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photo by Kevin Pearcey
Jake Halford, with son Cameron, listens to an employee with the Alabama Office of Workforce Development during a session to provide Chapman Forest Products’ workers with an understanding of what help is available from the state. Chapman Forest Products is closing, which will leave over 200 people without a job.
Workers try to find life after lumber mill
Published Friday, June 26, 2009
This is how life without a job begins: With a man from the state, standing in the center of an old high school auditorium, telling you about a world you're not entirely familiar with. A world that uses words like "Internet" and "career centers," where debit cards and direct deposits have replaced checks and paper money.
The last time James J. Moorer was laid off from work by the company that would become Chapman Forest Products was in 1976. A gallon of gas cost .59 cents, the country had just turned 200 years old, and personal computers were infants.
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And, to Moorer, they might as well have stayed that way.
"I wouldn't even know how to cut it on," Moorer said about computers following a meeting of Chapman Forest Products' employees on Friday at Georgiana High School. Many of those employees have already lost their job. Others are only living on borrowed time, because Chapman Forest announced on June 15 it would be closing the plant.
The Office of Workforce Development gave the workers packets of information about state services, including unemployment benefits, health insurance, and job training.
Moorer spent 40 years with Chapman Forest Products, when it was both Union Camp and International Paper. He's a reflection of the bulk of the company's employees: highly skilled laborers, but skilled at what they've been doing for a longtime.
"This mill has been in our family all of our lives," said Jake Halford, 53, who worked in the log yard. He and three of his brothers have given years of sweat to the company.
And blood. Halford's oldest brother, Billy, was killed earlier this year on site after being struck by machinery.
Halford said news of the company's closure was a shock, but not entirely unexpected.
"We'd heard rumors," he said. "The bad thing is there's really nothing out there. No one's hiring. I'm too old to go to college and start something new. Right now I'm just going to draw my unemployment and hope."
But even drawing unemployment is a challenge, said Halford. The state's jobless system has become automated, with toll-free numbers and Internet applications replacing person-to-person interaction.
"I got on the phone the other day and tried the number and got frustrated...I just quit," said Halford. "And I'm not too familiar with a computer."
Others, like Anthony Crenshaw, see college as an alternative. Crenshaw started work in Chapman after graduating high school in 1990.
"I guess I'm going to go back to school," he said.
Moorer and Halford just want to earn a living.
"The heat doesn't bother me," said Moorer. "I just want a place to work."
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Comments
Posted by BF2C1 (anonymous) on June 26, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, Mr. Moorer spent 17 months with Chapman Forest Products. He spent over 40 years at the Chapman facility that included Union Camp Corporation and International Paper. Chapman Forest Products was just a 'flash in the pan'. I feel sorry for the workers that had to experience losing their jobs.
And the misinformed news people keep putting Chapman in Georgiana. I know because I lived right down town Chapman next to the mayor.
Posted by dManagan (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a tough time to be out of work, even so look up. No matter how far away, Greenville is my home-town. Chapman as a place of employment has always been there, at one time my Dad worked there. The struggle of Greenville is persistently going on, never give in to it. I have learned if you want something-- EXPECT SOMETHING.
Posted by BF2C1 (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, times are tough for finding a job.
The World Bank has just recently revised their forecast from a contraction of the world economy from 1.7 % to now a that of 2.9 %.
And to make matters worse the new minium wage will be increasing on July 1st to $ 7.25 per hour. Just another reason for companies to try to reduce the number of employees.
The price of just about every thing is going up. And the idea of 'carbon credits' to reduce global warming by the environmentalists and liberals will only make the suffering worse.
