Story Published:
Nov 17, 2009 at 8:29 PM MDT
Story Updated:
Nov 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM MDT
BILLINGS - Tuesday marks the one year anniversary of major layoffs at Stillwater Mining Company.
On November 17, 2008, The residents of Absarokee and the rest of Stillwater County dealt with a major financial blow and a looming economic uncertainty when the regions biggest employer, Stillwater Mining Company, laid off hundreds workers.
The patrons at Absarokee's popular Rosebud Cafe say houses are vacant, families have left, but they know this is not the first time the community's gone through tough times. "That mine has opened and shut down several times in my lifetime," said one patron.
However, the mine appears to be on the upswing, turning a profit the last few quarters, even as General Motors backed out of its palladium contract years before it was set to expire. The fact the company is staying above the red is music to Stillwater County Commissioner Dennis Hoyem's ears.
"There was an era of doom and gloom for a lot of folks," said Hoyem.
Stillwater Mining Company is the single largest taxpayer in the county. "If for some reason that revenue source evaporated we would be in a world of hurt," said Hoyem. The hurt remains on these faces however, as they look for an economic recovery that could revive the job market.
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Wednesday, Nov 18 at 2:13 PM Anonymous wrote ...
It also affected Sweet Grass County.