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Crane works to lower smokestacks at mill

Workers inspect one of the smokestacks at Pactiv Evergreen’s Canton paper mill on Aug. 21.  Cory Vaillancourt photo Workers inspect one of the smokestacks at Pactiv Evergreen’s Canton paper mill on Aug. 21. Cory Vaillancourt photo

The appearance of a bright yellow construction crane towering over Pactiv Evergreen’s shuttered Canton paper mill prompted questions from citizens late last week — and more speculation that the site has been or will be sold, but that’s not exactly the case. Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers confirmed Aug. 21 that the crane, which had arrived on Aug. 17, was there to lower the height of the smokestacks, so that Pactiv no longer has to comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Generally, any structure more than 200 feet  above the ground must be marked and/or lighted.

— Cory Vaillancourt, Politics Editor

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