Posted by Shane (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Im so sorry but give them a chance.THEIR FIGHTERS! But whats going to really hurt them is health care....They can get Corba but I dont think that will have that kind of money....And if they have B/P or other problems.They cant get any insurance! and a office visit to Stabler Clinic,what about a trip to Stabler ER? Whats the first question you are asked? How will you pay? Thats what worries me about them and every american........We arent cared for or even given a chance at good health care unless we are already rich but most arent in Butler Co. I hear that Dr. Vories in Georgiana sees medicare people for 1$ a visit..Maybe thats why is office is always so full? And Stablers isnt?..He might see these folks for 1$ but he cant offer them a chance at insurance...To bad,the Mc Kenzie clinic that produced good medical care for 5$ if you had no job is now closed....I just hope and pray that those guys and all Americans will have a chance of good health care just like other nations do....I pray and I hope
Posted by standup4it (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Certainly the loss of jobs will not do anything to help Butler County or the community. Slamming the local medical community will not help either...especially when your comments are not true or accurate. Every business is faced with tough decisions and those decisions are often the difference between staying in business or not. While I can't speak for the other businesses that Shane mentions above, I can speak for Stabler Clinic...and as a stand alone Private Practice of Multi-specialty physicians our practice is what is defined as "Customary & Ordinary" when treating our patients. Stabler Clinic is not funded/employed or in any way financially associated with L.V.Stabler Memorial Hospital. Unlike 2 doctors offices in Butler County...Stabler Clinic is not a "rural health clinic"...look the definition up for yourself... As for the closing of the McKenzie clinic that produced good medical care for $5 if you had no job...there is a reason it too closed... same as Union Camp/Chapman Forest... and it will be the same reason the next business in our area closes as well. As for your comment concerning being rich in order to be cared for... I know a lot of hard working people, working more than just one job that understand the sacrifice it takes in order to provide health coverage and I think most would be insulted by your comment. They don't consider themselves rich...they consider themselves as hard working Americans, sacrificing to make ends meet. They don't like rising health care cost anymore than anyone else...but they know the truth...the truth is we can't just hope and pray someone is going to give it to us... we have to continue to work hard and be willing to make sacrifices. There is no better health care in the world than here in the USA and that is a fact... Tough times...this generation has hardly any right to talk about tough times... ask your parents and grandparents about tough times... A Nation is only as strong as its people, a family is only as tough as its faith is in God. I'll do more than pray and hope... I'll celebrate America with the promise that my God is in control and I will honor those who sacrifice to protect it and I too will do my part to sacrifice in order that I may provide for my family...thanking God for every blessing that He has blessed me with. I will stand firm for what is right and I will stand up along side those who continue to do what is right in spite of their circumstances... Don't buy the line that says everyone and everything else is too blame... that's what they want you to do... give up, quit trying and stop believing. Not Anonymous... Signed David Norrell... Clinic Administrator... direct line 334-371-5043. God Bless America!
Posted by Shane (anonymous) on June 30, 2009 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No sir,we dont have the best medical care or give our people much of a chance at it....
Why then do 700,000 Americans go to India along for an operation? And the medical trips to Thailand or Korea which is booming now in Asia? And why do Americans buy medicine from Canada?
Just ask the Koreans their how their medical care is compared to Americans? They are near the Reid Motel.
All 50,000,000 koreans are covered.All 1,000,000 factory workers covered.All teachers 500,000 covered when they arrive in Korea.And you dont have to wait for coverage and you dont have long lines.And very little paper work.
I pay 50$ and my job pays 50$+ I have AIG which is about 1,200 $ a year for private room and so on and a few months ago I had Asthma stage 4 making me visit the Dr. and ER 12 times with 8 bottles of IV s+ inhalers and medicine=150$ What would it cost at your clinic?
And one month ago I had swelling in my feet and I went to the ER.....Waited 5 minutes and that includes translating into english.I also had a Ultra Sound done=7$ And I live in a city of 300,000.
And you know last week Korea hosted a internation workshop on their health care system and 40 nations came but the US was no were tobe seen.
And my friends from Japan,Canada and England are all happy with their covereage but are scared to visit America unless they have tons of travel insurance cause they have seen the horrow stories on tv about American health care system and they are scared to come without insurance.
