Ex-National Ghief Jaffee Bankrupt Again

Melvin Jaffee, former chairman of defunct National Lumber & Supply Co., Fountain Valley, Ca., is back in bankruptcy court a third time.

His attorney said Jaffee filed for personal bankruptcy Jan. 11 as protection from his ex-wife's attempts to collect $1 million owed her from their divorce settlement, as well as fallout from his bankrupt real estate company, according to the Orange County Register.

The night after the filing, Sol Jaf- fee, Melvin's father and National Lumber founder, died. The father-son team had worked closely to build the hardware chain to 21 stores throuehout Southern California. But Natio-nal could not compete after the arrival of warehouse home centers and filed for bankruptcy in 1990. It subsequently liquidated.

Jaffee did not list his assets or liabilities in his personal Chapter 7 pention, which means he is seeking to liquidate his holdings.

Jaffee Real Estate Co., which owns five industrial buildings, filed for bankruptcy reorganization last July. Creditors, dissatisfied with the progress on the case, sought to compel general partner Jaffee to disclose his personal assets and liabilities. Jaffee did not show up at a Jan. 13 deposition.

National Lumber's trustee, Richard Marshack, is still seeking payment on $400,000 Jaffee reporledly owes and was preparing to foreclose on his Newport Beach home when Jaffee filed for bankruptcy.

Attorneys said they will pursue Jaffee despite the filing.

Meeks Expands Stockton, Ca.

Instead of retreating, Meeks Building Centers is investing $500,000 into its unprofitable Stockton, Ca., store to make it more competitive.

A state-of-the-art millwork shop was added to the store and yard to make it a one-stop shopping place for contractors (who account for SOVo of its business).

"Business, frankly, has been quite bad," said Joe Baxter, who manages the shop. "But we're banking on tomorrow, not today. In this economy you have to turn over every stone you can. If you don't diversify, you're dead."

Based in Sacramento, Ca., Meeks' western operations include l0 locations in Northern California and Nevada.

Another Oregon Mill Closing

Citing a lack of government timber sales, Snow Mountain Pine, Ltd., Hines, Or., is closing its lumber mill this month and the planer mill in March.

There are enough dead and dying trees within a 15 minute drive to operate the mill without cutting a single green tree, according to sales manager Jim Busch. He said preservationists had blocked virtually all timber sales within their area.

The mill was founded in 1929 by the Edward Hines Lumber Co., which also built the town, which is adjacent to Burns, Or. The mill closure will put 200 people out of work in a town of 1470.

The past two years mill owner Don Graves attempted to operate by buying private timber from as far away as

Idaho, but the available supply proved inadequate.

WWPA Returns From Desert

After a respite last year in Palm Springs, Ca., Western Wood Products Association is back at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, Ca., for its spring meeting March 14-17.

The program kicks off with a North American Wholesale Lumber Association reception, followed by economic services, marketing services, technical, special export, quality standards and executive committee meetings; resources panel, members and directors meetings, various luncheons and a chairman's reception.

Personals

(Continuedfrom p. 29)

Tiffany Thurgood, l7-year-old daughter of Steve Thurgood, Bear Forest Products, Riverside, Ca., qualified to attend the U.S. National Songleader/ Cheerleader Championships at Disney World, Orlando, Fl., with her team from San Dimas High School.

Bob Kerr, co-owner, Kerr Ace Building Center and Rental Place, Brookings, Or., was honored by Ace Hardware as the best Ace dealer in the area. He is also on the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association government affairs committee.

John Branstetter is now asst. mktg. director for Tobacco Valley Lumber Co., Kalispell, Mt.

Charles Compton, ex-Weyerhaeuser, is new to sales at Hambro Forest Products, Crescent City, Ca. Lee Wetzel remains in outside sales.

David Woolf was promoted to general sales mgr. at American Pine Products, Prineville, Or.

Mark Bliss is now western regional sales mgr. for Dutton-Lainson Co.

PLAYING SANTA, the Phoenix Hoo-Hoo Club raised $933 by selling Mulligans at its monthly goll outings to provide 100d, clothing and toys for five families throuoh provide food, clothinq tovs five'fa-milies thr-ouoh the Salvation Army. (Top pnoto, left to right) P-at Craghead, Dean Lawrence, Bill Swaneyl Chuck rrv Tostenson (Lowar nhoto\ | awrannc end Rwanot, Pe.nsinger,. Larry Tostenson. (Lower photo) Lawrence and Swaney rensrnger, Larry I ostensol help unload beds and a crib.

WANTING the warm natural finish of wood, Dale Kuvkendall chose Comply lap siding for this Victorian house built in Clackainas, Or. Price, qppearance, quick installation, durability, availability of pre-priming and the fact that the siding is made lrom reii wood with no iimuiated lrains and knols, synthetic filler or boat patches were other deciding factors in his choice.

UNIQUE GLUIAM: A 17,000 ft. long highway sound wall in Chicago, ll., was constructed of Willamette lndustries' Bohemia Glulam in a very different way. 'This was a large project that had to be comoleted in a short time oeriod," said Wl's Jim Walsh. "lt called for a new way of gluing, because it was totally opposite of the way we build glulam beams, and the contractor wanted to find a way to give the wall a board and batten look.' To achieve that look, the Saginaw, Or., plant glued lhe panels together and then made a machine to carve grooves along the length of the wall to simulate lhe look of dimensional lumber

Stick To Facts For References

Traditionally employers have cooperated with companies requesting references for former or present employees, but, after recent court cases, many now fear they may be charged with slander or libel.

Some labor experts caution previous employers to limit information to dates of employment, positions held, salary and attendance record. The following tips are meant as a guide through the pitfalls of references:

/ Stick to facts you can prove.

/ Discuss only documented work behavior.

/ Yerify the caller's identity if contacted by phone.

/ Ask what the job application lists and then confirm or deny information about salary, title, qualifications, length of time worked, etc.

/ Provide no information about the employee's personal life.

/ Never say the current or former employee filed a discrimination claim, even if it's true. This could be illegal retaliation.

/ Avoid all of the above by writing reference letters for good employees leaving the company. Be specific, include only provable facts. Avoid the possibility of a wrongful discharge suit by writing no recommendation letters for unsatisfactory employees being dismissed.

/ Writing "without legal responsibility" at the top of a reference is advisable.

Back To Basics

A back support belt designed to eliminate uncomfortable belt ride-up has been introduced by OK-l Manufacturing.