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Western Building Material Association will hold its mid-year board and committee meetings JuJy 20-22 at Templin's Resort, Post Falls, Id.

Western Hardwood Association has compiled a full slate of speakers for its annual meeting June 22-25 in Sunriver, Or.

Potlatch's Pat Moore will address hybrid popular; American Forest

Resource Council's Bob Dick, new Forest & Fish Rules in Washington; Timber Products' Roger Rutain and Eric Colin, hardwood plywood; Oregon State forester Jim Brown, sustained yield, and Roger Scott, educating small woodland owners. Chain of custody cerification and British Columbia hardwoods also will be addressed.

Gompetitor Sues Depot Over Trade Secrets

Home Depot and one of its California subsidiaries are being sued by a firm that alleges the companies illegally used trade secrets gathered duri ng acquisition negotiations.

Texas-based Century Maintenance Supply has brought Maintenance Warehouse, San Diego, Ca., its parent Home Depot and a former Century employee to Sacramento, Ca., county court seeking unspecified financial damages.

The seeds of the dispute stem from Home Depot's unsuccessful attempt to acquire Century in 1999. The suit claims that Home Depot used confidential information gleaned during negotiations to later compete unfairly against Century.

Furthermore, the suit names former Century South Sacramento sales representative Mark Tustin, alleging that when he joined Maintenance Supply in Rocklin, Ca., in 2001, he divulged trade secrets and solicited Century customers in violation of an employee exit agreement.

Attorney Benjamin Webster, who represents the defendants, said his clients "flatly deny the claims against them."

Home Depot and Century signed and agreement in 1999 stating that if acquisition attempts failed, they would not disclose any confidential information. The two companies also agreed not to hire any Century workers until May 2002.

Century will argue for a preliminary injunction against Maintenance Supply and Home Depot April 18 in Sacramento.

For over 75 years, our customers in California have depended on Burns Lumber for unmatched expertise, service and quality products. Now, we're making it easier to do business with us. We're getting closer. We're pleased to announce two new wholesale distribution facilities:

We offer handling and storage, iob site delivery, LTL service and route truck service. Our products include green and kiln-dried Douglas Fir; 2x4-Economy, Utility, Std/Btr, #2, #l , Selects, 4 through 24 foot; 2x6 and 2x | 4-Economy, #3, #2lBtr, Selects, 8 through 28 foot; and timbers, studs and MSR lumber.

We've been meeting customer needs and delivering quality lumber, building products, and services at competitive prices for over 75 years. We plan to continue doing just that. You can count on us.

Call us at one of our regional sales offices.