Clarksville cement plant may not be used again

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- There are no plans to keep any part of Holcim's cement plant near Clarksville open once operation ends next year.

Holcim Inc. said in November that its cement plant two miles north of Clarksville will shut down, leaving about 180 people without work.

There had been hopes that 20 jobs could be kept in the facility's barge-loading and quarry operations. But Holcim spokeswoman Nancy Tully says there are no current plans to keep any part of the 3,600-acre site open.

The Swiss-based company said the layoffs in Missouri, and others in Michigan, are due to a downturn in demand for its products, especially in the Midwest.

Holcim is moving forward with a roughly $1 billion cement plant in Ste. Genevieve County, about 50 miles south of St. Louis. Clarksville employees can apply for jobs at other Holcim facilities.

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Information from: Hannibal Courier-Post: www.hannibal.net