NEWS BMIEFS

Industry response has generally been very favorable to President Jimmy Carter's plan to increase federal timber soles (see story, p. 2l) unveiling of the feds' plan to implement the proposal is expected shortly . .

Observers are hopeful, if not optimistic, that the government will create a continuing commitment to vigorously manage federal timberland to assure an ade' quate supply of timber for decades to come . .

Last minute snags prevented the expected merger of the National Home Improvement Council and the National Remodelers Assn.; no merger date has yet been set . housewares mfgrs.' sales in '77 hit a record volume of nearly $12 billion, an 8.4% hike...

Housing starts in Mar. (latest figs.) popped up to a brisk 2.074.00O rate from Feb.'s 1,574,000 revised pace; while still below last Mar.'s notch, the 32% increase from Feb. '78 was the largest mo.-tomo. gain since the Commerce Dept. began tallying the nos. in'59

Single family starts rose 34%, as did multifamily starts, which were bolstered by federally subsidized apt. construction buildins permits rose an encouragsng l4%, to the best level so far this year . mobile home shipments rase 2.6% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 276,000 ...

The cost of $$ ls expected to rise following the Federal Reserve Board's tecent credit tight- ening critics feel it will dry up mortgage funds and slow economic growth the slow- down in savings, tho, seems to beeasing...

A rash of new wholesale firms are being est.: DMK Pacific Corp. (415) 796-3670 is a new firm, based in Fremont, Ca., begun by Dwight Curran, formerly with Oregon Pacific, Concord, Ca.; a contributing ed. of The Merchant Magazine, among his other talents, Dwight is selling redwood, fir plywood and Doug. fir lumber, Primar- ilv...

North Star Forest Products is a new wholesale firm started by Bob Riggs, ex-mgr., Sequoia Supply, Fairfield, Ca., and Brad Howell, a former trader with Oregon Pacific, Concord; the new office is in Danville, Ca., . Jim Peck, formerly with Willamette Valley Co., has begun Peck Building Materials, Eugene,Or....

FDW Lumber Ltd. is a new Eugene firm started by Steve Johnson, who was with Champion Building Products Softex Forest Products Inc. is a new wholesale lumber div. Softex International, the 50year old fabrics firm, has begun in Los Angeles

Trinity Millwork Inc. is a new Santa Ana, Ca., company established by Dick Allen, ex-AFP, Cerritos, Ca., .Green Valley Timbers, Cloverdale, Ca., has opened a new wholesale div. in Orangevale, Ca. .Copeland Lumber plans to rebuild its store in Redmond, Or.

Parowan Lumber is a new retail operation in the small Utah town of the same name Mel and Alan Roper plan a new lumber and hardware business at the old McBride Lumber Co., Fillm<rre, Ut. ?adula Lumber, a Willits, Ca., wholesaler, has opened a retail outlet in Blackpoint,Ca....

Burns Lumber Co. has closed its Beaverton, Or., office and opened a new one in Tacoma, Wa., Bracut International, Arcata, Ca., has been appointed exclusive sales agent for Simon: son Lumber's 2 sawmills at Smith River, Ca., McClel' lan Mill & Lumber has moved from Inglewood to Wilmington,Ca.,...

Eel River Sawmills has increased production, thanks in part to a new quad saw, and has enlarged and modernized its offices at Fortuna, C&., . . Boise Cas' cade has finally gotten an ok for a retail store in Rohnert Park, Ca., but still no ok for a rall spur.

Rolando Lumber, San Francisco, has reactivated the dry kilns at their 90 acre Cloverdale, Ca., custom milling facility, enabling them to air and/or kiln dry Smith River Lumber Co., has permanently closed its Drain, Or., mill .

Daylin Inc. fired the Pres. and the treas. of its 63 unit HandY Dan Home Improvement Centers, plus two lower level officers, because the two engaged in "unauthorized and unaccePtable business practices," no legal action has yet been instituted .

Sentry Home Center, Baker, Or., has moved into new quarters in a former Safeway bldg. H&M llholesale, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca., has added two 40' semis to its fleet of trucks wood pallet production set another record in '7 7 , nearlY 5.9 billion b.f. or roughly 15% of U.S. lumber production

International Paper has changed the name of its Long-Bell Div. to the International PaPer Building Materials Div., thus phasing out an old and honored lumber name Kaiser Cement and Gypsum and Medusa Corp.,' Cleveland, Oh., have joined in a $ 150 million merger and will be known now as Kaiset Medusa Corp.,: hq. in Oakland, Ca.