Employee shares concern after West Fraser closes sawmill operations in Lake Butler

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. (WCJB) - Many employees in Lake Butler are now out of work after news of a sawmill plant closing and some families are upset with the short notice.

West Fraser officials say they are indefinitely cutting operations at the Lake Butler sawmill at the end of September. Officials say the decision is because of high fiber costs and soft lumber markets.

"You wake up one day, go to work and then you have to let your wife know you don't have a job," said Charles Garnto, an employee at West Fraser.

About 130 people will be left without jobs and one family says they are affected by this.

"I've been up at night wondering how I am going to take care of my kids, the other guys are as well," said Garnto.

Employees will get paid until Nov. 19 but say they were taken aback when they initially heard the news.

"You see it in movies all the time, where small towns have their main thing get pulled out from under them," said Garnto. "You never think it can be you but then in real life, here it is."

With this many employees out of work, people throughout the community are getting together and trying to help in any way they can.

"I feel like it's important because if I were in that situation, I would feel like a burden was lifted off of me if someone was right there at my job offering another one," said Jennifer Amit, a Union Correctional sergeant. "We don't want for them to give up hope or lose a home or anything like that."

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Amit says she and others from the Union Correctional Institute will go to the site on Friday to recruit and help the employees who need a job.

In addition, one employee is holding a job fair on-site for West Fraser employees only, to have employers get them hired.

The 130 people affected joined another 80 employees who were laid off when West Fraser officials closed the mill near Lawtey in January.

"I'd just like to tell all the guys and everyone at West Fraser Lake Butler that we're going to make it through and not to give up," said Garnto.

Some people say they believe the West Fraser in Whitehouse, near Jacksonville could be next.