I just want everbody given a chance and those who already have lots of health problems tobe covered or be given a chance at it.......And work hard=YES and Love God=YES but give Americans the chance to buy health insurance that they can afford.....Thats all I want or ask of any government...Just give us a chance to buy insurance and we will just like the examples I gave....Just give us a chance and we will
Posted by standup4it (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
B-S... you have got to be kidding me! I could gladly go toe to toe with you on real facts, figures and information...but why? You have bought the line and you think you are a victim of the system. A system that I will agree is not perfect, but it is the best in the World. A lot of things are changing in America and not for the better, no doubt but real Americans will be the ones that will turn it around... not whinners that think they want out of America. As for me, I wish they would all go to Korea or China or whereever... anyway...good luck with your health issues... and don't wait around for someone to give you a solution... get out and make your own... Thats what makes America different than any other Nation. Hopefully you won't become a statistic. Oh and ask those Korean just what that coverage entailed. And if its so great why are the flocking to America and cry when they have to go back? As for your cost of visit... it would be "customary and ordinary" and if you needed help we would do what we could as long as you were doing your part. Non-compliant patients and abuse of the system helps drive costs up as well... But you probably don't want to talk about that. I understand the need and hopefully good Americans who have their trust in God will be able to make a difference and make what I think we both would agree on... some needed changes.
Posted by antitwitterer (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So o.k. Shane and Standup4it, I think you are both pushing an agenda way beyond where it should have ever been pushed- or at least not where it should be being pushed. The article is impressionably written to address the anxieties of former employees of Chapman. Regardless of what name it has had, or how long it had it, the closing of the plant we’ve commonly referred to as Chapman is a tragedy too few will appreciate until they are more affected by it… and in time, I assure you we all will see how disastrous an occurrence this has been. These few jobs and that plant supported many MANY jobs, jobs which in turn has fed our economy for more than the past 100 years. As cliché’ as it is our pine is the “Tree of Life”. And, while we didn’t actually eat the pine trees, we may end up with that as our only viable option for future survival.
The Butler County Economic Development Board (BCEDB) has not worked as diligent as necessary to keep sustainable businesses here, or to attract sustainable businesses to our demographics. I am not at all saying the BCEDB is happy at seeing them go or that anyone else is. What I am saying though, is that the BCEDB will become contented by it in time if they continue to fail to attract industries that support the utilization of our great resources (that being pine trees and people). Sale yourself on the idea of supporting a failing automotive industry that imports most of its resources, and I’d warn you that they’ll be done much quicker, and that cars are going to be much harder to eat. It would be foolish to abandon all thoughts of anything other than wood product industries of-course but, we need to limit what lengths we go to attract those industries and place greater effort into wood products.
Posted by antitwitterer (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now let’s focus on the partisan premises of health care you both are so convicted in sharing with all of us. As consumers we are subjective to our individual experiences and many feel a need for changes to our existing system of healthcare is necessary. I would not feel comfortable offering any statistical evidence to that fact, as I believe any survey, for or against, would suffer bias to some degree. If however, you believe that the majority of Americans are happy and content with health care and do not support change or reform to some degree, then you are completely out of touch. Shane may not be so articulate, and sure he may be somewhat manipulated by popular propagandist influence; but ask yourself why and how so many come to be like Shane. Shane represents the majority of people in the US who are frustrated by what you perceive as “the best health care system in the world”. Shane isn’t just some whining anti-American turncoat – he is what you should consider an unsatisfied customer. You see while you want to go toe-to-toe with someone, as a Clinic Administrator you should be listening and not arguing. To start with, because you depend on the current health care system for your livelihood you are not likely going to be perceived as being objective regardless of how well knowledged you think you are. The reality is you are only somewhat accurate in your assertions. The fact people are enthused at immigrating to the US for a million different reasons does not prove your point. Immigration in no way suggests that we have a superior health care system and in fact has equal chance at being a deterrent to immigration. Also, I am not sure why you felt it necessary to throw up a shield of “I am the proud American” and “God is on my side” (not to say that isn’t simply how you feel) but, I felt as a God loving Veteran of the Armed forces I should assert that supporting health care reform in no way equates to me being atheist or communist. Having the “best health care system” in a world where so many die from a lack of basic nutrition alone is no bragging point though. The vast majority of people in this world suffer living conditions that deny them adequate water and sanitation and political and economic systems make commonly available medicines impossible to even dream of getting … so should we brag? The fact that many would endure a lifetime of slavery to get a simple antibiotic shot for their dying child humbles me in my pettiness, but, you advocating that anyone should merrily work two jobs to provide health care is – as you say - BS. I do not doubt you are a good man and that you do good work, and I think that it is so great you are proud of your job. Empathy though is ultimately the service you must provide the most of.
