ANOTHER TRI CITIES MANUFACTURING PLANT IS LAYING OFF SOME OF ITS WORKERS. MAPES PIANO STRING COMPANY ON WIRE MILL ROAD IN ELIZABETHTON IS NOT SAYING HOW MANY WORKERS IT HAS LAID OFF, BUT NEWSCHANNEL 11 IS QUOTING OPERATIONS MANAGER MARK SCHAFF AS INSISTING THE LAYOFFS ARE JUST TEMPORARY. THE COMPANY HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS, MAKING MUSICAL STRINGS AND MECHANICAL SPRING WIRE FOR HOMES AND CARS. SCHAFF SAID OPERATIONS HAVE NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED. HE SAID MAPES HOPES TO CALL BACK SOME OF THOSE LAID OFF EMPLOYEES AS EARLY AS THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER. COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF COMPLETING SHUTTING DOWN THE FACILITY.