ARKANSAS — News about lumber mill shutdowns is always disheartening, and South Arkansas has had its share of that in 2024. West Frasier mothballed its Huttig mill this year, putting 140 people out of work. AHT Products closed its flooring mill in Warren unexpectedly, putting another 130 out of a job. Fortunately, there’s no lack of good news in the timber industry. PotlatchDeltic brought its $131 million Waldo sawmill upgrade online. Teal Jones Group is staffing up its new $110 million mill in Plain Dealing, LA, and will employ 125. Georgia-Pacific said it will expand toilet tissue production in Crossett, creating 50 jobs in a $90 million expansion. Canfor has completed the purchase of Domtar’s former El Dorado mill and about $50 million worth of improvements have been made. Finally, Weyerhaeuser announced a $500 million facility near Monticello that will employ about 200 workers. …That’s roughly $800 million and almost 400 new mill jobs coming online. This is positive local economic news going into 2025.