GLOSTER &045;&045; While some people are optimistic about the possibility of Georgia-Pacific re-opening its Gloster plywood mill, a company representative Thursday said the plant remains closed indefinitely.

&uot;The status is that the mill is still shut down indefinitely until market conditions improve,&uot; GP spokesperson Robin Keegan said.

Three hundred-twenty workers were laid off and a $6.7 million payroll was lost when the mill closed in December of 2002.

But while speaking at the Amite County Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon earlier this month, local GP plant superintendent Glenn Brown reportedly said plywood has since regained its market value and prices are expected to remain high in the near future.

Expressing his personal views to the group, Brown indicated the Gloster mill is positioned in the &uot;timber basin for plywood&uot; and has a dedicated workforce &045;&045; reasons he believes the mill may re-open.

In January, Gloster Mayor Bill Adams said town officials along with representatives from the Mississippi Development Authority and Entergy met with GP executives to discuss an economic incentives package.

Adams said no promises were made during the meeting.

Speculation on the mill’s future rose recently when a contractor started work on the mill’s roof. But Keegan said that activity should not be considered a sign the mill is about to re-open.

&uot;That’s routine maintenance on the roof. We just want to have it in good shape in the event the mill does re-open,&uot; Keegan said.

The mill’s huge yard now serves as a drop-off point where logs are weighed and shipped to other mills. On Thursday, the yard was virtually empty.

But Keegan indicated that could change if the market improves enough.

&uot;We own these mills to run them. We’d like to open it as much as anybody,&uot; she said.