Wnsort LunnBER Co.,,*..

Box820526, Memphis, TN 38182 o0L, 274-6887 * FAX 90L-274-6850 www.CypressUSA.com * wlumber@CypressUSA.com lf you have been shuffled around, it's time to dealwith Wilson Lumber Company. You cut the cards and we will deal you a winning hand.

C for Capability

A for Accountability

R for Responsibility and Reliability

D for Dependability

S for Stability written permission. All Rights Reserved. Building

PUBLISHER Alan Oakes (ajoakes@aol.com)

PUBLISHER EMERITUS David Cutler EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig@ioc.net)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Robert Fav (rfay@ioc.net)

AD SALES MANAGEB Chuck Casey (chuck@ioc.net)

ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR/ SECRETARY Marie Oakes (mlpoakes@aol.com)

CIRCULATION Heather Kelly (heather@ioc.net)

How to Advertise

Contact our advefiising otfices lor rales: U.S.A.: Chuck Casey, 4500 Campus Drive, Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660-1872. Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 Email chuck@ioc.net

INTERNET ADS: Alan Oakes, www.buildingproducls.com. Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 E-mail ajoakes@aol.com.

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About the Cover

, Thefrontcoveris apaid advertisement, this month sponsored by Evenntood Treatment Co.

THE STRAIGHT TALK ON CIUALITY LUMBER.

Demand a higher level of lumber and you'll end up with more straight pieces in your stack. And that saves time and money. Which is why at Canfor we consistently kitn-dry our lumber to an optimal moisture levet, then carefully wrap it to protect it and help keep it straight and dry. Why? Because we strive to deliver the highest quatity lumber possible. And nothing less.

To get peacer you cannot avoid life

For months we have gotten up and gone to work with the threat of war hanging in the balance. Today, it seems all but inevitable, perhaps even by the time you read this column. Along with all the other issues such as September I l, the economy, corporate malfeasance, Afghanistan, anthrax, depleted 401k's, etc., while we may sell lumber and building products, we cannot avoid what is going on around us. However, while the last couple of years certainly have been concerning for us all, life does and must continue.

As regular readers of this column know, I grew up in England just after World War II. My earliest recollections were houses and buildings around our home being bombed out. I remember basics such as butter, cheese and eggs being rationed. I remember the fight for food in our house and the race for seconds. I remember watching Red Cross demonstrations of how to survive and treat the injured should war break out again. I learned of the horrors of war from my father who was in the R.A.F. in Africa, and my uncle in the Navy. I marched in Remembrance Day parades, when I walked with the disabled and maimed. I cannot ever remember playing soldiers as a kid, as even at an early age it did not seem right. I am proud of my heritage, of my country of birth, and the fact that despite all the odds at its darkest hour it stood up to be counted to defend itself from tyranny. Despite the will of the British people, our deliverance would not have been possible without the support of its allies, in particular, the United States of America. I think that is remembered, and perhaps is the reason that there is such a special relationship between the two nations.

Today, we face a new challenge. There are many who do not want us to go to war-who does? I understand that position, and my hope is also that we can still peaceably resolve this issue. As I write this column, there are peace marches being held around the world including the U.K. and the U.S.A. I understand that sentiment, and recognize the right of every individual in the free world to express their opinions and concerns. Responsible dissent is not unpatriotic. We should feel lucky that we have those freedoms, unlike in Iraq where you can be made to disappear fast, have your tongue cut out or watch your family be tortured. In those "free elections" last year, Saddam Hussein got 99.99Vo of the vote. I wonder why !

I do believe war should be a last resort, but it should be a resort. You cannot make peace with the devil. Once a despot, always a despot. Despots might even hide for a few years, but back they will come. In 1938, the British Prime Minister signed a peace deal with Hitler. We all know the outcome in 1939.

Does anyone seriously believe that after the Gulf War, Iraq threw its weapons away to concentrate on building a better life and retirement for its citizens? Does anyone seriously believe that any of us want to see our forces put in harms way? Does anyone believe that we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on homeland security because no one wants to harm us? The current division created by some of our allies is diverting our strength, and is giving the Iraqi leadership hope that time will be on their side, and once again they will get away with it. The horrors of war are difficult to contemplate, but leaving a sore as an open wound leads to a serious infection.

Our troops deserve our thanks and support for what they are about to undertake to preserve the freedoms that we have all grown up with. History has shown that unless you stand up to be counted there is a price to be paid. In light of the last two years, perhaps that time is now.

P.S. As it's tax time, did you ever notice what happens when you put "THE" and "IRS" together?

Georgia Yard Moving, Growing

Mulherin Lumber Co., Augusta, Ga., is building a new retail store and lumberyard on 7 acres in Columbia County, Ga.

The move to a bigger location without traffic congestion will give the yard more room to expand beyond its current 2-acre boundaries.

"Not being geared to consumer traffic, we don't need the high visibility," said one of the owners, Michael Grady. "We're very congested herethere's no room to grow."

Grady expects the new yard to be completed in five to six months.

As part of the move, Mulherin will also relocate and expand its doorassembling operation from its current 4-acre, 6,500-sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Augusta to the new site.

The wood roof truss portion of the facility will remain and expand into the space vacated by the door operation.

President Louis Mulherin II emphasized that the customized truss facility gave the company a distinct market presence.

"It makes us ditferent from Home Depot and Lowe's and those places," said Mulherin.

Plans at the new location call for a 10,000-sq. ft. door shop.

Stock Buys Wenco Of Texas

Raleigh, N.C.-based Stock Building Supply has acquired 8-unit wholesaler Wenco Distributors, Austin, Tx., from Jeld-Wen Inc.

Wenco' s fac il ities i n Austi n, Lubbock, Grand Prairie, Temple, San Antonio, McAllen and Houston, Tx., sell windows, doors, mouldings, jambs and other millwork products. The latter three locations also distribute a full line of lumber and building materials.

Stock, formerly known as Carolina Builders, now operates 224 locations in 24 states with 2002 sales of $2.7 billion.

New S.C. Buying Firm Opens

Former BMA staffers David Jackson and Joe Mattocks have formed a lumber buying firm that's not a co-op, but isn't a traditional wholesaler either.

Their new company, The Buying Source, Greer, S.C., "was founded from a consulting standpoint, to assist independent dealers in procuring and managing their inventories," says Mattocks. "We help them make buy- ing decisions, and pool those orders together." He says the service has been well received since debuting at the end ofJanuary.

Also joining the company are Brent Deno, ex-Georgia-Pacific, and Dan Eades, formerly with Ace Hardware, BMA and, most recently, Do it Best.

Chesapeake Consol idates

Chesapeake Hardwood Products, Chesapeake. Va.. is moving its Vermont operations south to its

Chesapeake plant and the Port of Virginia.

The company plans to add 50 workers and invest $4 million to its 500,000-sq. ft., 2l-acre Chesapeake facility, which manufactures plywood from hardwood imports.

The Hancock, Vt., plant, which assembled plywood, is up for sale and company officials say it will be shuttered if a buyer is not found. Chesapeake officials say the problem with the Vermont facility was one of logistics and freight costs.