Boise Gascade Glosing ldaho Lumber And Plywood Operations

V Y strangling the supply of timber from Idaho's federal forests, Boise Cascade Corp., Boise, Id., is permanently closing its plywood and lumber operations in the state.

Lumber and plywood operations and an electrical power/cogeneration facility in Emmett and a sawmill in Cascade, Id., will close by mid-year.

"I am very disappointed that we are forced to take this step. Idaho is the corporate home of Boise Cascade," said George J. Harad, chairman of the board and ceo. "However, we simply no longer have an adequate and reliable supply of timber from Idaho's federal forests with which to operate our mills."

According to Harad, "We have worked for years to promote an understanding at the federal level that the national forests can and should provide dependable and sustainable resources for Idaho's forest industry, while meeting all of their environmental objectives. However, despite an adequate supply of timber, under the policies of the Clinton Administration and pressure from environmental groups, the amount of timber offered for commercial harvest has declined more than 9O7o over the past five years."

Combined with intensive litigation and appeals by environmental groups, Harad does "not believe this situation will change anytime soon."

Approximately 375 positions will be eliminated-about 215 in Emmett, 80 at Cascade, and 20 additional forestry and administrative positions. The company does not expect to sell the facilities to another wood products manufacturer since "a new owner would face the same situation that Boise Cascade has been facing for over a decade-an inadequate supply of timber from federal land." In addition, a new owner would not have access to Boise Cascade's timberlands in the state.

A laminated beam facility in Emmett, currently being expanded with the addition of a new press, and the RiverBend remanufacturing plant in Horseshoe Bend will continue to operate.

The closures will mark the end of virtually all of Boise Cascade's wood products manufacturing operations in Idaho. At one time, Boise Cascade also operated mills in McCall, Council, and Horseshoe Bend.

Still, the company will retain a sig- nificant presence in the state with a total of over 1,300 employees at its corporate headquarters, corrugated container plants in Burley and Nampa, office products DC in Boise, and building materials DCs in Boise

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Custom to find out how we will save you time, money and trips

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Western Wood Products Assn. - March 10-13, annual meeting, Doubletree-Lloyd Center, Portland, Or.; (503) 224-3930.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada - March 12-13. meetings & legislative day, Sacramento; March 15, 2nd Growth meeting, Long Beach, Ca.; (916) 369-7501.

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association - March 12-15, spring committee meetings, Denver, Co.; (410) 546-0791.

Western Building Material Association - March 13-15, sales workshops, WBMA Hq., Olympia, Wa.; (888) 551-9262.

International Panel & Engineered Wood Technology Clinic & Show - March 14-16, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Or.; (800) 227-4675.

International Wood Products Association - March 14-16.45th annual convention, San Juan, Puerto Rico; (703) 820-6696.

American Woodworker Show - March 16-18, Convention Center, San Diego, Ca.; (800) 914-9395.

International Mass Retail Association - March 18-21, loss prevention seminar, Atlanta, Ga.; (703) 841-2300.

FenceCraft 2O0l - March 22-24, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canadar (60q736-2568.

GlobalShop - March 22-24,Chicago, Il.; (800) 646-0091.

Redwood Region Logging Conference - March 22-24, Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, Ukiah, Ca.; (707) 443-4091.

RemodelAmerica - March 29-31, Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Tx ; (847 ) 298-9200.

Western Hardwood Association - March 3l-April 3, annual meeting, El Cid Resort, Mazatlan, Mexico; (360) 834-5202.

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers AssociationMarch 31-April 4, legislative conference, Marriott Metro Hotel, Washington, D.C.; (800) 634-8645.

North American Building Material Distribution AssociationApril l-3, conference, The Lodge, Pebble Beach, Ca.; (888) 747--7862.

Forest Products Society - April 2-5, international symposium, Washington State University, Pullman, Wa.; (608) 231-1361.

International Mass Retail Association - April 4-6, marketing conference, The Buttes Wyndham Resort, Tempe, Az; (103) 84 l -2300.

Wood Truss Council of America - April 4-7, truss technician training seminar, Denver, Co.; (608) 274-4849.

