Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Whelen plant to close temporarily

International Paper Company announced, Tuesday, December 11, it would be taking extended down time at it's Whelen Springs Lumber Mill.

However, IP officials are optimistic on the mill starting up again within in six months.

Officials said the shutdown was not due to a bad workforce or bad products, but because of the recent events and a fall in economy which is affecting everyone.

Ron Freer, regional manager of the Whelen Springs, Gurdon and Springhill, La., said, "This was a difficult decision because we have an outstanding team at Whelen Springs."

Freer also assured everyone International Paper will be continually be evaluating the market during the duration of the downtime period to determine if the business can be sustained.

During this period IP will decide whether the market has picked up enough to restart the mill or if it should continue downtime.

The worst that can happen is the market not picking back up and facility having to close forever.

Down time will begin the second week of January 2002.

IP is in the position to offer replacement jobs to all 24 team members of the Whelen Springs mill at the Gurdon facility.

The Gurdon facility employs 570 team members at this time and hopes to employ the 24 from Whelen when shut down begins.

If the Whelen Springs employees do not wish to take jobs at the Gurdon facility, they will be offered unemployment benefits.

If any employee is interested there will be human resources personnel available to assist them with the completion of the proper forms.

Brown Hardman, president of the Clark County Industrial Council, said, "Clark County has had the closing of Alff's, Polycarbon laid off around 30 workers, Goodrich is preparing to close and now IP will be having temporary shutdown. This is devastating, but not as devastating as it was 15 years ago when Clark County was losing industry. We now have a well trained workforce and the facilities to house new business."

Hardman quoted Harry Truman in a speech he gave after dropping the Atom Bomb. Hardman said, "A reporter asked Truman how made his final decision. Truman said, "I once read a the tombstone of Jack Williams, Here lies Jack Williams; He did his Damndest." Hardman said he felt that this was what Clark County was going to have to remember. Do it's best. We are working against factors in the economy that are not within our control.