Kamiah mill shutting down

Share

Summary

Three Rivers Timber, the largest employer in Kamiah, plans to idle about 80 workers; Clearwater County has highest unemployment rate in Idaho.

Story Published: Nov 8, 2008 at 12:02 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 4:20 AM PST

KAMIAH (AP) - Three Rivers Timber, the largest employer in Kamiah, plans to idle about 80 workers as mill work stops in the first week of December.

Herb Hazen, president of Three Rivers Timber, said "trying to push lumber into an already filled market really makes no operating sense."

He did not know when workers might be able to return to their jobs. Hazen said a glut of cheap lumber and falling sales led to the decision.

The announcement comes as the Department of Labor announced that Clearwater County was suffering from the highest unemployment rate in the state, 12.2 percent.

The rate has risen to 5.4 percent statewide. Lewiston’s rate stands at 5.6 percent.

(KLEW staff contributed to this story.)

020812 KLEW Wen Poll

Now that Washington state legislature has voted to legalize gay marriage, do you think there should be a referendum so that voters have a chance to weigh in?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Undecided

Poll Results