Posted by Shane (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you.I just wanted people to take notice of the people from Chapman and other parts of the country who cant afford health insurance but want good coverage as I get in Korea.
This guy uses God like the Ayatollah in Iran and America like David Duke does. And I came from Butler co.Proud Too! But the people I knew their never talked God like this guy does or America like this guy doesn cause I never heard Dr. Paul,Vernon Stabler,Mr. Johnny Heartzog,the office Mrs. Carter,Mrs.Adams,Nurses Ms Emma,Fannie,Sinie,Your Mayor,Mr. Bell,Mr. Lewis,Mr. John L. Peagler never talked that way.
I think this manager grew up with a Silver Spoon.Never going to Georgiana public school but a private school so he wouldnt have to be with blacks or the poor people from highway 106 East-West of Georgiana.I dont think he ever got up at 6:00 AM to pick squash and hall hay at 11:00 until night time making 1$ and hour all during my middle-high school.I dont think he ever had to use an Outhouse.Work a full time job and go full time to school at night paying my own way or borrowing from the government which took me 7 years to complete and 10 years to pay off to become the first in my family to finish the University.And yes,Ive been to the Mckenzie Clinic and was happy it was open for 5$....And yes many times Dr. Paul would see me,he found my high B/P and gave me medicine for 60 days cause I had no job and charged me nothing calling it a early Birthday present.And yes I saw him do the samething for all kinds of people,,black-white mixed.It didnt matter to him.And when I got a job in Korea.He would video tape Star Trek The next Generation and mail me...and if I needed a new medicine at that time he would send it.Thats the example I learned from.His compassion,understanding of all people is were I learned my values from.I wounder were the clinic manager learned his?
And the health system is wrong in the states .Its unfair and I feel so sorry for lots of the people in Butler co. who cant get insurance and yes I saw in the Peace Corps suffering and I used my skills taught me by Mrs. Hartman,Mrs. Bender and Dr. Paul to help make their lives a little better.And now Im in Korea.I just signed another 4 years and I dont have to worry about health care but 50,000,000 Americans do and who knows how many who has to little coverage.And if Dr. Paul was still alive today.Noone would from his clinic would be talking the way this guy does........I just hope and pray things can change for the better for All Americans to a system that works and its fair for all people in America.....
Posted by antitwitterer (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not so sure I would judge it so harshly or make such accusations of anyone's charachter. My point was that both of you should respect the others opinion and appreciate that we are all different. Times have changed though and if anyone seems closer to God that isn't a bad thing at all. The beloved McKenzie clinic you remeber so fondly my own mother worked to acquire and I assure you never regretted her efforts... however for a myriad of reasons I do not think she'd take up that fight again. Again, I must say I am sure standup4it is a good and kind and caring person - just as you are. I agree with you in so much as that I feel we need changes to our existing health care policy. Fortunately you haven't experienced the failures in the Korean health care system and I assure you they are several there, just as there are in Europes as well. Korea has a healthcare system that fails the most needy such as terminally ill children and the elderly. Nevermind the fact that Korea makes no concession to those who don't have the means to pay by ensuing legal action. If you were a Korean I am not so sure you'd be delighted with mandated cosigners for credit, the absolute power of industry over human rights- particular the safety of your own, and finally having homeopathic and natural remedies preceed real medical care. I am delighted that you are having a wonderful experience but, know that the sense of security you are afforded there as an American was forged through civil debate here. Perhaps not perfectly so but for the most part our system of govenment has led to the greatest set of liberties ever offered to any citizenry. We must never fear or negate our differences in opinion but, work toward compromise and equality.
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