Construction Machinery

Thomas Equipment in Centreville has filed for bankruptcy protection and delivered layoff notices to 141 workers.

The machinery fabrication plant in western New Brunswick handed out the notices late Tuesday.

The firm has shut down operations while it attempts to restructure its finances, Business New Brunswick Minister Kirk MacDonald said.

The New Brunswick government has provided at least $8 million in loan guarantees to the firm in the past.

It specializes in manufacturing farm and construction machinery.

Centreville Mayor Gary Thomas said the layoffs will devastate the village's economy and the workers.

"Well, it's going to be tough on a lot of families, like, I know I have a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law that both work there," he said.

No one at Thomas was available for comment Wednesday morning.

WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm and Museum hosts the sixth annual Antique Tractor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.

Tractors dating from the 1930s to the 1950s are featured.

A narrated tractor parade is set for 1 p.m.

Tractor-drawn wagon rides will be offered around the Billings fields as well as traditional farm activities, games, farm animal programs and ice cream making.

Lunch and snacks are available at the Teago Volunteer Fire Department food tent. All proceeds benefit the department.

Admission to Antique Tractor Day includes all programs and activities plus the 20th annual Quilt Exhibition.

An Ashland drill components company said it plans to ship out 375 drill sharpeners to troops in Iraq by the end of the month.

Darex said its V390 sharpeners will be used to help soldiers repair armor plating, install satellite antennae and install global positioning systems in Humvees. Darex V390 is manufactured in Ashland.

Darex is working to distribute the systems, which are shipping two months ahead of scheduled, with the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining.