Amid concerns, MLO plant to operate in ?business as usual? mode

No plant closings, layoffs, or changes to 401 (k) or retirement plans are expected as a result of Oglebay Norton and its wholly owned subsidiaries filing for Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. There still is a great deal of concern among employees, vendors, customers and members of the community in Rogers City.

Michigan Limestone Operations, Inc. vice president and general manager Mike Skinner plans to continue operating the Rogers City plant in a ?business as usual? mode. Skinner has been told that the employees, which number 150 in Rogers City, ?will be taken care of.? There still remains an air of concern at the plant, and in the community, but paychecks are expected to clear and wages are not expected to be negatively impacted, a 13-page question and answer sheet released Monday to employees, vendors, and customers, stated.

?I?M QUITE sure that their limestone operations are one of their (O-N) more successful portions of their business right now,? said mayor Beach Hall. ?My understanding is that their local operations are profitable.? Hall isn?t sure what impact O-N?s decision will have on the city or if there will be any repercussions with the tax tribunal settlement with MLO last year. City attorney Mike Vogler has been advised to look into the matter further. In the meantime, Skinner is looking forward to the upcoming year, and hoping for the economy to improve.

?We are expecting a much better year as far as total shipments,? said Skinner. Shipments were at 7.1 million tons of limestone in 2003, down from 8.3 million tons the year before. Start-up at the Rogers City operation is likely the last week of March or early April. Skinne

r said there were no plans to schedule a shutdown week, similar to what occurred in 2003. There?s ?nothing scheduled, nothing planned,? Skinner said.

O-N PRESIDENT and chief executive officer Mike Lundin, in a company press release, stated ?it is important to remember that we have solid businesses, long-standing customer relationships, and high-quality, proven long-life reserves. We compete in markets where we have attractive opportunities and limited competition.? Chapter 11 is designed to help viable companies that are burdened by excessive debt, lack of liquidity, unforeseen catastrophe or other such issues.

After a company files for Chapter 11, monies owed to creditors before the bankruptcy filing are frozen, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court provides the company with protection from actions by creditors.