MIAMISBURG, Ohio – The giant but bankruptcy-plagued paper manufacturer Verso announced it has sold its idled Duluth, Minnesota, mill. The purchaser: ST Paper & Tissue, whose mills in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, and Isle of Wight, Virginia, produce bath tissue, paper towels and napkins. Terms were not announced. Meanwhile, Verso continues to shop its Wisconsin Rapids mill, which also is idled. Verso chief executive Randy Nebel said a group of Wisconsin timber professionals has been working to create a cooperative to purchase the Wisconsin Rapids mill. Together Verso’s Duluth and Wisconsin Rapids mills had 1,000 employees.

Lake front mill. Verso has been hit be declining sales of coated paper for the cratering glossy magazine industry. Other parts of the paper industry have flourished, like toilet paper and packaging material.