NEWS BRIEFS

New single-family home sales in '74 dropped $2.5 bitlion from '73's $22 billion. average price was up almost l0%. .California has a new law exempting its timber industry from environmental impact rules until ll1l16 (.see The Merchant. p. 26, May issue ).

Carl Bauer returned to his Bauer Lumber Co., Compton,Ca., from vacation to find an arsoncreated fire had caused about $100,000 damage to his firm, all records were saved, tho. . .More than 5100,000 fire damage was reported after a recent fire at Kings River Phrc Industries, Auberry, Ca., no injuries. . .2 fbrk- lifts valued at $30.000 nlus S1.000 additional losses resuited from a recent fire at Nielson Builtlirtg Materials, Mesa, Az.

A body beheved to be the skeletal remains of Herbert R. Gorman, owner of a Chicaso Park (Sacramento) Ca., buildiig supply lirm bearing his name, was found in the charred remains of the firm following a $ 150,000 fire. . .police theorize he touched off the blaze prior to taking his own life.

Celotex, Georgia-Pacific, Notional Gypsum and U..9. Gypsum and three of their officers have been found guilty by the federal gov. of fixing wallboard prices from 1960-'73; fined $50,000 each, the companies vowed to appeal. .the Justrce Dept. is pondering, once the appeals are over, breaking up the 4 majors into a number of smaller companies.

Champion International, N.Y. ; Young & Morgan, Inc., Mill City, Or-;Freres Lumber Co. andFreres Veneer Co., Lyons , ()r.; and Bugaboo Timber Co., Mill City, have been convicted in federal court, Portland, of collusion in bidding on federal timber in the Willamette National Forest; appeals are currently being filed.

Capital Lumber Cb., Phoenix, has a new logo; is planning more special services for customers, seminars and sales training sessions. .the Henston Lumber Co., Twin Falls, Id., is building a new 10,000 sq. ft. home improvement center, est. cost is $200,000.

Burns Lumber Supply is a new Burns. Or.. retailer. .Art Masters has resigned as president of the King Luntber Co. chain of retail stores based in Bakerstield, Ca.,. .Virgiria Hardwood, Monrovia, Ca.,.has been appointed a distributor of Arco's Permagrain in Hawari as well as So. Ca.. Az. and So. Nv.

Desert Bttilders Supply, Brawley, Ca., is working on their new $42,000 expansion project, which will feature drive-thru lumber shopping. . ?acific Avenue Promart Ilctrne Center is the new name for Pac. Ave. Handyman's Supply, Tacoma, Wa.

Schlage Lock Co., San Francisco, is building a new $2.5 million Hq. 60,000 sq. ft. of office plus r&d facilities. . Mid-Sierra. Stockton. Ca., has been sold for an undisclosed amount to Michigan Birch Door MJg., Mt. Clemens, Mi. Narad, Inc. has acquired Permaneer's Oroville, Ca., cut stock plant, no $$ figs. revealed.

Brookhart's Home Centers. Colorado Springs, Co., is working with other area merchants on LEAP (Let's Employ A Person) in an attempt to provide at least part-time or short-term employment for the unemployed and under employed of the area.