LINCOLN, Maine (NEWS CENTER)--
Two dozen people are laid-off as a paper machine at the Lincoln paper mill shuts down.
A rapid response team from Maine's Department of Labor is now trying to help them.
The impact of the layoffs is sinking in in the community. Some people expected them, while others were still surprised.
According to Lincoln's economic development director, Ruth Birtz, layoffs at the mill had been rumored for months. She says mill management had asked workers to take a pay cut earlier this year, but they voted the idea down.
Birtz hopes the mill won't have to make any more staff reductions.
"Hopefully this will be the last adjustment they'll have to make moving forward and then they can remain competitive," she said.
Other town officials say they've reached out to the Lincoln Paper and Tissue's CEO, Keith Van Scotter, to find out more about what's going on.
They haven't heard back from him yet.
Lester Bouldry lives in nearby Maxfield is sad about the news.
He has been laid off twice from two other area mills in Old Town and Passadumkeag. He sympathizes with workers here in Lincoln and hopes they get their jobs back.
"It's very disheartening to see these guys having to go through it and I know what they're going to be facing," he said. " I just hope in the future that they don't end up closing the whole thing. That it'll just stay like it is for a short time and maybe they can get this machine back up and running."
NEWS CENTER did try to reach Keith Van Scotter at the mill today.
He did not wish to comment.
