IT HAS LEFT MANY WITH A "PIT IN THEIR STOMACH." LAYOFFS AT ONE OF OUR REGION'S BIGGEST EMPLOYERS.

LUND BOATS IN NEW YORK MILLS Minnesota HAS LONG BEEN A FORCE IN THE BOAT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

BUT THE SLOW ECONOMY NATION-WIDE HAS NOW HIT HARD IN THAT OTTER TAIL COUNTY TOWN?WITH 140-PEOPLE LAID OFF.

REPORTER KEVIN WALLEVAND SPENT THE DAY IN NEW YORK MILLS, WHERE INSTEAD OF TALKING deer hunting.

THE CONVERSATIONS IS ABOUT WHO GOT "LET GO AT LUND."


LUND AND NEW YORK MILLS HAVE ENJOYED A MARRIAGE FOR MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY. A BOAT SITS ATOP THE WELCOME SIGN.

"We knew right then and there we were done." BUT TODAY LONG TIME WORKERS

"We are scurying, winter is coming."

LIKE WAYNE PIEPER ARE STRUGGLING WITH NEWS OF BEING A NUMBER. ONE OF 140-WORKERS LET GO.

"Being there 16-years, I never thought I'd be laid off, I thought I would retire at Lund." TODAY THE PLANT, EVEN THE OFFICES ARE SHUTDOWN. EVERYTHING WILL BEGIN RUNNING AGAIN NEXT WEEK,

"The economy is poor."


BUT WITHOUT WORKERS LIKE WAYNE, WHO HAS THREE CHILDREN IN COLLEGE.

"It couldn't come at a worse time."

HEALTH INSURANCE, A GOOD WAGE GONE WITHOUT WARNING. PARENT COMPANY BRUNSWICK SAYS THE LAYOFFS ARE A REFLECTINO OF MARKET AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

"And in a town the size of NYM, it is not just the plant workers who feel the impact. Companies that do the piece work for Lund and main street." DIANNA WALGREEN HAS WORKED AT DEAN'S MARKET FOR YEARS. SHE IS ALSO ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

"Lumberyard, restaurant. grocery stores, pharmacy. All of main street."


LUNDS HAS SHUT DOWN TEMPORARILY BEFORE, BUT NEVER HAS MAIN STREET SEEN A LAYOFF LIKE THIS. THE FEELING SO MANY HERE HAD OF BEING ISOLATED FROM HARD.

THE LUND PLANT IN NEW YORK MILLS MAKES ALUMINUM BOATS.

AND INDUSTRY WIDE, FEWER BOATS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2007, THAN ANYTIME SINCE THE 1960'S. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list