Tornadoes and heavy storms felled trees in two wood manufacturing centers, Wisconsin and North Carolina  destroying homes and businesses, including Lincoln Windows in Merrill, WI, which recounted the destruction at its website:

"On April 10th, our corporate offices and final assembly plant were severely damaged by a category F3 tornado that hit Merrill, WI. This was one of 11 confirmed tornadoes that hit our state that day.

"Locally, over 60 homes and 12 businesses were either damaged or destroyed. The only injury at Lincoln was sustained by a security guard. Luckily, the tornado impacted on a Sunday evening when personnel were not working.

"Lincoln maintains multiple production locations in Merrill and fortunately only the final assembly plant and offices were damaged. We are repositioning the departments that were affected to our other facilities and plan to resume production within the next 3 weeks. Communications are still limited, but should be reestablished soon."

Woodworkers in several areas around the country hit by tornadoes moved to salvage uprooted trees and mill them into useful lumber, expanded further the trend to urban lumber.

In North Carolina, the Manufactured Housing Institute (its convention and expo is April 26-28 in Las Vegas) was compelled to defend the durability of mobile homes after the destruction wreaked by dozens of tornadoes, rebutting a National Weather Service official who estimated 90 percent of tornado fatalities were among residents of manufactured houses in the area.

Among other top stories this week, more cabinetry and casegoods firms are expanding and hiring. And China blocked a Japanese furniture ship, stating it was radioactive.  Read more news below: