A commitment from the U.S. Forest Service to supply timber to Malheur Lumber will keep the company’s mill in John Day open, Oregon’s U.S. senators announced today.
Prineville-based Ochoco Lumber Co., which owns Malheur Lumber, announced Aug. 17 that it would close the John Day mill Nov. 1 because it could not get enough timber from nearby national forests to keep the mill operating. About two weeks later, Ochoco Lumber said private landowners would provide enough timber to keep the mill operating for six additional weeks.
The mill employs about 90 people.
In a news release issued today, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, said the Forest Service would accelerate timber sales and speed up forest restoration work to supply local mills.
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