Plant Closure Will Cost Area 120 Jobs

Keystone Lighting’s closure of its Hayden assembling factory will cost about 120 jobs, company officials say.

The layoffs will begin in 60 days and be completed by August. Eighty-nine company employees and about 30 temporary workers will lose their jobs. Keystone makes fluorescent lighting fixtures as a division of USI Lighting. It also has plants in Spokane, Houston and Bristol, Pa.

The Hayden plant involves assembly only.

Employees were notified last week. Company spokesman Terry Bushnell said Keystone cannot guarantee jobs elsewhere, but is working with employment agencies to help find work.

Michael Sherwood, an eightmonth employee at Hayden, said the news surprised most workers.

“They weren’t prepared for it,” he said.