EStrWS R[trFS

I-owe's and Wal-Mart rnansgement denied rumors that the Bentonville, Ar., mass mcrchandiser was talking about buying the North Wilkcsboto, N.C., chain (see story p. l7) . in Pine Bluff, Ar., Lowc's moved to larger quarters . . construction began on an 87,500 sq. ft. replacement Lowe's in Anderson, s.c....

Frank Paxton Lumber Inc. sold its Sherwood, Ar., yard to Charles E. Meador, Chuck Meador Co.,fot $250,000 ... Home Lumber,Seminole, Ok., celebrated its 65th anniversary .

Hug hes hrmber C o., Charleston, S.C., expanded its sales floor from 5,300 sq. ft. to 7,000 sq. ft. . Scotty's ceo Daryl Lansdale denied local newspaper reports that the Wintet Haven, Fl., chain was negotiating to buy 40 former Ames departmentstofes...

Home Depot is testing a bridal registty located at the special order desk in two Miami, Fl., stores and the Expo laboratory store in San Diego, Ca., with plans to extend the concept to nine Tampa, Fl., stores in the next 30 to 45 days

McGerity Hardware & Lumber, Terrell, Tx., acquired Ba llard Home Center, Terrell, from Stanley Ballard, who is retiring after 58 years in the lumber business Whitcomb Lumb e r -Ac e Hardwar e,Woodward, Ok., closed after 40 years

Foxworth-Galbraith's Temple, Tx., stote will move to a new location this spring Builders Square plans a 107,000 sq. ft. store on 15 aqes in Lake Mary, Fl. .

McCoy's Buildlng Supply Cenler, Roscnbcrg, Tx.,lost a $20,000 truck loaded with lumber valucd at $5,000 to thievcs in early Jan. Mid-American Dry Kiln Ca, Whirc Bluff, Tn., lost lumbet and a building to fire.

Georgia-Pacific meryed cedar and westernboards depts. with Craig Cameton as manager in Atlanta, Ga. . . . Punis Forest Products,Purvis, Ms., is adding anew building, grading and sorting machinery lAr e nn Handlin g, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., acquired the Hyster Co. dealership in Memphis, Tn., and branches in Little Rock, Van Buren and Springdale, Ar., and Tbpelo, Ms., renaming the operation Hyster Mid-South, a div. of Wrenn Handling

Comcar Leasing, Aubumdale, Fl., signed a six year lease with Scotty's,Wiruer Haven, Fl., to provide 3 I tractors for its central distribution center. .

AEG Power Tool Corp. is being acquited by Atla Copco Tools, Stockholm, Sweden . . . Bruning Paint Co. added Kyanizeft,luBrite Div. of Sico, Inc. to its operation which includes a mfg. plant in Pompano Beach, Fl., and distribution centers in Montgomery, Al., and Dallas,Tx....

Macklanburg-Duncan, Oklahoma City, Ok., purchased Coplanar, a Fort Worth, Tx., subsidiary of the C orctruction P ro ducts Division of W. R- Grace & Co. . .

Wo od Mac htnety Manufacntr e rs ofAmc rica gavc a check for $35,000 to thc Wood Machlning t&, Toollng Research Program at North Carolbu State U niversity,Ralcigh, N.C. .CertuinTced Corp. b tceidcntial roofing div. launchcd a wotKorce litcracy progam at ie Oxfotd, N.C., plant.

Nationdly Forest Semica timber sales in l99l fcll to 6.394 billion feet, thc lowcst level of timbcr sold from iValdornl Forests in over 37 yearc.

Home Depot budgeted approximately $4 million for its philanthropy and community investment program and hired a directot of community affairs Macco Adhesives will provide all adhesive and caulk needed by lla bitatfo r Humanity this year.

Union Pacific Railroad and M idAme rica Inte rmodal, /nc. have a new shipping flatbed service operation suitable for lumber that they say will be priced at rates below over-thetoad truck seryice.

Following an International Ttade Commission ruling that there is evidence that the U.S. forest products industry hasbeen injuredby lumber imports from Canada, a preliminary determination of whether the Canadian industry is subsidized by its govemment was due late in Jan. but final investigations could delay an ultimate duty determination until nextsummef...

Housing starts fot Dec. (latest figs.) jumped 2.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.103 million single family statts rose l8% ... permitsimproved5.S%.

1991 sta:rts hit a 46 year low with signs of improvement fot '92.

Federal National Mortgage Association economist David Berson said, "Housing always responds to lower rates and that's what's happening now."