking steps to match supply with demand. There is simply too much lumber for the current demand, especially in the main species of red oak that Mullican produces.”

Officials said employees at nearby Mullican Flooring will not be affected by the sawmill layoffs.

— Christian Giggenbach