Blackville mill closure puts 60 out of work

The Blackville Lumber sawmill has closed indefinitely, throwing 60 people out of work, and the company that owns the mill says the government could help determine whether it reopens. Finnish paper giant UPM owns the mill in Blackville. Mayor Glen Hollowood says most residents make a living off of the surrounding woodland. The last shifts…

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UPM to reopen Blackville sawmill

UPM Miramichi will reopen its Blackville sawmill operation, Blackville Lumber on Monday, bringing back all 55 employees. The mill, which makes random length lumber for housing framing, temporarily closed in December. Paul Orser, UPM Miramichi’s woodlands manager, said the reasons are clear why the sawmill had to temporarily close. “We’re in amongst the worst lumber…

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Canadian Idol Finalist Visits Blackville

Canadian Idol contestant Casey Leblanc visited Blackville today as part of Canada Day celebrations in the village. The Blackville High School gymnasium was packed to the rafters with Idol fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the recording artist. Born in Woodstock and raised in Nackawic, the New Brunswick native performed a selection of songs…

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ValuFoods opens in Blackville

Residents of Blackville and surrounding areas have a new grocery store to meet all their shopping needs. ValuFoods, an associate of Co-op Atlantic, opened for business recently on Main Street in Blackville. This week, the store is celebrating with a grand opening week. A ceremony was held Monday and events included a ribbon cutting, numerous…

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Blackville woman awaits double-lung transplant

After two months of fundraising, the Blackville community has almost reached its goal to support a local woman’s lung transplant journey. Amy Vickers has suffered from cystic fibrosis since birth and doctors have recommended a double-lung transplant since her own lungs are failing. CF is a hereditary disease characterized by abnormal mucus production affecting the…

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Blackville umpire steps on to international stage

Political unrest in Colombia almost cost Brian MacRae his first international assignment. Instead, the turmoil in the South American country has simply caused the long- time softball umpire from Blackville to rearrange his itinerary. MacRae will make his debut on the international softball stage next week in Hawaii as a member of the officiating crew…

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Historic buildings – vacant but not empty

By Lynda MacGibbon Amazing grace, how sweet the sound …. The church was silent, but if I listened with my heart, I was certain I could hear voices singing, feet shuffling, the rustle of onion skin-thin pages turning. In front of me, the arched window framed a view of a deep, blue river, leafy birch…

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Blackville Lumber gets $2.6M upgrade to boost efficiency

A $2.6-million investment now allows Blackville Lumber to get 10 per cent more lumber from raw sawlogs. UPM-Kymmene Miramichi Inc., which owns the sawmill in Blackville, took about two months to install a new curve saw edger at the mill. The equipment scans the log better than the human eye, positions it for the best…

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