Lumber giant Weyerhaeuser announced Wednesday it is permanently closing two mills in Saskatchewan that have been idle for more than a year.

The stud mill in Carrot River and the plywood mill in Hudson Bay used to employ a total of 299 people.

After layoffs in January 2007, there were 15 employees left in Carrot River and 17 at Hudson Bay. Those employees will lose their jobs mid-April.

Carrot River Mayor Jim Doherty said he's extremely disappointed.

"It's going to make an impact on the community," Doherty said. "That's people who are going to have to find employment elsewhere. Hopefully they'll stay living in our community and commute to another job, but it's unknown to us right now."

Weyerhaeuser, once a major force in forestry in Saskatchewan, has been better known for layoffs in recent years.

In 2006, some 700 people lost their jobs at the pulp and paper mill operation in Prince Albert.