Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 20/02) - Controversy continues to dog former Giant Mine boss Peggy Witte, this time in the small U.S. coastal city of Ferndale, Washington.

Witte, who now goes by the name Margaret Kent, purchased a meat packing plant there last April. Last Wednesday, the company laid off over 100 workers and shut down operations.

The sudden closure came while the plant is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after receiving several complaints from cattle suppliers, who say they haven't been paid.

Jody Johnson, the senior marketing specialist with the department who is handling the meat plant file, refused to go into specifics. She did confirm the company is under an "open investigation," and that the plant offered to close voluntarily while the investigation continues.

The plant may also be in hot water with the U.S. Department of Ecology. The City of Ferndale, population 8,000, suspects blood and offal from the slaughterhouse has found its way illegally into the city's sewer system, which flows into the nearby Nooksack River.

The city is currently awaiting water sample test results to determine whether or not the plant was at fault.

The city's public works director, Loren Sperry, said the plant became the focus of their attention last week after regularly conducted tests showed an abnormal spike in the amount of suspended solids in the water.

"Normally, we're fairly low," said Sperry. "There's only a couple things in the City of Ferndale (capable of causing the abnormal readings) unless a truck hauler dumped some place."

Witte's past 'amazing'

Sperry said he has been reading about Witte over the last few days, including her involvement with Giant Mine, saying he found her controversial past "almost more than amazing."

On Nov. 8, United Food and Commercial Workers held a vote at the plant to see if workers there wanted to unionize.

The workers voted against the union, even though they had represented workers at the plant for years under its former owners, Ferry Brothers.

Witte couldn't be reached for comment, but company vice-president Graham Eacott said last week the layoff was necessary while equipment at the plant was being upgraded.

"We've temporarily suspended operations," said Eacott. "We're installing some new equipment and reformulating our business plan. We do have a skeleton staff here. There's no definite date set (for re-opening the plant)."