guALrTY REDWOOD FENCE BOARDS

Oregon Sawmill Goes Green

Willamette Industries has switched production at its sawmill in Dallas, Or., completely over to green dimension, according to Charles Doolan, manager of lumber sales.

Production will be limited to green. WWPA-graded Douglas fir lumber with red end seals. Capacity is 80 million board feet a year.

"This lumber is all excellently surfaced, pulled to length, packed in standard industry units and stenciled for easy positive identification," says Doolan. SP, truck and piggyback loading are available.

The Dallas sawmill, which was founded in 1906, is one of 57 Willamette Industries manufacturing facilities located in 14 states. Company headquarters are in Portland, Or.

Three Manville Insurers Pay $112 million

Three additional insurers have agreed to pay $ll2 million toward settlement of asbestos-related claims against Manville, Corp., Denver, Co.

With agreements in hand from six insurers for a total of $426 million, Manville is negotiating with 2l other insurance companies with expectations of eventually receiving at least $600 million. The settlement fund is the result of a legal dispute between the insurers and Manville over insurance liability to the thousands of individuals suing Manville in connection with health problems thought to be related to Manville asbestos products.

It is feared that the fund may not be enough to cover all claims since Manville has conceded that part of the money will be used for other costs including propertydamage claims by those who have had to remove asbestos products from their homes and buildings.

Manville sued its insurers for $5 billion in 1980 when the dispute over claims arose. In 1982 the firm filed under Chapter I I of the federal bankruptcy code claiming it could not afford to pay all the health-related asbestos claims. They are protected from creditor lawsuits while they seek to reorganize under Chapter ll.

In addition to the health-related claims, there have been at least 3,500 property damage claims for more than $l billion filed. Manville doesn't believe it will have to pay all these claims since the company was not the sole asbestos producer.

Ernst Adds Washington Unit

Construction is underway on a 35,000 sq. ft. Ernst Home Center in Issaquah, Wa.

Scheduled to open in Sept., the center will cater to the d-i-yer and stock lumber, plywood, electrical items, doors, windows, and home decorating products as well as an outdoor nursery.

Ernst is a division of the Seattle-based Pay 'n Save Corp. which also operates Lamonts apparel outlets, Sportswest sporting goods stores, Bi-Mart discount stores, Von Tobel's home centers, Yard Birds family shopping centers, Schuck's auto specialty stores, Price Savers Membership Warehouses and Northwestern Drug Co., a wholesale business.

SENI0R members of the Rogue Valley Hoo-Hoo Club, Medford, 0r., were honored at an annual dinner recently recognizing their contributions t0 the organization. (1) Mark Hefley, Gerry Foster, Dean Norman, Bob Voegtly, most senior member present. (2) Bob Voegtly, Bob Nelson, Lee Ziesmer, Roy Doe, Norwood Licklider, Jim Bays, Andy Jones, Guy Vinson (3) Bruce Monson, Bob Emmens, John Misslin, Dave Disselbrett. (4) Doug Seeley, Dave English, John Weaver, Jack Couch, Terry Downey, Mike Beaton. (5) Pat Reagan, Phil Shugart, Bob Crews, Dick Maurer. (6) Brad Monson, Mark Hefley. Attendance was 35. Bob Emmens, who participated in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in 1942, was guest speaker.

Wood Machinery's Strong'84

A solid rise in demand during the final quarter revived the volume of orders allowing the wood machine industry to end 1984 on a strong note.

The Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America reported that fourth quarter orders jumped 6.190 from the third quarter of 1984. Fourth quarter figures were down 9.190 compared to the final quarter of 1983.

"The sharp slowdown in economic growth that occurred in the third quarter of 1984 has been followed by a fourth quarter pickup," states WMMA president W. E. Bair.

"Current activity in the woodworking industry is somewhat slow, but the industry is showing signs of faster growth for the second quarter of 1985. Fundamental factors are severe weather conditions and inventory adjustments which have restricted construction trade." he observed.