Big news out of Canton, NC

Pisgah Bear

All-Conference
Jul 31, 2015
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It just seems like we can't get a break. First it was covid then the flood now this.
 

DixieTN

Senior
Apr 30, 2014
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This not just Haywood County and Canton, it is region wide. It’s not just the employees, it’s loggers, truckers, teachers, doctors, hospitals, railroads, restaurants, etc. The “tentacles” of the mill are far reaching.
I’ve already heard it’s happening. Truck fabrication shop in Arden was supposed to do 2 jobs for Ken Wilson Ford this week. KW called and canceled because the buyers backed out on the 2 purchases. They were mill employees. 2 guys lose their jobs, Ken Wilson loses 2 sales, fabrication shop in Buncombe County is out 2 jobs, just like that. This will have a big impact on all of WNC.
 

jumbob

Sophomore
Aug 26, 2003
953
150
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This not just Haywood County and Canton, it is region wide. It’s not just the employees, it’s loggers, truckers, teachers, doctors, hospitals, railroads, restaurants, etc. The “tentacles” of the mill are far reaching.
Good point, I was still digesting the news and hadn’t had a chance to consider the even further reaching implications.
 

Steelers71

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
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Good point, I was still digesting the news and hadn’t had a chance to consider the even further reaching implications.

That what AZ has they have a higher Asian , Hispanic pop. so I understand this demographic but They can still be successful but I think succcess is different in AZ then here if u are that race if that make sense bc they have to play those sports here they don’t have play that sports

Also Just looking it up -‘Just going off what some these websites say - It’s roughly 42-47% Hispanic and 40-42% African American/Black ; Asian is around 7%
It's terrible for the community. I feel terrible for the people at the plant losing jobs. Many will have to move to find work. There was very little affordable housing in the area, now there will be even less jobs. I hope Canton can recover with new industry.
 

Vik-Val 86

All-American
May 20, 2020
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1st let me say I’m really hate hearing about the news and know it will effect many families. But a thought just came to my mind. How much could this affect the famous Tuscola n Pisgah rivalry and Turning out of big crowds.
 

Thunder_struck8712

All-American
Oct 5, 2016
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With the smell of the plant gone the area will probably become gentrified now sadly.

Also how about the executives selling off shares before announcing the plant was closing. I smell a rat.
 
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smokymtns10

Redshirt
Feb 14, 2021
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1st let me say I’m really hate hearing about the news and know it will effect many families. But a thought just came to my mind. How much could this affect the famous Tuscola n Pisgah rivalry and Turning out of big crowds.
Not a lot. According to buddy who is Canton Alderman, about 50% of employees are outside Haywood County.
 
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BlueVols

Senior
Jun 27, 2003
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There will be an impact on Canton town and Haywood county budgets. Depending on how many families have to move away to find a new job, there may also be impact on ADM's, which also affects the school system budget. (The out of county resident mill employee number I've seen reported is more at 40%.) Add in an increase in home schooling post-Covid and Shining Rock slowly adding a high school (they start an 11th grade next fall) and student numbers are already dropping here before this news.
 

PBBear51

Senior
Sep 14, 2017
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If I can make till May 6'th I will have 21 years in there. Raised two kids and lack two years having them both through college. The Mill has been good to me and I've tried to be good to her. Had every intention on retiring there one day but just ain't meant to be. There is something special about that place.
 

SPRaiders78

All-Conference
May 24, 2020
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A lot of piedmont counties and towns faces the same situation in the 1880’s. When Clinton signed the Free Trade Agreement, he basically sent the majority of textile jobs to Asia. I’m not trying to diminish your loss, I know it is huge. God bless you folks. Hopefully things will look better with the passage of time. 🙏🙏 🙏
 

WHC02

Junior
Aug 29, 2012
311
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This happened to our family when the furniture plants closed in Spruce Pine. Definitely life changing but they did pay for dad to go to school and get carpentry and electrician certifications.
 

Pisgah Bear

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Jul 31, 2015
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A lot of piedmont counties and towns faces the same situation in the 1880’s. When Clinton signed the Free Trade Agreement, he basically sent the majority of textile jobs to Asia. I’m not trying to diminish your loss, I know it is huge. God bless you folks. Hopefully things will look better with the passage of time. 🙏🙏 🙏
So Clinton was president in 1880 .
 

ocdavis31

All-American
Nov 9, 2013
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In the news this morning that Governor Cooper sent a letter to the mill folks in which he said they would demand repayment of $12 million in incentives if they close the plant before the end of 2024. Could get interesting.
 
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SPRaiders78

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May 24, 2020
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Oh well, you’re born, you live, you do good, you make mistakes and you die. I haven’t got to the last stage quite yet. All that is to say 💩 happens, then you die. I see you’ve reverted to name calling again rulz!
 

