Industry News Roundup

By Scott Dane

The national voice for log gers, the American Loggers Council has opened an office in Washington, DC, one block from the White House.

The iconic movie, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” depicts a common-sense, small town, albeit naïve and politically unsavvy Washington outsider going to DC. In a sense perhaps the American Loggers Council can be likened to that Jimmy Stewart character, Mr. Smith, who quickly discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process but remains steadfast in his values as he stands alone in an inspired fight against corruption and greed, ultimately succeeding in his political quests. It is likewise our intent to prevail.

Some may view the American Log gers Council, and the people that we represent, as “naïve” to the inner workings of the DC machine, but like Mr. Smith, in my 17 years of state and federal legislative work, I have found one simple formula for political success—forthright honesty. If elected and non-elected officials know that they can trust you and your message, then they are willing to work with you. Furthermore, for the most part loggers are respected with in the halls of Congress, both right and left. Loggers represent hard working, “boots on the ground,”

“salt of the earth,” “last of a breed” men and women who are admired within the denizens of the Capitol.

Additionally, relationships are the basis for both business and politics.

American Loggers Council represents the politics of business, particularly at the federal level. To establish and build these relationships you must be “where” this busi ness of politics is conducted—Washington, DC, not Gilbert, Minnesota.

“The famous bank robber Willie

Sutton was asked, “Why do you rob banks?” He replied, “Because that’s where the money is.”

Washington, DC is where the money is (at least you’d think so the way it is thrown around sometimes), but that is not actually why the American Loggers Council is establishing an office in DC. More importantly, Washington, DC is where the laws, policies and decisions are made that affect your business and your “money.”

It has been said: “If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu.”

American Loggers Council wants to make sure that the timber industry has a seat at the table and is not on the menu; that is why we have opened an office in DC. This American Loggers Council office will be available to use for the members during their visits to DC as an additional benefit of member ship (please contact the Council in ad vance to schedule use of the office and its amenities during your visit in Washington, DC).

Some may believe that the timber industry is Mr. Smith, but like him, naïve as it may seem, the American

Loggers Council believes that those in Washington, DC still work for us, those who elected them. Therefore, the Council is prepared to be in DC: working to address the challenges and threats to the timber industry, establish relationships and solve problems. After all, the timber in dustry is a vital economic and environmental partner: l Post-Pandemic Recovery l Rural Job Development l Healthy Forest Management

l Wildfire Mitigation l Carbon Sequestration l Renewable Energy & Fuel l Forest Products Production

Absent a stable and sustainable tim ber industry, none of these economic and environmental benefits are achievable.

Healthy forests should not be a partisan issue. The American Loggers Council looks forward to working with our elected officials and government agencies in Washington, DC to address the shared objectives and take advantage of the opportunities that the timber industry represents in achieving these benefits.

Scott Dane is Executive Director of the American Loggers Council. ALC is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests of timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses across the United States. For more information visit www.amloggers.com.

A life celebration service for Robert Joseph (Joe) Allen, 74, was held November 17 at First Baptist Church, Folkston, Ga. He died No vember 13 at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla., af ter apparently suffering a massive stroke at his Folkston residence.

A native of Folkston, Allen was ad mired locally and was well known and highly respected in the broader forestry community. He worked as a forester and operated a logging business before becoming the leader of the Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. (SWPA).

Rev. Randy Jacoby, FBC pastor, led the well-attended and uplifting service, recognizing Allen’s deep Christian commitment and dedication as a willing servant. Among other things, Allen served as Deacon Chairman and taught Sunday School at FBC.

The pastor, a Florida Gators fan, even dressed in a black suit and red tie in recognition of Allen’s deep fondness for the rival Georgia Bulldogs.

Also eulogizing Allen was Donna Nance, his sister; Charles Johns, a close friend and retired local logger and former president of the American Loggers Council (ALC); and Cheryl Russell, another close friend and former leader of the ALC. Johns also read comments of praise written by current ALC Executive Director Scott Dane, who noted Allen’s influential role in the 1994 formation of the organization when Allen served as leader of the SWPA. In that ca pacity he served as a strong advocate and voice for the logging industry in Georgia and Florida.

In 2008 Allen joined Caterpillar Forest Products as Manager of Cat’s Forest Training Center in Auburn Ala., relocating to nearby Opelika, Ala. He retired from this position in 2015 and returned to Folkston. Earlier, after earning a degree in for estry from the University of Georgia, he worked for Union Camp Corp. and Gilman Paper Co. before founding and operating a forestry/ logging business.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 54 years, Marion Murray Allen; one sister, one bro ther, and eight nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Folkston Building Fund, 1320 3rd St., Folkston, GA 31537; Philadelphia Freewill Baptist Church, 2062 Sardis Rd., Folkston, GA 31537; or the Bart Allen Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 9, Hilliard, FL 32046.

Major hardwood lumber producer Northwest Hardwoods is relocating its head office from Tacoma, Wash. to Frisco, Texas. CEO Nathan Jeppson states, “This is an important move for our company as we position for longterm growth, and increasingly focus on delivering a world class customer experience.”

