<B>Smurfit-Stone Idling Machine in Montana</B>

Smurfit-Stone Container announced plans to close one of its three paper machines at its mill in Missoula, Mt. The company cited soaring energy costs as a reason for the decision to idle one of the machines. According to local reports the machine will be idled for around one month. A spokesman for Smurfit-Stone said the shutdown began Aug. 18 and will last 32 days. The machine produces around 500 tons of linerboard a day.

Along with escalating power costs, there are concerns with the supply of wood and raw material to feed the machines. The company is presently working on plans to offset sharply higher power costs, which have been hampering most of the West Coast.