NBC's "Fish Story" ls A Whopper

NBC's recent attempt to make news by rigging tests on GM pickup trucks is not the only instance in which they have departed from the truth with questionable film footage.

A Jan. 5 broadcast declaring the national forests are being overcut with Idaho's Clearwater National Forest used as an example is not what it seemed, according to the Western Wood Products Association. The story pointed out that logging was killing fish in 70Vo of the streams on the Clearwater and showed Forest Service employees standing in a stream surrounded by floating dead

Washington War Rekindled

The home center war in t[e Puget Sound market has heated up with Oe opening of the first Home Depot in the ar€a

Independents and large competitors such as Eagle Hardware & Garden, Ernst Home & Nursery and HomeBase knew the breather they received following last year's closure of Pay 'N Pak wouldn't last long.

On Jan. 28 Home Depot unveiled the frst of at least 10 stores planned for the Puget Sound area over the next two years. The 111,000 sq. ft. store with 20,000 sq. ft. garden center in Tacoma, Wa., will be followed this surlmer by a 102,000 sq. ft. warehouse and nursery in Seattle.

For additional openings this year, Home Depot is looking at sites in Federal Way and Tukwila, where it made an $8.5 million offer on Frederick & Nelson's 275,000 sq. ft. disribution center.

$46 Billion Birds

An independent study of proposed federal northern spotted owl protection plans estimates the overall cost of these packages at $21 billion to $46 billion.

A University of Washington economics and environmental studies professor and a University of Montana assistant forestry professor assigned a $21 billion societal price tag to the implementation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's 6.9 million acre critical habitat plan. They said the Jack Ward Thomas plan could potentially cost an additional $33 billion to M6billion.

fish. A close-up of dead fish magnified the point.

After checking the story and talking with Clearwater National Forest staff and Idaho Public Television, the Intemrountain Forest Industry Association concluded the story departed from the truth. Based on information uncovered IFIA found the film of "dead" fish was actually footage of a stream that had been shocked with electricity to stun fish for counting. The close-up of dead fish was evidently retrieved from NBC's video librarv and was not shot on the Clearwater or any other National Forest. A Forest Service biologist said the fish was a species found only in the South.

"In addition, the stream itself is unlike any of those on the (Clearwater) forest," said a Forest Service official. "Our personnel cannot recall witnessing fish kills resulting from logging activity."

Following the GM incident, IFIA is exploring legal action against NBC to demand a conection and apology.

NBC has since publicly apologized for their errors in the national forest story.

All models also available as cab and chassis

Boise, Idaho

Lumber Merchants Assoclatlon of Northern Callfornla's annual convention will be May 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency, Lake Tahoe.

Workshops will cover financial planning, tbe Section 125 employee cafeteria benefit plan and borrowing money below the prime rate. Associate members will prcsent a trade show.

Opening event will be the annual Dangerous Divot Diggers golf toumament.

Dimiha Smith has joined the LMA staff as con$oller, meeting planner and newsletter editor.

Lumber Assoclatlon of Southern Callfornla will begin holding spring area meetings late this month.

Dates and areas: March 30. San Fer- nando Valley; April l, San Bernardino/Riverside; April 13, Westside; April 15, Orange County; April 20, Santa Barbara/Ventura; Apnl 22, San Diego; April 27. Eastside. Locations and times will be announced. throughout the tribe's land, which is spread across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.

Second Growth has scheduled its annual weekend conference June 4-6 at Rancho Bemardo Inn, San Diego.

LASC has a prodtrct knowledge course available to help members increase the product knowledge and self confidence of new employees. Available for $85, it offers a Certificate of Completion to those who satisfactorily complete the tests. Subjects covered include interior paneling, ceilings, flooring, ca4reting, gypsum, masonry, cement, nail work, lumber, doors and windows, insulation, plywood, roofing, siding, paint and specialty products.

Owner Michael Nelson, a Navajo, said the company anticipates a summer opening for a new store in Chinle, Az., located "smack in the middle of the reservation."

Negotiations are neady complete to open a store in a 4,000 sq. ft. Navajo-owned building in FortDefiance, Az.

The new stores will incorporate Cotter & Co.'s Build America design. They are currently expanding an existing store, in Kayenta, Az., to handle lumber and building materials.

"We hope to have something very good for the Navajo p@ple," Nelson said.

Navajo Chain Expands

The four-store chain Navajo Westerners, Window Rock, Az., has accelerated its expansion plans to meet the needs of the Navajo Nation.

When tribal president Peterson Zah was elected three years ago, he based his platromr on providing decent housing. The hardware and home center chain wants to help him keep his promise to build ten new homes in each of the 110 Navajo chapters. Delivery of supplies will be required

ROADS SCHOLAR: New cuslomized Mobile Trainino Sctrool allows BonaKemi USA, Aurora, Co., to take its hardwood floor bnding and finishing lraining on the road. Over 450 students have atlended sessions in Denver, Co., dudng the last lhree yean. Nowlhe sdrool on wheels, with over nine lons of equipmenl and 720 q. ft, of hadwood floodng, will b* gin making its way aaoss the country eady this yea.