r DEALER Brieft

Backstrom Builders Center, Bend, Or., is closing after 41 years, with the pending retirements of Sue Backstrom and Doug Watson, co-owners since 1986.

The hardware store and lumberyard will close "in the next couple months," after its inventory is liquidated.

Progress Ridge Ace Hardware, Beaverton, Or., held a gland opening March 17-19 for the new 13,000-sq. ft. store (Terry Cain, owner).

Floyd's Ace Hardware, Pahrump, Nv., closed March 31 after 49 years.

Sammamish Ace Hardware, Sammamish, Wa., with its lease expiring in September, has found a new location (see March, p. 17).

Cole Hardw?r€, San Francisco, Ca,, agreed to pay over $50,000 in restitution for enabling city workers to buy personal items at its stores using Public Utilities Commission funds,

A former PUC supervisor and his crew were accused of receiving doctored invoices from vendors, including Cole, and submitting them to the PUC for payment from 2003 to 2007.

A former store employee is awaiting a preliminary hearing, charged with 12 felonies linked to the scam.

Ace Hardw?ro, Missoula, Mt., employees blocked a 29-yearold man from driving away after he allegedly pilfered two reciprocating saws and a drill March 24.

According to police, when the suspect tried to flee in his car, one worker stood in front of the vehicle and tried to take its license plate, then a co-worker blocked its oath with a truck and trailer.

Habitat for Humanity treto a grand opening March 10 for its new ReStore discount outlet in Mills, Wy. Habitat also relocated its ReStore in Billings, Mt., to a larger facility and doubled the size of its Salem, 0r., store to 17,000 sq. ft.

Lowe's was named the official home improvement retailer of Six Flags amusement parks.

Anniversaries: Farmer's Buildinq SuPPlY, Grants Pass, 0r., 50th ...Jarnis frue Value Hardware, Cheney, Wa.,40th.

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Brent Bearnson, ex-Foxworth-Galbraith, has been named regional operations mgr. for Bloedorn Lumber Co., Torrington, Wy.

Thom Wright, ex-All-Coast Forest Products, is new to sales at Redwood Empire, Morgan Hill, Ca.

Jeffrey Hoggard is a new lumber trader at American International Forest Products, Portland, Or.

Jerry A. Heemstra, ex-Simpson Investment Co., has been named chief financial officer for McFarland Cascade, Tacoma, Wa. Jason Sele, ex-Bright Wood, is now director of information technology.

Jim Ziminski, ex-Bluelinx, is now category mgr.-insulation at ProBuild Holdings, Denver, Co. Ed Waite, executive v.p.-local operations, transferred from Denver back to Alaska. as senior v.p.-operations. He earlier had been based in Anchorage as president of the Spenard Builders Supply division. Paul Fuller, ex-Reeb Millwork, is now general mgr. of ProBuild's window & door desisn center in Santa Cruz, Ca.

Barry Haugen, ex-Arch Wood Protection, joined Troy Corp., Florham Park, N.J., as western regional mgr. for its coating division.

Don Kavert, ex-Ban Lumber, is now shipping & receiving mgr. for Universal Forest Products, Riverside. Ca.

Jason Allen is now general mgr. of International Wood Products' Tumwater, Wa., branch. Christina Buttz, ex-Lumber Products, is new to sales. Bob Berwick is now v.p.sales & marketing, based in Clackamas, Or.

Dean Hague, ex-Swanson Group, is now with Sherwood Lumber, Medford, Or.

Michael Jarman, ex-Bridgewell Resources, is now handling international sales for Wood Brokerage International, Lake Oswego, Or.

Steven Ward, ex-Talon/AFA-USA, has founded Far East Trading, Wilsonville, Or. Jin-Li Lao, exTalon, is Chinese sales mgr.

Brian Johnson, ex-Clearwater Paper, is new to sales at Enyeart Cedar Products, Tigard, Or.

Eric J. Cremers was named executive v.p. and chief financial officer for Potlatch Corp., Spokane, Wa. Brent Stinnett, v.p.-resource management, is retiring at year's end. Ward Cooper, ex-Weyerhaeuser, is now environmental mgr. in St. Maries,Id.

Robert Argall has been named merchandise mgr. of the hardware department for Orchard Supply Hardware. San Jose. Ca.

Ara Erickson, ex-Forterra, was named sustainability mgr. at Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa.

Kevin Measel was appointed senior v.p.-store operations for Lowe's West division, replacing Jim Frasso, who is retiring after 17 years with the company.

Steven Benasso is new to commercial sales at Pabco Gypsum, Rancho Cordova, Ca.

Steve Stallard has joined ECi Software Solutions. Fort Worth. Tx., overseeing business development for the LBM market.

Kent C. Strait is visually grading boards at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

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Screw Products Inc., cig Harbor, Wa., rs now marketing its full line of fasteners and hardware through a new site, www.screwsolutions.com, lf you're looking for quality and value from your insurance provider, please contact us at 8OO.752."1895 or log onto www. plm i ns.com/adlM M.

In addition, Screw Products' C-Deck comoosite deck screw has been approved for use with Trex Transcend and Enhance lines.

Freres Lumber, Lyon, 0r.. suffered damage to a machine shop from a Feb. 16 fire.

Coos Head Forest Products, Coos Bay, Or., is now distributing the FSC-certifiec Humboldt Redwood line of decking, fencing, garden and landscaping products.

Heppner Hardwoods, Azuza, Ca., now distributes Incadex cumaru decking (414"x6" and 5/4"x6") from the Bozovich Group's FSC-certified forests in Peru.

Chicago Suburban, Forest Park, ll., is stocking Diamond Pier from Pin Foundations, Gig Harbor, Wa.

Premier SIPS by Insulfoam, Tacoma. Wa.. has earned FSG chainof-custody certification for the OSB it uses in its SlPs.

Jeld-Wen, Klamath Falls, Or., achieved FSC certification for custom wood windows and oatio doors manufactured in pine at its Bend, Or., facility.

Roseburg, Dillard, Or., obtained Eco-Certified Composite certification from the Composite Panels Association for its four comoosite panel plants-Dillard, Missoula, Mt.; Taylorville, Ms., and Simsboro, La.

Timber Products, Springfield, Or., received CPA's Eco-Certified Composite Sustainability Standard for particleboard at its Medford, Or., plant.

Eco Building Products, vista, Ca., obtained GreenGuard Children & Schools Certification for its Eco Red Shield coatings.

Stimson Lumber's shuttered sawmill in Bonner, Mt., installed a new wood chiooer to break down excess logs and ship the wood chips by rail to mills in Washington.

Nevada Wood Preserving, Silver Springs, Nv., received an OSHA Safe Partner award.

At PLM, we understand that you need an insurance company with property and casualty insurance products and services that you can trust today and tomorrow.

For over 1 OO years, our experts have been providing quality claims and risk management services to the lumber, woodworking and building material industries. Remember, "you get what you pay for." We understand wood. We know your business... because it's our business too. Wood is all we do.

Chief Executive