BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) — The Ash Grove Cement Co. is halting production at its Durkee, Ore., plant south of Baker City, idling 68 workers. The Kansas company blamed the continued nationwide construction slowdown as it announced layoffs at the Eastern Oregon plant and eight other factories around the country.
Ash Grove said Wednesday the Durkee plant will lose 68 of its 115 employees.
Baker County Commission Chairman Fred Warner Jr. calls the news "devastating" and says it will hurt the community.
In all, the shutdown will hit 500 of the company's 2,800 employees. Ash Grove officials say they have no estimate when they might resume manufacturing, but they will continue shipments from cement stockpiles built up in recent months.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com