[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Sampratt.com has this stunning image of the full Holcim property that it is "mothballing" south of Catskill. Pratt was a leading force, via Friends of Hudson, of the successful fight that kept St. Lawrence Cement from building a new plant in Hudson, and eventually resulted in the company's becoming Holcim. "][/caption]Sam Pratt has a scoop: Holcim (formerly St. Lawrence Cement) is closing its Catskill plant is closing, according to a company press release. The company's press release says it will "mothball" its Catskill facility effective June 13, 2011. "We deeply regret having to mothball this plant," said Bernard Terver, president and chief executive officer of Holcim (US) in the release. "In 2010, we highlighted the challenges faced by this plant when we announced a temporary layoff. The mothballing of Catskill is a direct result of continuing economic challenges and market conditions in the region. We have looked at all available options and feel that this move is necessary in order to meet the company's current and future business needs." Approximately 100 hourly and salaried employees will be affected by this decision, 60 of them on furlough since before the 2010 holiday season started. Mothballing, the Holcim release continues, includes ending production operations and securing the plant in such a way that operating permits and equipment will be preserved for possible future operations. Holcim is also in the news these days due to its proposal to build a new roadway to its dock property in Hudson, as well as for challenging that city's tax assessment of same property. More on this story as it develops in the coming days.