MONTREAL - A Canadian-based forestry company has put politics aside to help U.S. residents in flooded Houston neighborhoods. Resolute Forest Products has pledged to send a rail car of lumber to help Houston rebuild following record-level flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. 

EAST EARL, Penn. - Conestoga Wood Specialties founder Norman Hahn passed away on Aug. 18 following a lengthy illness. He was 81.

GRAND RAPIDS - The Wood Component Manufacturers Association elected new officers to its board of directors at the annual Fall Conference and Plant Tour Event, held Aug. 21-23 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Elected to the WCMA board of directors are Todd Dennison of Brown Wood Inc., Mark Paisley of Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers.

It took 1.5 million gallons of water to douse the four-alarm fire at Weaber Lumber, news sources report.

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire International Barrier Technology Inc. for $22 million. The deal gives LP 100 percent of the fire retardant coatings company.

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Residential furniture orders rose 8% in May compared to the year prior, and 7% higher than April orders, according to the latest Furniture Insights survey of residential furniture manufacturers and distributors from Smith Leonard. New orders were up for 58% of the surveyed participants. Year-to-date increased 7% over last year, with shipments up 4% for the year-over-year.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.  - Carter Lumber will open a $10 million Kight Home Center manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, creating 50 jobs in the area. Founded in 1932, in Akron, Ohio, the family-owned Carter Lumber is reportedly the fifth largest lumberyard in the United States, operating 150 locations across 12 states under four branded divisions: Carter Lumber, Holmes Lumber Co., Kight Home Center and Kempsville Building Materials.

Cabinet sales rose 1.8% in June compared to 2016 figures. According to participating members in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association's (KCMA) monthly Trend of Business Survey.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. continues its expansion into the U.S. lumber market with the $430 million acquisition of the Gilman Companies. The acquisition includes six sawmills and a fingerjoint mill in Florida and Georgia, as well as an administrative office in St. Marys, Georgia. Vancouver, B.C.-based West Fraser's agreement with the Howard Gilman Foundation and other shareholders was announced July 26. The deal, which is subject to U.S. regulatory approvals and customary conditions, is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2017.