Ace Hardware Corp. - April 6-9, spring show, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, La.; (630) 990-7662.

Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club - April 14, races, Santa Anita Racetrack, Arcadia, Ca; (714) 538-2250.

California Hardware - April 14-15, merchandise market, Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, Ca.; (800) 995-92'73.

Southwest Pine Association - April 18, golf tournament, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Az.; (505) 899-8433.

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors - April 18-19, human resources networking conference, O'Hare Hilton, Chicago, ll.; (202) 872-0885.

Wood Products Manufacturers Association - April 18-21, annual meeting; Branson, Mo.; (978) 8'74-5445.

Hardlines Technology Forum - April 22-25, Marriott Rivercenter, San Antonio, Tx.; (847) 605-1025.

American Institute of Timber Construction - April 23-25, annual meeting, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Az.; (303\ 792-9559.

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid Start' products: wide varietl4 a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that they build great homes.

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For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada's 2nd Growth group will hold its next meetings March l7 at the Holiday Inn-Long Beach Airport and May 17 at the Radisson, Buena Park.

An Associates Council meeting and Southern California yard visits are slated for April 26.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is staging its Colorado WOOD committee golf tournament July 9 at the Ranch Golf Club, Denver, Co.

Home Depot has adopted an energy conservation program for stores located in California, Arizona and Hawaii to help with the West Coast power crisis.

Measures include reducing store lighting by 50Vo during daylight hours or on sunny days, lowering the heat, shutting off parking lot lights one hour after closing, and turning off signage and highway signs after store hours.

Western Building Material Association is sponsoring yard foreman workshops March 27 at the Heritage Inn, Great Falls, Mt.; March 28 at the Red Roof Inn, Portland. Or.. and March 29 at the Owyhee Plaza, Boise, Id.

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is calling on members of its federated associations to attend its annual Legislative Conference April 1-4 in Wash-ington, D.C.

The firm also plans to establish a $150,000 support fund for nonprofit organizations that are assisting lowincome residents with energy related issues. In addition, energy conservation clinics will be held at individual stores.

HomeBase continues veering further from its hardware roots as it tweaks the product mix at future House2Home conversions.

For the second round of 17 House2Home openings in Los Angeles and Orange counties in May, the chain is eliminating many traditional hardware products, such as power and garden tools, faucets and paint, while adding a children's merchandise department.

Although the costly conversions contributed to the company losing $70 million last year, executives remain confident since the new format's first five stores are exceeding expectations.

In addition, the HomeBase in Brea, Ca., will remain closed, as the other four Orange County locations begin their remodels.

Sacramento, Ca., was one of the highest residential growth areas last year, with the dollar value of residential construction increasing 397o ($734 million), reports F.W. Dodge.

Other Western cities with doubledigit growth include Los Angeles and Long Beach, Ca., and Las Vegas, Nv.

The newly formed Wood Promotion Network has launched reportedly the first-ever campaign to build awareness of wood as the world's best building product for home improvement, remodeling and d-i-y projects.

By mobilizinC U.S. and Canadian companies and industry associations, the three-year, $45 million "Be Constructive" campaign hopes to educate consumers and professionals about the attributes of wood and support lumber retailers.

"Wood is the greatest story never told," said Kelly McCloskey, ceo and president of the 120-member-andgrowing WPN. "Wood is the material that literally built North America, from the dream home to the picket fence that surrounds it. We want everyone to know to know why wood continues to be the preferred building material for builders and homeowners alike."

A new Web site, www.beconstructive.com, provides news, information and business support resources for builders and professionals and offers tips and home improvement projects for d-i-yers.

office in Brooklyn Park, Mn., is staffed by veterans of the now-defunct Canton Lumber Co., including branch mgr. Bob Shull, sales reps Steve From, Paul Boehmer, Jim Shull and Cliff Ronning, office mgr. Joannie Deshaw, and, at Newport, yard mgr. Gary Nutz.

When combined with Reid & Wright's Broomfield, Co., yard, the Central States operations now cover most of the territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The Bend yard serves Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Northern California and Hawaii.