Kretz Lumber Co., Inc. - Turn the Page

Turn the Page

“Turn the Page”

Early in 2008 we updated our website to incorporate the exciting changes at Kretz Lumber. A part of the website was to include news at Kretz Lumber. A caution to any of you that may put this feature on your website, this is extremely difficult to keep up with, hence the four month delay in articles.

This article is titled, “Turn the Page” as to turn the page on the historical year that world has endured. I am neither qualified to assess 2008 nor make any bold predictions for 2009. The intention is to merely catch the readers up-to-date on Kretz Lumber news.

On September 20, 2008 Kretz Lumber Co., Inc. held the 11^th annual Forestry Field Day. It was a smashing success. The highlight of the day was Dennis Fincher’s demonstration that included sawing logs that were 1600 years old!

That is right 1600 years old. The logs were recovered from a marsh area owned, Percy Monk. According to Fincher, Percy’s son Paul knew “someone” in Madison WI, that could carbon date the logs. The data came back from the lab and dated the logs back to 400 AD. Completely remarkable that these logs could be preserved that long.

October and November were fairly quiet months. So quiet, the lack of activity in annual deer harvests in Wisconsin made big news in our newspapers and in the Kretz sawmill.

In December, Kretz Lumber’s parade float, titled “White Christmas” placed second in the Commercial Division in the Antigo Holiday Christmas Parade. Additionally, Kretz’s own Jackie Fondow’s chili took second with the judges in the Chili Cook-off affiliated with the event. These are fun events that we enjoy here at Kretz and next year we will strive for first place.

Finally, on December 18^th, Kretz hosted a tour of the Cabinetmaking and Millwork students from Madison Area Technical College. The students toured the entire facility including the Ray Kretz Industrial Forest. The tour was concluded with a lunch in the cabin and a short lumber grading presentation from Tim Kassis, Kretz Lumber’s Sales Manager and a certified NHLA Lumber Inspector.