Mary's River Eyes Expansion

Mary's River Lumber, Corvallis, Or., is considering a site near Brady, Wa., to build a support complex for its western red cedar sarvmill in Montesano. Wa.

The new 7-acre facility rvould feature dry kilns, lumber storage, a rail spur, and remanufacturing machinery to produce finished wood products such as decking and molding.

"It's a great site because of proximity to the current mill as well as hav- ing great access to both highway and rail," said president Brad Kirkbride. The existing mill at Montesano rvould perform "rough cuts," then truck the wood to the new facility for finishing. packaging and shipment by rail. Initially, the operation rvould run a single shift.

"There is the potential to do more in the future. if conditions allow and we're able to add on more shifts." Kirkbride added.

Simpson Timber Buys Longview Site

Simpson Timber Co., Tacoma, Wa., agreed to buy 35 acres to potentially build a new sawmill at the Port of Longview, Wa., within the next three years.

Simpson also obtained an option to acquire an additional 25 acres. The acreage is part ofa 180acre industrial park purchased by the port from International Paper l0 years ago.

The port's board of commissioners formally approved the sale

Dec.29.

"Although no definitive plans for the construction of a mill have been announced at this time. this acquisition represents an important step for us in considering this opportunity," said Simpson public affairs manager Beverly Holland.

If Simpson does build the mill, it could utilize waterborne distribution as well as the port's newly installed rail corridor.

An increase in demand for dry lumber is also fueling the expansion. Montesano operates a single dry kiln. And, as mill manager Terry Smith explained. "_qreen cedar is not ils popular as it once was."

The nerv facility rvill also solve another moisture headache for the company. With its location on the banks of the Chehalis River. portions of the existing mill are susceptible to flooding. and at times the company has been forced to relocate wood products to alternate storage sites to keep them dry.

"What rve'd really like the property for is so we can run the property we have at Montesano better and also allorv for future expansion," Kirkbride said. "We're limited by the existing property's size."

Mary's River has secured an option to purchase the new site. contingent upon the success of its application with the county for rezoning.

The rezoning could be approved as early as March, but it would be at least two more years before the buildings needed to house the dry kilns and surfacer are built. The company could, however. begin storing lumber at the property by this surnmer.

PopTal Reconsiders Closure

Pope & Talbot. Inc.. Prrrtlancl. Or.. rlill continue operatinr its salntill ancl tlrr kilns in \licll ai. B.C.. on u onc-shifi basis bc-r Ontl thc prer iou:lr annour.tcctl e losurc cltrtc- o1 \lalch I I

Thc lilrn is ulso l)r()ccL'dinc \\ ith plans to updatc and crltuncl it: sa* rnill in Cnrncl Forks. B.C.. ultpirtr its annual procluction to l-i-5 ntillion bcl. ft. anrl arlclins thc' cal)aeit\ to plane un acklitional 95 rrrillion bd. l't. of lLrrnbcr pnrtlr.rcc-rl at \l icll ar

Mill Fights Rail Surcharges

Bcnnett LLrnrbcr Protluctr. Princcton. Icl.. is fightin!t nril surcharges imposc'cl br \\'atco Co.. uhich ol ns lines in northhr'rn Idaho.

A surcharce of Sl50 per rail ear added last \orenrbcr \\a\ "painflll. but n orkable." saitl \.p. Brc-tt Bennett. \\'hc-rt another surchargc' rr as proposed in late Decernbc-r. bringinu the total to SfiT() pcr ruil ear a: ot .lur.r. 6. Bc-nnett clc-e irlcil it n as tinrc lor action.

Hc siLicl thcrc rr us r)() \\ lr\ tlre e()lrpartr coulrl Pur tht. nc\ su|ehuIgc:.

l-ast rclrr'. Bcrurctt l-[t rnber rr :crl Watco lincs to ship -1-i rnillion lrrl. lt.

of lunrbcr to th!. Ea\t C()l\t. pi.t) in:l

5-i.()()() cuch tor l-o ruil cur.. -\ccorcling to Bcnnc'tt. lltc ulno[rnt rr1

Iunrt.rcr thlt t'ills oltr- r'riil e lir ir trLrltl till thrcc truilcr tnrckr lrrtl u\c nt()r!'lilcl.

