The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – At last week’s Port of Columbia County board meeting, Port Manager Jennie Dickinson said there will be no groundbreaking for Columbia Pulp in December.

“Since the election, the bond market is in turmoil,” Dickinson said.

“They are wading their way through that tumultuous market. Interest rates on the bond offerings have sky-rocketed, not based on any facts, but just based on speculation and uncertainty, and they are still trying to sort their way through the bond market,” she said.

“You go from a 4.5% interest rate, to an 8.5% interest rate, and that affects a business plan. The problem is, whether or not the business plan can support it,” Dickinson added.