Miners return to Lucky Friday

Mike Dexter, left, Hecla Mining manager of community affairs, attends the shareholders meeting in Wallace on Thursday.

WALLACE – The closed Lucky Friday Mine will begin rehiring workers in July and should return to a full workforce by the end of the year, said Phil Baker, Hecla Mining Co.’s chief executive officer.

More than 110 of the Lucky Friday’s 250 workers lost their jobs when federal inspectors closed the mine’s main shaft in January following a series of accidents at the underground silver mine.

Mine officials expect to hire a couple dozen workers back initially, with hiring picking up speed as Hecla regains access to parts of the Lucky Friday, Baker said. About 40 percent of the 6,100-foot-deep Silver Shaft has been cleaned and repaired. More. Becky Kramer, SR

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