Hurricane Opal Pounds Southeastern Yards

Devastation and power outages plagued lumber companies in the Florida Panhandle in the wake of early October's Hurricane Opal.

Nevar Lumber & Supply, Nevar, Fl., suffered $50,000-$60,000 in damages when its exterior sheds' rafter and stud supports were destroyed and the metal roofing was blown off.

"This is the second time in two months we have had a hurricane within two miles of us," said mgr. Bobby Killingsworth. "In the first one, which caused $35,000 in damage, we took our licks, but this time we were not really happy about it."

The main store's shingles were blown off and the sheetrock also sustained wind and water damase.

"It will take six months to rebuild the sheds," said Killingsworth. "The first hurricane damaged the sheds, but this one destroyed them. The sheds will have to be torn down and rebuilt."

He predicts extensive repairs throughout the area will begin "once people get over the shock."

Nearby South Bay/Ace Hardware & Lumber Co., Santa Rosa Beach, Fl., escaped with minor damage to the lumber sheds estimated at $3.000$4.000.

"The grocery store next door was completed demolished," reported owner Ann Wallace. "We were lucky, it must have been our dilapidated building."

Pelican Adds Equity Partner, Sunbelt Gos. shops.

Backed by the addition of a new equity partner, 20-store Pelican Building Centers, Conway, S.C., has agreed to acquire l0-unit Sunbelt Cos. Inc., Greenville, S.C., for approximately $24.9 million.

Sunbelt's yards, with $94 million in annual sales, include Birmingham Lumber, Birmingham, Al.; Nashville Lumber, Nashville, Tn.; Asheboro Lumber, Asheboro, N.C.; Snow Lumber, High Point, N.C.; Moss Lumber, Washington, N.C.; two unit Griffin Lumber, Monroe, N.C., and three unit Jordan & Bradley Lumber, Columbus, Ga. Staffs and, at least for now, company names will be retained.

Anticipated to close by year's end, the deal also brings Pelican its first truss plant, in Nashville; three millwork facilities, and two hollow-metal

The acquisition was made possible by an investment in Pelican by McCown De Leeuw & Co., a private venture banking firm. MDC will provide Pelican with approximatley $60 million for acquisitions to help achieve its vision of a $500 million company with 50 store locations by the turn of the century.

In 1987, MDC led the formation of BMC West, the West's largest contractor-oriented chain, aiding its acquisition from Boise Cascade and its growth from 19 locations to 52.

Round Three In Canadian lmport Talks

Following a third meeting on softwood lumber trade between U.S. and Canadian governments, American industry officials met with U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor to evaluate the consultations' progress and identify remedies for allegedly subsidized Canadian lumber imports.

Among those representing the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports were Fred Stimpson, Gulf Lumber Co., Mobile, Al.; Steve Anthony, Anthony Timberlands, Bearden, Ar.; Hank Scott. Collum's Lumber Mill, Allendale, S.C.; Paul Dickert, Perry Lumber Co., Perry, Fl., and Ed Cone

MDC principal George McCown will serve as chairman of the Pelican Cos.' new board of directors, which will consist of Pelican shareholders, senior management and MDC affiliates. and Debbie Burns, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association.

The Coalition maintains that subsidized Canadian imports have increased from 26.6Vo of the U.S. lumber market in 1991 to 36.5Vo in second quarter 1995, costing over 25,000 direct U.S. mill jobs.

The group reiterated that its only goal is to persuade Canada to adopt market-oriented timber pricing to replace provincial systems which price timber at a fraction of market value, artificially promoting Canadian employment at the expense of U.S. mills and their workers.

Using flashlights, the skeleton crew led customers into the store one at a time to buy supplies. "Lucky for us, our electricity was restored early. There is no telling how many people will be out of electricity for weeks," said Wallace.

Hurricane Opal was the third hunicane to strike the Panhandle this season. The storm, generating winds up to 150 mph, killed at least 15 people in the U.S., caused more than $1.8 billion in insured damage and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

Hope Grows To 17 Locations

Hope Lumber & Supply Co., Broken Arrow, Ok., has added five more facilities, bringing the chain to 17 locations in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

The company recently acquired the inventory and assumed the lease of Big Tin Barn, West Houston, Tx.; purchased the inventory, buildings and property of Big Tin Barn, Conroe, Tx.; opened a new yard in Albuquerque, N.M.; acquired retailer Western Window Co., Denver, Co., and opened a millwork shop in Denver.

"We do have plans to continue to expand, mostly through acquisition," said Ron Stoots, vice presidentfinance. "Most of our growth has been over the last five to seven years."

Temple-Inland Forest Productsowned Big Tin Barn continues operating yards in Diboll, Tx.; Pineland, Tx., and Alexander, La.

McCoy's Shutters 7 Stores

McCoy's Building Supply Centers, San Marcos, Tx., is closing seven stores, in Little Rock, Ar.; Wichita Falls and West Lubbock, Tx.; Enid, Ok., and Gulfport, Pascagoula and D'Iberville, Ms.

Attributing the closures to overcrowded markets and inabilities to meet sales targets, the company continues operation of 103 stores in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and New Mexico.

McCoy's also announced a more aggressive scheduling of new store openings within the next three years, incorporating totally redesigned store layouts and storefront facades.