JD Lumber in Priest River, Idaho is Shutting Down

JD Lumber of Priest River Idaho has recently announced to its workers that the mill will be shutting its doors and more than 200 people will be faced with unemployment. The lumber mill has sold to one of its competitors Riley Creek Lumber. The local papers say that Riley Creek will not operate the mill this winter, but will complete an evaluation by next spring.

Priest River has a population slightly fewer than 2,000. This small town has one grocery store, two auto parts stores, one stop light, and two gas stations. The closure of JD Lumber is going to impact every one of the businesses in this town. The lumber mills have dominated Priest Rivers workforce for years. JD Lumber itself is 26 years old and locally owned. Towns' people thought for sure it would be one of the last to go. JD Lumber was the only sawmill in all of Bonner County in 1982, just a short 26 years ago.

The sale to Riley Creek includes the mills plant, property, equipment and some of the timber contracts. According to the local paper JD Lumber says that they will keep their forestry staff and clerk to help with the transition to Riley Creek Lumber. Another local paper says that the sale does not include the JD Lumbers timberlands or forestry operations. Riley Creek Lumber also owns three other mills in northern Idaho, some of which are operating on only one shift right now.

Throughout the history of the timber industry, seasonal layoffs have been common. Sawmill employees are used to this sort of thing; however a permanent closure was never expected. A majority of these employees that will be losing their jobs between now and September have no idea what they are going to do for an income. Several of the workers have been with JD Lumber for close to 20 years and know nothing else but millwork. Some employees are up to fourth generation mill workers. Saw mills are in the blood of this small town.

JD Lumber is not the only Sawmill that has been struggling, it is nationwide. The economy and the fall in the housing markets have led to near historic lows in the prices of lumber. Mills everywhere have shut down or eliminated shifts.

What does this say about the future of our timber industry? An industry that has supported our North Idaho communities for so long. What will become of some of the workers who are the heart our mills like JD Lumber? Jobs in a small town are limited and also depended upon. Gas prices are still at an all time high, so commuting is not worth the cost of gas. There are not a whole lot of choices on the table for these employees.