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Exports to China are brisk, but they’ll slow down in 2012
BY TOM CALLIS PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Thousands of debarked logs sit in a yard near Port of Port Angeles Terminal 1 awaiting transport on ships to China and other Asian ports. The Chinese calligraphy at upper left signifies “tree.”
BY MIKE BAKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA — State lawmakers are in advanced discussions to make at least $400 million in budget cuts this week as a preliminary fix to the state’s $1.4
billion shortfall. Republican Rep. Gary Alexander said Friday he is reviewing a proposal from his Democratic counterparts seeking revisions and additions to reach as much as $500 million in savings. Lawmakers said they are optimistic the measure will be passed next week because it reserves more contentious issues for discussion later. “There’s enough low-hanging fruit that we can make sig-
TWO FEATURES THAT covered topics in Sequim This Week, the PDN’s weekly newspaper that ceased publication in early November, are now part of your Sunday PDN because of popular demand — for the enjoyment and information of readers across the entire North Olympic Peninsula. Beginning today: ■ “The People’s Pharmacy” by Joe and Terry Graedon returns with more great health advice. Page C6 ■ “Pet Connection,” a new advice column on pets by a team of experts headed by veterinarian Marty Becker. Page C4 These columns join longtime Sunday columns about gardening, the waterfront and birdwatching plus, of course, Dear Abby and Rants & Raves. Inside!
PORT ANGELES — After hitting levels not seen in nearly two decades, log exports from the North Olympic Peninsula are expected to take a drop next year. A growing appetite for logs ALSO . . . in China made exports sky■ On the rocket this year, from 20.25 milWaterfront: lion board feet in 2010 — which Next log itself reached an 11-year high ship due — to a projected height of 80 Monday/D2 million board feet by year’s end. The evidence can be seen along the Port Angeles waterfront, where logs are continually stacked high while waiting to be loaded into containers or onto log ships. But tightening credit restrictions in China combined with a backlog of timber are expected to create a drop in demand, industry analysts and log exporters said. “There are too much logs over in China now,” said Hakan Ekstrom, president of Wood Resources International LLC.
School levy tries likely in 2 districts
‘Huge inventories’
BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
“They haven’t used as many logs as they have expected, so they have huge inventories of logs in the ports over in China.” The Port of Port Angeles is projecting exports to drop to 65 million board feet in 2012. Mike Nimmo, port marine facilities marketing manager, said in an email that he expects exports to drop the first half of the year but begin slowly increasing again afterward. Paul Stutesman, log marketing vice president for Merrill & Ring, said he expects China to continue to be a customer for Peninsula logs in the long run, despite the projected decrease. TURN
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State cuts of $400 million loom Special legislative session will get down to business
December 11, 2011
nificant inroads,” Alexander said. House members are scheduled to take up the legislation Monday afternoon, and Democratic Rep. Ross Hunter said he expects negotiators to work through the weekend finalizing the proposal. Leaders declined to discuss specific details but said it was focused more on broader administrative reductions for state agencies than specific program
eliminations. The Legislature is seeking to make some cuts in December before returning for the regular session in January. “We’re getting close,” Hunter said. Senators from both parties are also involved in the discussions, said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. She expects work can be completed by next weekend. TURN
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PORT TOWNSEND — Both Chimacum and Port Townsend schools expect to place capital levy requests before voters next year to fund repairs of facilities. Of the two, only the Chimacum School Board has voted to put a property tax levy request on the ballot, opting for the Feb. 14 special election. The Port Townsend School Board will consider voting to put a property levy request before voters when it meets Monday. At a special meeting last Monday, the Port Townsend board agreed, without taking a vote, to place a measure on the April 17 special election ballot. This coming Monday, a capital levy request is on the agenda for board action at the meeting that will begin at 6 p.m. in the administration building, 450 Fir St.
Amount request Port Townsend Superintendent Gene Laes is expected to change the proposal, said Amy Kihle, district financial manager, cutting the amount requested from $6,998,950 to $4,726,000 and urging that the measure be placed on the February ballot. “Traditionally, it is easier to pass a school measure in February,” Kihle said. The Port Townsend proposal would be for four years, while the Chimacum proposal is a six-year plan that would raise a total of $7,950,000.
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UKULELE LADIES (AND GENTLEMEN) About 40 members of Ukuleles United participate in a spontaneous musical session called a “flash mob” at the Undertown Cafe in Port Townsend on Saturday. The idea of Cheryl Bentley, seated left, the group gathered at Haller Fountain and then walked as a strumming group to the cafe. STEVE MULLENSKY/FOR PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS 95th year, 293rd issue — 8 sections, 74 pages
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