Ontonagon teen writes bankruptcy judge.
Read more: Local, Smurfit Stone Container, Ontonagon, Alex Dix, Letter Campaign
ONTONAGON -- Update 12-26-09 12:06 pm
On the letters to the Judge in charge of the Bankruptcy case for Smurfit Stone paper mill the case # has to be on the outside of the envelop. It is case # 09-10235 (BLS) Chapter 11.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Dix is worried about what her family will do once her dad loses his job next week. He worked as an electrician at Smurfit Stone Container in Ontonagon for 22 years.
"I don't want to move," said Alex, "and that would be really sad if we had to move. I've lived here my whole life and this is my home, and it would be difficult to move."
The high school sophomore was raised on her family farm in Ontonagon. She's passionate about raising animals, including her horses.
She's also passionate about getting a federal bankruptcy court judge to order Smurfit Stone container to sell the mill. It's scheduled to permanently close on December 31.
"I want the judge to hear that we need help and this is a community," said Alex. "And without the mill, all the jobs and all the businesses will shutdown."
Alex petitioned her friends and community to write letters to the judge, along with state and federal representatives. It's a cause her family also joined. They hope to keep Smurfit Stone from demolishing the property, like they have when they've closed mills in other parts of the country.
The Dixs believe the mill is an asset and that another company will want to purchase it if Smurfit Stone puts it up for sale.
"When they've permanently closed them, they have not reopened," said Alex's mom, Debrah Dix. "Not one of them, it sounds like. And when they demo them, it looks like a bomb went off."
For now the Dixs, like many members of the Ontonagon community, are holding on to the hope that the days of the paper mill aren't over yet.
If you'd like to help Alex with her letter campaign, the address is:
Honorable Judge Shannon
834 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
