Friday, October 12, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

International Paper’s decision Wednesday to lay off 142 employees

was expected by many people close to the mill. Such cuts have

been a concern for several months.

While the announcement was certainly no shock, the sting will

pierce all aspects of the Miss-Lou’s economy.

Certainly the cuts will hurt our community. In sheer volume,

the cuts at IP represent one-fifth of the mill staff and nearly

one-tenth of Adams County’s manufacturing jobs.

Perhaps the move signals an effort to make the mill more profitable

and more attractive to a potential buyer. No one will confirm

that fact, but it seems a plausible theory.

Coming at a time when the economy nationwide is struggling,

the scale-back comes at a bad time.

However, Natchez and Adams County have seen worse times. When

the bottom fell out of the oil industry in the 1980s, times were

indeed tough.

But as bad as things were, the Miss-Lou survived – as it always

has.

And we’ll survive this setback.

It will hurt for a period, but the economy will recover. And

the people whose lives are directly affected by the cuts will

eventually find a way to move ahead.

People in the Miss-Lou have the uncanny ability to pick themselves

up and make the best of any situation.

The Miss-Lou continues to have incredible promise and potential.

Our excellent quality of life combined with our hard-working employee

base will attract new industries. It is only a matter of time.

Now more than ever, we encourage everyone to realize each of

us controls the future of our local economy.

Shop at home and frequent local establishments. Those dollars

all roll over and benefit each of us tremendously.