FRDD C.

84 Lumber had a location in 1978 on "D" Street in Las Vegas, where I was hired, and which subsequently closed in the early '80s.

They had a yard in Henderson which operated for several years in the early '80s. They also had their regional office in Reno where I worked from 1980-1987. and also two yards: one in Sparks and another next to the regional office.

This would be their second attempt in a very unfamiliar market for them.

Michael Philippi

Hope Lumber Co.

12215E.6Ist St. Broken Arrow, Ok.74012

Tech Nabs Lumber Crooks

A little investment in technology paid offbigfor BMC West Building Materials Center, Hazel Dell, Wa., as four old-time crooks tried to make off with $20,000 in lumber and building materials.

Two company flatbed trucks, which had been fitted with Global Positioning System technology, were recovered shortly after their theft as a result of employees tracking them through the @Road system that monitors GPS signals.

Four men apparently entered the lumber yard before sunrise Nov. 6, knocked down a gate and a fence, and then loaded up the two trucks with a company forklift.

Soon after the trucks' signals were located, police pursued the assailants before one truck stopped and another crashed intoautility pole in Washougal, Wa.

All four men fled on foot from the scene of the accident. One of the men, David Allen Nelson, 38, of Portland, Or., was caught by a police dog in some nearby bushes.

Nelson has been charged with second-degree burglary, first-degreetheft and possession of stolen property. The other three men are still at large.

BMC assistant mgr. Michael Johnson said all the lumber and building materials were recovered, although some of them were damaged in the truck crash.

U.S. Lumber Output To Drop

An uncertain economy, shaky consumer confidence and continuing U.S. actions overseas will most likely reduce U.S. lumber demand next year.

Western Wood Products Association expects demand to decline 2.8Vo to around 51.7 billion bd. ft. of lum- ber in 2002.

New home starts, which performed better than expected in 2001, are expected to dip to 1.52 million next year. As a result, lumber used in residential construction will likely fallto 19.9 billion bd. ft. Lumber usage in the repair/remodeling market is expected to decline 2.57o to 15.8 billion bd. ft.

"Although demand will be lower, we expect production at western mills to remain steady next year," said WWPA president Michael O'Halloran.

In response to the lower demand, U.S. lumber manufacturers are expected to curtail production l.4%o to 34.4 billion bd. ft. in 2002

Western production levels are projected to dip |.6%o next year to 16.5 billion bd. ft., compared to an expected 2.67o deuease this year.

Western lumber production was down 2.57o through the first nine months of 2001. Production at coast mills was up 2.4Vo, whereas output at inland mills was down 6.9Vo.

Imports from Europe and New Zealand are forecast to increase in2O02, but will still only represent a small share of the overall lumber suoolv.

William F. "Bill" Scharpf, 82, retired owner, Scharpf's Twin Oaks Builders' Supply Co., Albany, Or., died Sept. 4 from cancer.

Scharpf founded Scharpf's Supply Co. in 1946 with his brother George. ln 1952, after their father's death, they bought out his partner's share in Twin Oaks Builders Supply Co., Eugene, Or. They combined the companies forming Scharpf's Twin Oaks Builders Supply.

He was a past president of the Timber Carnival.

Everit Paul Sliter, 32, manager, Sliter's Ace Lumber & Building Supply, Bigfork, Mt., died in car accident Aug. 15 near Helena, Mt.

He was the house majority leader in the Montana House of Representatives. At the time of his death, he was serving his fourth term.

John W. "Jack" Shoemaker, 69, retired executive v.p. of the National Wood Window & Door Association (now the Window & Door Manufacturers Association). died Oct. 22 in St. Petersburg, Fl.

A native of Chicago, Shoemaker joined the NWWDA in 1968 when it was known as the National Woodwork Manufacturers Association. He retired in 1994.

Cathy Baldwin Dunn, 54, v.p.-communications, Willamette Industries, Portland Or., died of cancer Nov. 6. Dunn joined Willamette in 1978 as a corporate communications mgr. She was promoted to v.p. in 199-l

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