Western Cascade mill in Toledo closing

The lumber mill operated by Western Cascade Industries at 300 S Bay Road in Toledo is closing its doors this week.

Walt Adams, the mill’s general manager, said last week that mill employees were informed on July 22 that the mill would be closing at the end of July. Western Cascade employs more than 50 people at the site, Adams said.

“They’re shutting the power off Aug. 1, is what I’ve been told,” he said. “They’re pulling the plug here, so everybody’s going to be laid off by the end of this month.”

Ted Stock and James Stock purchased the mill about 25 years ago. Most recently, the day-to-day operations have been overseen by Ross Stock. Multiple efforts to reach Ross Stock for comment were unsuccessful as of this week’s press deadline.

Adams said the closure of the mill appears to be the result of a lumber market that has “just kind of been down across the board.” He added, “Just the way things have been going with the logs not coming in, it’s been looking that way for a while, but they’ve been talking like they’re going to keep going.”

Now, however, the decision has been made, and Adams said, “A lot of people are going to be looking for jobs here.”