Pisgah Bear

All-Conference
Jul 31, 2015
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In the news this morning that Governor Cooper sent a letter to the mill folks in which he said they would demand repayment of $12 million in incentives if they close the plant before the end of 2024. Could get interesting.
Oh well, you’re born, you live, you do good, you make mistakes and you die. I haven’t got to the last stage quite yet. All that is to say 💩 happens, then you die. I see you’ve reverted to name calling again rulz!
Man I was just picking at you little .I make a lot of mistakes too. You was only wrong about the first 8 should have been a 9.You was wrong about which president was in office in in 1980's as well. Hope you have a great day,
 
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crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
32,278
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Oh well, you’re born, you live, you do good, you make mistakes and you die. I haven’t got to the last stage quite yet. All that is to say 💩 happens, then you die. I see you’ve reverted to name calling again rulz!
Yeah. I shouldn’t have done that. That was a little out of bounds. I apologize to you. I deleted it. I’m going to chill out you man. I’ll not aggravate you anymore at least not mean spirited.
 

SPRaiders78

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May 24, 2020
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No problem rulz, we got off on the wrong foot and I’m sure a lot of it was my fault. I rode you like a bike for a while. I shouldn’t have done that either. I’ll back off as well but when the end of September rolls around, all bets are off. I’ll say it again this year, I’ll try to get over and see you, this time at The Ranch.
 

PBBear51

Senior
Sep 14, 2017
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In the news this morning that Governor Cooper sent a letter to the mill folks in which he said they would demand repayment of $12 million in incentives if they close the plant before the end of 2024. Could get interesting.
Probably won't change a thing as far as the workers or the community is concerned.
 

ocdavis31

All-American
Nov 9, 2013
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Probably won't change a thing as far as the workers or the community is concerned.
Probably won’t but if they stand to lose that kind of money, may change their timetable. In that scenario, companies often stay open longer and pay a severance package to entice people to stay until the end. Same final result, but gives the employees some options.
In the long run, it would be better to have the training resources, but folks over forty often struggle with that aspect.
 
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SPRaiders78

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May 24, 2020
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I first saw that the mill was closing on Buddy Melton’s facespace page. The Balsum Range song Paper Town is a great song that tells about Canton. If you aren’t into bluegrass you need to give this song a listen anyway. It is Canton. After hearing it several times, I wanted to move up there.
 
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Steelers71

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
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I first saw that the mill was closing on Buddy Melton’s facespace page. The Balsum Range song Paper Town is a great song that tells about Canton. If you aren’t into bluegrass you need to give this song a listen anyway. It is Canton. After hearing it several times, I wanted to move up there.
I got to see Balsam Range in the performing arts center at Cullowhee. They were awesome and that is a great album. I hope Canton and the greater Waynesville area can recover. Maybe Cooper can re coop some of the money for the workers losing jobs. I had a fellow teacher/coach who left to take a job at the mill years ago. He made more money and had more time at home with his kids. Was a good job for many people.
 

SPRaiders78

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May 24, 2020
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Around the Belmont area back in the day mill workers were looked down on by the higher ups. I don’t think those higher ups realized there wouldn’t have been a Belmont without the mills and the mill workers.
Balsum Range has been my go to since the Paper Town album came out. We’ve seen em live three times. I don’t know what they are going to look like without Darrin. I hated to hear he was leaving the band. He brought a lot to the table.
 

Pbear9975

Senior
Oct 20, 2016
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Around the Belmont area back in the day mill workers were looked down on by the higher ups. I don’t think those higher ups realized there wouldn’t have been a Belmont without the mills and the mill workers.
Balsum Range has been my go to since the Paper Town album came out. We’ve seen em live three times. I don’t know what they are going to look like without Darrin. I hated to hear he was leaving the band. He brought a lot to the table.
SP, Do you listen to Tim Surrett’s “Papertown Roots“ Radio Show?
 

WhoaMule

Senior
Nov 29, 2002
11,283
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No, I don’t where can I find it. I’d love to give it a try
www.wptlradio.NET listen live Monday and wednesday nights at 7 PM. FB live is Papertownrootsradio. You get to see TIm doing the show live with his sidekick Carter.. You can even ask him to play something for you on FB. 30K+ listeners last scan which is almost unbelievable for a small town radio show.
 
Jan 12, 2023
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No problem rulz, we got off on the wrong foot and I’m sure a lot of it was my fault. I rode you like a bike for a while. I shouldn’t have done that either. I’ll back off as well but when the end of September rolls around, all bets are off. I’ll say it again this year, I’ll try to get over and see you, this time at The Ranch.
Stable not ranch. Thanks in advance
 

sammyk

All-Conference
Oct 26, 2001
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Being from Southwestern PA this happened to the coal mines and steel mills back in the 1980's. US Steel could have the steel made cheaper somewhere else so they shut down and moved. It crippled the area for about 2 decades. Pittsburgh reinvented itself into a medical tech banking city but the surrounding counties have never fully recovered. Communities like mine in Carmichaels , and those in say Aliquippa, Uniontown, Jeannette, Monesson, McKeesport ect will never be the same . It's sad but who is to blame???? I guess it does not matter all that matters is someone had a job now they don't.