Cat Coast Wholesale Lumber, Inc.

ldaho Welcomes lndependent

A new building materials business has opened in Blackfoot, Id., priding itself on being old-fashioned.

Phoenix Lumber co-owners Mike Marlatt, Nancy Reynolds and Robert Ruffridge together bring more than 50 years of experience in lumber sales, millwork, and retail hardware to the community.

Marlatt previously managed Anderson Lumber, Blackfoot, and worked with Reynolds and Ruffridge at BMC West, Pocatello, Id., before it closed.

"Our focus is different than what a Home Depot is," said Marlatt, who also serves as general manager. "We're not a home center; we're a lumberyard with a hardware store."

Phoenix caters to contractors and builders. The operation features a drive-thru lumber warehouse, an outside sales team, two trucks to provide job-site delivery, and a pro-focused retail store. There are no diversions like plumbing and electrical.

"In my opinion, lumberyards lost track over the years of what they did best," Marlatt explained. "They tried to do everything, and what they ended up doing is not doing anything well.

So we focused very narrowly on building materials and hardware that builders use, and we'll do the best job we can."

Although the business began operations a year ago, it moved into its "permanent location" in March and held a grand opening June 16.

Lance Churba is yard foreman.

G-P To Acquire La Pine Mill

By the end of the month, GeorgiaPacific Corp. hopes to finalize the purchase of a woodchipping mill in La Pine, Or.

Mountain High Timber, currently owned by Tom Harmon Logging, La Pine, will chip small-diameter logs for delivery to G-P's paper mills in Oregon and Washington. "GeorgiaPacific is hoping to provide a steady output for these products, because for the most part, these woodchips will be consumed by Georgia-Pacific," said Gerald Keck, G-P's area manager for Central and Eastern Oregon.

Mountain High Timber has been in operation on and off since the mid1990s, and the sale is expected to create more jobs throughout the community since G-P will buy logs for chipping from local loggers.