A KINGSPORT BRICK PLANT HAS TEMPORARILY LAID OFF 48 PEOPLE. JOHNSON CITY BASED SHALE BRICK HALTED PRODUCTION AT IT’S KINGSPORT PLANT FOR THE TIME BEING LEAVING WORKERS TEMPORARILY WITHOUT A JOB. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAID THE PLANT NOW HAS RECORD INVENTORY LEVELS BEING STORED ON SITE. AS A RESULT, COMPANY LEADERS OPTED TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND PRODUCTION UNTIL THE ECONOMY IMPROVES AND SALES RESUME. A FEW EMPLOYEES WILL REMAIN AT THE KINGSPORT PLANT TO HANDLE SALES AND SHIPMENT OF BRICK ALREADY IN INVENTORY.