Plum Creek closes Montana mills

Yet another sawmill is closing and two more are on the chopping block as Plum Creek Timber Co. continues to stagger beneath a collapsing real estate market. “It really is getting rougher and rougher,” said company spokeswoman Kathy Budinick. “We're working hard to manage the situation, but there's not much good news.” The bad news Monday: Plum Creek will close its Pablo sawmill in 60 days, and may do the same at mills in Evergreen and Columbia Falls. Combined, the mills employ nearly 300 people. In March, the company permanently closed its Ksanka sawmill, shedding the last 90 jobs there. That Eureka-area mill will be dismantled, Budinick said, and its equipment sold at auction. Now, Plum Creek has announced it will permanently shut down its sawmill in Pablo. Budinick said it's possible another operator will be found to run the mill; otherwise, it will be dismantled and auctioned...Missoulian