Premier officials confirm closing of Lakewood plant...

The head of the local Premier tool and die plant in Lakewood confirms that they'll be closing the facility early next May.  Plant Manager Ron Saxton also tells us the reason for the pending closure -- which would leave 75 people out of work -- is economic conditions.  Otherwise... Saxton deferred all comment to Premier's headquarters in Michigan.  The state Labor Department sent out a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification late last week that Premier-Lakewood would be closing it's doors on May 6.  The WARN notice stated the lay-offs would begin at the Winchester Road-facility on May 1.  The Premier location first opened at Falconer Metal Specialties in 1963.  It became Lexington Die-Cast in 2005 when it was purchased by Premier.  Efforts to reach Michigan officials for comment so far have been unsuccessful.

City facing road salt issues if new shipment doesn't come soon...

The city of Jamestown only has enough road salt to make it through the end of the week... and, Public Works Director Jeff Lehman is hoping for a new shipment soon.  Lehman says his crews have gone through a lot of salt already this Winter... and, has even had to resort to using sand... and, is looking at brine to help bridge the gaps.  Lehman said last night and this morning that they were still waiting on their next shipment from the state's Canadian contractor.  He says they're orders are in, and they're "anxiously awaiting" the next one's arrival.  Lehman says the state went with a new contractor this year... who offered a price of $45 a ton for road salt... and, the new contractor has been slammed with shipment orders due to the harsh Winter.  He says the city has been remaining within it's salt budget for this year... but, he adds they're not done when the weather breaks this Spring.  Lehman says because their fiscal year runs the calendar year... you also have to think of November and December.  Given that... he says they're hoping for a mild start to next Winter.