Downstate window plant closing

ELLENBORO, W.Va. -- Parkersburg-based Simonton Windows has laid off 115 workers at its Ritchie County facility and 42 others at a plant in Paris, citing the slumping housing market.

Marketing manager Marty Davis says there's usually a seasonal drop in business this time of year, but it's particularly severe because of the sorry state of the new home and home improvement markets.

Davis says the layoffs went into effect Tuesday. He says the company hopes to rehire the workers when the economy improves.

Part of consumer products company Fortune Brands, Inc., Simonton has manufacturing plants in three West Virginia locations, along with facilities in Illinois, McAlester, Okla. and Vacaville, Calif.