A JOHNSON CITY FIBER PRODUCER HAS ANNOUNCED THE LAYOFF OF 25 OF ITS WORKERS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. FIBER INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICIALS BLAME THE REDUCTION ON RISING OIL AND GAS PRICES. THEY SAY THIS HAS FORCED THE COMPANY’S RAW MATERIALS TO GO UP FASTER THAN THEY CAN PASS ON PRICE INCREASES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE FACILITY HAS MADE SPECIALITY SYNTHETIC FIBERS SINCE IT OPENED IN 1997. THE LAIDOFF WORKERS ARE ON A CALL-BACK LIST AND WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.