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Skyreach L&S Extrusions Corp.

Venerable Indiana Dealer Closing

Williams Do It Best Lumber & Hardware, Nilei In.. began a liquidation sale on Valentine's Day and will close permanently at the end of March.

The six-generation business was founded in the late 1800s. According to president Bruce Williams, the store was a victim of the struggling economy and competition from a nearby Lowe's. "I could have survived one or the other, but not both," he said. "I don't see it settins better."

Everything is for sale during the liiuidalion sale, including inventory, fixtures, equipment, trucks, and the location itself. Former locations in South Bend and Edwardsburg, In., had already been sold, as the company downsized.

Firefighters Hurt in Lumberyard Fire

Five firefighters escaped with minor inJuries from a building at Penn Lumber, Baltimore, Md., that collapsed in a Feb.4 fire.

The blaze apparently started on the ground floor of the three-story structure about 6 p.m.-three hours after the employees had gone home for the day. About 100 firefighters battled the inferno, but were forced to retreat when the structure was deemed unsafe. Several were unable to evacuate as the upper stories began to fall and had to be rescued.

"There were five firefighters that did suffer some injuries who were actually trapped beneath the lumber, the bricks from this building that actually came down from the second and third floor on top of them," said Baltimore Fire Department's Kevin Cartwright.

ALSC OK's SP Design Values

Effective June 1, the American Lumber Standard Committee Board of Review has approved the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau's design value changes for all sizes and grades of visually graded southern pine dimension lumber.

"Southern pine producers and their customers are pleased with the ALSC Board of Review's decision on new design values," said Cathy Kaake, v.p. of technical marketing for the Southern Forest Products Association, who testified at the ALSC hearing on Jan. 30. "A June I effective date provides time for an orderly transition to the new design values."

The intent of a transition period is to minimize project delays and supply chain disruptions by providing time to manage design value changes. Producers and key customer groups should use this period to evaluate and prepare for the potential impact on their businesses.

"Throughout this transition period, SFPA will provide both the current design values as well as the ALSCapproved new design values," Kaake added. Detailed Q&As, as well as span tables based on both curent and the new design values, will be available at SFPA's www.southernpine.com during the transition period. Following publication of SPIB's Supplement l3 to the Standard Grading Rules for Southern Pine Lumber, 2002 Edition, the American Wood Council will work with the International Code Council to incorporate the new design values into span tables in the 2015 International Building Code and 2015 International Residential Code. AWC will also develop addenda and other updates to use with new construction designed in accordance with its standards and design tools, as well as recommended revisions to previous code editions.

Employee Suspected in Thefts at Missouri Dealer

A 34-year-old man is facing two felony counts for stealing from his employer, Tanco Lumber, Forsyth, Mo.

According to police, Joseph Sanpaolo changed purchase orders and invoice numbers to conceal the thefts. He took business checks from customers for projects, then gave Tanco money orders for several thou- sand dollars less.

The first theft involved $10,500 for doors and windows, but Sanpaolo brought his employer a money order for just $7,500. When a third-party company performing framing work on the project called Tanco, asking why they were paid $2,200 in cash, Sanpaolo reportedly said the client paid the framers directly. The client, meanwhile, reportedly gave a check for $l 1,500 to Sanpaolo, based on invoices he submitted.

After Sanpaolo was fired and the alleged theft was reported to police, he reportedly attempted to collect more than $66000 from other Tanco customers. According to police, the invoices Sanpaolo attempted to collect on had all of the appropriate information, including costs and items sold, but did not have Tanco Lumber's name on them.

Sanpaolo has been charged with felony theft of greater than $500, but less than $25,000, a Class C felony, and attempted theft of greater than $25,000, also a Class C felony. A criminal summons was issued for Sanpaolo last month, but he was not arrested because of the "white-collar" nature of the crime.