Stimson To Buy ldaho

Idaho Forest Industries, Coeur d'Alene, Id., has tentatively agreed to sell its three North Idaho sawmills and approximately 89,000 acres of timberland to Stimson Lumber Co.. Portland, Or.

Sale of the mills in Coeur d'Alene, Priest River and St. Maries is expected to close at year end.

"We've bought a great company," said Stimson president Dan Dutton. "We share similar philosophies, management, objectives, people and products."

Stimson, founded in 1873, currently operates mills in Bonner and Libby, Mt.; Arden and Chehalis, Wa., and Forest Grove and Clatskanie. Or.: timberland management offices in Forest Grove, Newport, Wa., and Crescent City, Ca., and owns 20,315 acres of timberland in Idaho, plus over 260,000 acres in western Oregon, eastern Washington and Northern California.

IFI chairman W.T. "Tom"

Richards and his twin brother. John. are retiring and said no other family members are interested in taking over the business. The Richards family