GeoDeck-Not Your Normal Composite Deck

Pacific Northwest DC for Ace

Ace Hardware will start construction of a 788,000-sq. ft. regional distribution center on a 74-acre site in Moxee, Wa.

Just l0 miles l-rom its existing center in Yakima, the new facility could be expanded to 1.2 million sq. ft. and will include the latest warehousing and distribution technology. It will house an estimated $40 million in inventory for distribution to the more than 400 Ace retailers in Alaska. Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

"Ace's 506,500-sq. ft. Yakima

RDC, rvhich opened in 1984, has been operating at maximum capacity for some time," said Bill Bauman, v.p. for retail support. "Building a new and significantly larger facility is critical in order for Ace to respond to growing retail sales and to serve the increasing number of Ace retailers in the region."

When the new location opens in early 2006, the Yakima RDC will close and its staff will transfer to the new location. "We expect that our existing workforce of more than 300 employees will eventually work at our new Moxee facilitv." said Bauman.

Historic Mill Winding Down

A sawmill in Yakima. Wa.. that dates back to the birth of Boise Cascade LLC is permanently closing.

Two years ago, as it increasingly focused on consumer and office products. Boise sold the venerable mill for $3.25 million to Melvin L. and Norman N. McDougal, timberland and mill owners in Eugene, Or. In February 2004, they then began leasing the facility to Yakima Resources LLC to operate.

According to Yakima Resources' Jeff Demers, the shutdown will result in the loss of as many as 116 jobs, although a plywood mill in the same complex will continue to operate. It employs 248.

"So far, the plywood plant has performed well," Demers said, "and we think its prospects are good."

He attributed the sawmill's closure to an anemic market for shop lumber, a scarcity of raw logs, and the age of the machinery. "Boise had not invested much into the mill," Demers said.

The mill complex was formed alongside the Yakima River in 1902 as Cascade Lumber, a principal forerunner of Boise Cascade.

Arsonist Given The Max

A disgruntled employee has received the maximum allowable sentence of seven years in prison after confessing to setting fire to Stock Building Supply, West Jordan, Ut.

Justus Ireland,24, pleaded guilty to one count of destruction of property by fire, explaining that he was a diagnosed pyromaniac. According to his attorney, Ireland set the fire soon after Stock fired him, and he stopped taking his medication for anxiety and depression and ingested a high dose of painkillers.

To divert suspicion, Ireland spraypainted "ELF'-for Earth Liberation Front-at different locations in the lumberyard and faxed a letter claiming responsibility by ELF.

"He wanted to set a fire," said prosecutor Robert Lunnen. "He wanted to see something burn."

The June 2004 blaze caused $1.5 million in damages. Yet reportedly Stock has not been able to collect money from its insurer because of initial suspicions of terrorism.

Ireland agreed to share information with the company to help resolve the dispute.

"Stiff. Strong. Stable. That's why I specify Doug Fir. lt's proven performance makes a qualiry product. Su'anson Group offers a variew of panel rypes that work in multiple applications. They'll deliver what you need on spec, on markct and on time."

Call to order dirnension, sttrds or plywood. All your building needs at one place.

Pli.rvood: (541) 832.1175 (54r) 832.1254

Studs: (541) 832j145