.\i'tcr tliscu:.irtc ll,c i\\Llc \ ith

I-rttrth (ottntr etlnilIissioncr''. [Jcrrrrett tlccirlcd ttl s1'rcltk u itlt ItlrltLr -!()\ e l'n()l

I)irk Kcrttpthotnc urttl n'rcnrl.cr. rrl tltc statc lcgi:luturc. Hir Soul: clr.ulinr thc lirturc ol nti] us ult ()l)ti()n lirr.lti|pirtr:. "RlttIrtllttls \LlIehtll-Sc t1et1LrcrttIr.' 'ltirl \llrtk Bl:rzt'r'. \.'ni(rl \ lr. ,'l rtt.rr' kctirrg uncl businc:' tlcr cltrInrcrrt ;rl \\'ateo. TI.tc contltanl .llrintr tltlrt it. rL-gLlliil lcc tlocr lt()l e ()\ ct' L'\ltclt\c\ for rt.titrrttcnlrncc antl oltcr;.rtion. und lcrr r'r' conr;ll.tniL-\ irrc tr:inS tltc linc's For crarrplt'. thr- \l-r() .urcltarsr'la.t

\, rr, q'111f .'1' Il ( )rl ll)lcrl llti.rlt\ -! r'iti l) ! ( )ntpanies to tnlck their Ilrr)rluct\ ttr rir cr barg.-s.

Bcnnctt i: lirrLicl thut \\'rititr ilttcrtrl: trr tll'irc a\\it\ cLl\t()ntcf\ lnri e losc tl.tc rlrrl lin... "Tltcr'rc rro -i:trotl i1' \ ()Ll rl()rt'l lltr c lrnr ()lta t() \hil) r)r) it. ' hc suitl. l-lttitll ('ottlttt uotttlttisriottcr I)lrttl Kirrrrncll rlrrl hc hti:n't rcetir ctl lrrtr nrtl ulrunrlortntcnt notiec llirrn \\'uteo. "Tltcrc ir tto illtcr)ti()n to:gll thr'

Itlitho .ir1c.' 'urd BIazcr. 'Thut \\,,1]rl1 t rtt.rke lrrtr .r1\e

Thc. errlttIllt) rlicl rc-ll it: rail lincr irt \\ l.irin::trrn. rr hie h it non lca.... Iro|tt thc \\ lt.ltin-clrrr't [)ci)itrtntcnt ()l

Tf iill \Irr ) rtirl i( )ll "\\ r.'r'e likr' lrrtr ptlte r. irLr.ipc... rr c rlcc!l lr) lrg 1111rlrtal.lc.' .lri.l Illuzer'. ".\t tlti. 1.1r1111. \\ a \\ rrrrltl nol lrtltl .rrt"llt.'l .ilr.ir.rrir'. lt tlt.' tt.rlliu -rrr'. Itrt lf. tt !(rC\ il\\ it\.

Water Show At Depot

\\ lrtcr 1r'rrrtt u nlirlrrrcil lirc ltr.lr':rnt si.tLl:Cti tlltlli,,tt. rrl tirrllltt. ttl .ilrtt'tltLC ltl Htrtttc Dc|rr1. l-uLurtu \i-tLrcl. ('1.. b111 111r qr11q' t;1. 111.jplpgj

Thc ine itlcnt r)cr'ut'l'Ctl .llrn I u ltcn lu tlclircrr llu.k .trlrgk u ltr.lr;rnt bchin.l thL' \t(,re Jn!l \\ iltar .IrJl crl ,\11,r lltr' \1,\tr". I\,,'1. ..rrr.tt): .l -.i{rl).tl. 1t. .c'tlirrtl lrr.rrllul..g ,',.1 ----* irtiitc. rrl f ]trrrtlinL irr.itlc titc"torr'. Iiirclishter. .rri.j lhrrt tlte builtling's .pr-ipkicr .) .tcr)t \\ u: irlrp lrrirrc.l. -l-hc Lrni.lcntitic.l .lclir crr -.irrr cr Itic.l 1,, l'lcc tltr' \!inc irn!l hit trr,, e lrr'. IirfkCri irt ir l)!.ul[r] l.p1.i11s'r.. hul rrtr. tlctui rrc.l ir1 .is|111 1g. H1r111g l)s|1r1 ir!(luirc!i tirc l-ui]rlilts 11.1r111 l1q rii tlclLtn. t il,,lttelllr.c.