BURNS LAKE, BC - Sheraton Holdings Ltd. said it will reopen its sawmill next month in the same remote community that experienced a devastating mill explosion and fire last month that killed two workers and severely injured several others.

JACKSON, MS – Franklin Lumber Co. of Bude, MS, which has been cited for 22 violations, including combustible dust, by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

Cherry, maple and alder wood cabinetry is in decline, says the National Kitchen & Bath Association, as designers move to other wood types, including oak and bamboo, which have doubled in use.

Although the use of cherry wood in cabinetry is declining slightly, the preference for darker finishes continues to grow. These and other findings are among the top design trends for 2012, as determined by a recent survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Assn

Single-family homes and apartment construction starts rose to an annual rate of 700,000 units in January, says the U.S. Commerce Department, a 1.5 percent increase.

The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association says the American National Standards Institute approved revisions to the U.S. performance standard for kitchen cabinets and bath vanities, ANSI/KCMA A161.1-2012.

Veneer smuggling into Syria, auctions at windows and cabinetry shops, and a take on rebuilding U.S. manufacturing and education are among the most viewed wood news stories. Plus a liturgical furniture maker sponsors nuns in a charity run.

Wilsonart International and Illinois Tool Works (ITW) announced that Kristen Manos will become the next president of Wilsonart.

According to news reports, International Veneer Co. will plead guilty on March 1 in U.S. District Court to charges that the South Hill, VA-based company smuggled $2.6 million of veneer to Syria over a four-year period.

Masco Corp. reported 2011 annual net sales of $7.5 billion, “relatively flat” compared to 2010 figures. North American sales slipped 3 percent while international sales grew 8 percent.