NWH is the largest United States manufacturer of hardwood lumber with a current annual capacity of 320MMBF. Its North America operations include 19 facilities that produce more than 20 species of domestic hardwoods. Northwest Hardwoods is emerging out of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. NWH reports it has substantially reduced its long-term debt obligations.

Platinum Equity has acquired Oregon Tool, a leading manufacturer of saw chain and guide bars for chain saws, as well as lawn mower blades, agricultural tractor attachments and a

broad range of other products.

“For nearly 75 years Oregon Tool has earned its reputation as a global leader in precision cutting tools through hard work, innovation and a commitment to the highest quality standards,” says Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson. “We are excited to work with Paul Tonnesen and the company’s management team to invest in a new generation of growth and expansion.”

With more than 3,200 team members, Oregon Tool sells thousands of products in more than 110 countries under multiple professional and consumer brands like Oregon, Woods, Carlton and ICS. Earlier this year, the company rebranded from Blount International to Oregon Tool, an effort that highlights its unique heritage and long history of innovation.

Oregon Tool CEO Paul Tonnesen remains CEO and will continue to lead the company. Oregon Tool was founded by Joe Cox in 1947 as the Oregon Saw Chain Corp.

A life celebration service was held November 13 in McComb, Miss. for retired logging equipment businessman Pat Doyle, 81, who died in McComb on November 6.

A Wisconsin native, Doyle served in the Air Force for four years following completion of high school and af ter his honorable discharge enrolled at The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he earned a BS degree in business administration and economics.

He went to work for International Har vester Co., promoting a new skidder that IH had re cently introduced. He then worked briefly for Cascade Corp. before joining CanCar Equipment Co., later to become Tree Farm er Equipment, in Atlanta as regional manager and then transferred to Mc Comb to open and manage a new Tree Farmer branch. He returned to Atlanta to serve as General Manager of Tree Farmer. In 1979 Doyle followed his heart’s desire to own his own business. He returned to McComb and formed DM Equipment Co. with longtime friend Ray Montalvo. After a few years he became D-M’s sole owner and he and his wife Carlyn worked together for 32 years with a staff of loyal employees.

In 2010 Doyle sold the business to Puckett Machinery Co. and worked for Puckett in a consulting capacity for four years. He officially retired in 2015 so he could spend more time with his wife—they were married for 52 years—children, grandchildren and friends. He and Carlyn especially enjoyed cruise vacations with their entire family.

Doyle was proud to be a longtime member of the McComb community. He was a loyal, active parishioner of St. Alphonsus Catholic

Church, serving on the finance coun cil and as an usher for many years. He was honored to be a longtime member of the board of directors for First Bank, and was a member of the Mississippi Forestry

Assn. and Southwest Mississippi

Forestry group. He was a 16-year participant of Manresa House of

Retreats, a Catholic men’s retreat in

Louisiana.

Survivors include his widow, two children, five grandchildren and two sisters.

Memorial donations: St. Richard

Catholic Church Special Kids Program, Attn: Chelsea Vaughn, P.O.

Box 16547, Jackson, MS 39236 or

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, P.O.

Box 1105, McComb, MS 39649.

An oriented strandboard plant in Allendale, SC will now have its third ownership since starting up in 2006. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. is purchasing the facility from Georgia-Pacific for $280 million. The Allendale facility has been idle since late 2019 when GP shut it down citing market conditions. The plant has an estimated annual production capacity of 760MMSF (3/8 in. basis).

West Fraser intends to invest $70 million to upgrade and optimize the facility in preparation for a restart in nine months. The mill is expected to employ 135. West Fraser states the mill will be one of the lowest cost mills in the company’s OSB portfolio after the optimization is completed and the mill has ramped up to full production, a process that it says typically takes 18-24 months after restart.

In 2005 Ontario-based Grant Forest Products announced it would invest $400 million in building two

OSB mills in South Carolina, one in Allendale and the other in Alcolu in Clarendon County. When the U.S. economy went into a recession Grant sold the two OSB plants to GeorgiaPacific in 2010. In 2019 GP idled the Allendale OSB facility along with a sawmill in South Carolina.

Early this year West Fraser entered the OSB arena when it completed the purchase of Norbord Inc., the world’s largest OSB producer, for $3.1 billion. Norbord operated 15 OSB mills in the U.S., Europe and Canada. West Fraser was known primarily as a sawmill company, while operating a handful of non-OSB panel facilities.

Diversified producer Woodgrain has expanded its operations and is planning a big investment with the acquisition of Independence Lumber, which has sawmill locations in Independence, Va. and Elkin, NC. Independence, operating in re ceiver ship, was sold to Woodgrain in July by Three Twenty-One Capital Partners. According to Woodgrain officials, the purchase will create new jobs and help retain existing jobs in the two locations while allowing further vertical integration by supplying lumber to a nearby Woodgrain millwork plant in Marion, Va.

Based in Fruitland, Id., Woodgrain is a major manufacturer with 10 millworks, door and window manufacturing facilities and seven distribution centers nationwide. The company also operates softwood mills at Emmett, Id., and Pilot Rock and La Grande, Ore., and a particleboard plant at Island City, Ore.