The all-too familiar smell of sulfur that sometimes blankets the Charleston area will disappear this August when North Charleston’s paper mill permanently closes after 86 years in operation.
Owner WestRock Co. announced the landmark paper mill, once an industrial powerhouse of the Lowcountry, will shut down Aug. 31 due to a “combination of high operating costs and the need for significant capital investment. Its closure will cost about 500 workers their jobs.
Affected employees will receive severance and outplacement assistance in accordance with WestRock policy and labor union agreements, according to a WCIV TV report.
“The decision to close a facility and impact the lives of our team members is never easy, and we are committed to assisting our North Charleston team with exploring roles at other WestRock locations and outplacement assistance,” according to a WestRock news release.
The paper mill produces containerboard, uncoated kraft paper and unbleached saturating kraft paper with a combined annual capacity of 550,000 tons. Containerboard and uncoated kraft paper will be instead manufactured at other WestRock facilities. The company intends to discontinue unbleached saturating kraft paper manufacturing when the mill is shut down.
In other headlines:
CP NEWS: Charleston awarded $10M grant for downtown pump station. The city of Charleston this week announced it has received $10 million to help pay for the second and final phase of a pump station project to curb flooding woes on the upper part of the peninsula.
CCSD proposes tax increase to boost teacher pay. The Charleston County School District staff is again proposing to increase taxes and dip into savings to fund significant teacher raises and balance its budget for next year.
No one hurt in shooting at MUSC Health facility parking garage. Officers with the Charleston Police Department and MUSC Public Safety responded Tuesday to a call about shots fired in the McClennan Banks Parking Garage behind Ashley River Tower. No injuries have been reported.
New details emerge in fatal Folly Beach crash that killed newlywed bride. New details are emerging in the case involving newlywed Samantha Miller of North Carolina who was riding in a golf cart-style vehicle with husband Aric Hutchinson and two others when an alleged drunk driver hit them, causing the cart to roll several times.
Dorchester Co. Council approves rules for Summerville street preservation. With plans to redevelop North Main Street in Summerville, the Dorchester County Council is requiring any future owner or developer to follow specific preservation rules.
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