Apr 27, 1999

Logging in snow angers environmentalists

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. (AP) -- A record snowpack on Mount Hood has created some extreme conditions for loggers who are opting to work in neck-deep snow rather than wait for a spring melt-off. But work on one logging operation has angered environmentalists, who have sued to stop logging in the area and say the trees should not have been cut until the court case was decided. At issue is the 118-acre Roundup timber sale purchased in January by the Grimm Logging Co. of Salem. The property is eight miles south of Government Camp on U.S. 26. Bob Grimm, a partner in the family company, said they opted to log over the winter months to avoid layoffs. "A small company like ours has to maintain some level of operation to survive," said Grimm, 49, who owns the business with his brother, Don, 47. Both the loggers and the U.S. Forest Service say the snowpack cushions the ground, protecting fragile plants from tramping men and machines. Packed, frozen snow plasters the graveled road, guarding against the wear and tear of heavy equipment. But environmentalists complain the Forest Service failed to survey rare plants and animals before the timber sale. They contend that logging early in the year might upset the breeding cycles of birds and wildlife. The case, which seeks to halt logging in the Abbott-Salmon Planning Area -- including Roundup -- will be heard in U.S. District Court in Seattle in June. Logging in snow is fairly common but usually occurs east of the Cascades, said Fred Temler, a Forest Service timber contracting officer. The Roundup sale was initially designed as a helicopter logging project. The goal was to improve the appearance of old clear-cuts that have offended tourists looking south across the forest from Timberline Lodge. But after it failed to attract bidders, Grimm scouted the terrain and came up with a plan to log the land during winter when weather would prohibit the use of a helicopter. Grimm figured he could accomplish that goal by feathering out trees along the edges of the clear-cuts and pulling the logs up by cable. He offered the Mount Hood National Forest $550,695, the Forest Service's minimum acceptable bid. Temler said any savings Grimm achieved from cable logging were offset by the expenses of plowing the road and digging out the trees. Temler, who would not discuss the lawsuit, said he consulted a Forest Service biologist to determine whether cutting trees would disrupt winter activities of the wolverine. Temler said the biologist's opinion was that wolverines -- shy, reclusive animals that abhor humans -- were not likely to be active within a mile of a highly traveled corridor such as U.S. 26. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272.

Apr 26, 1999

Horton Lantz Marocco

Horton Lantz Marocco, a Seattle-based design agency, recently added Tim Ross as an account manager and Michael VanSchepen as a senior production designer. Ross formerly served as a project manager with Landor Associates in Seattle. VanSchepen formerly served as an electronic production designer with Landor Associates.

Apr 23, 1999

EDC of Seattle and King County

The Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County recently named Jeffrey M. Daggett chairman of the board of directors. Daggett serves as chairman and chief executive officer of W & H Pacific, a Seattle-based consulting and design firm.

Apr 21, 1999

Notkin

Craig Hawkins has been hired by Notkin Engineering as a commissioning agent and mechanical designer. He will help to establish commissioning as a core specialty of the firm. Commissioning agents act as owner's witness during construction, confirming the correct installation of mechanical systems and certifying real system conditions. Hawkins has 23 years of experience in the design of mechanical systems. He recently spent three years as president of his own firm. Before that he was project manager at Interface Engineering in Kirkland. At Notkin, Hawkins is working on mechanical design of the Experience Music Project. He is also commissioning the KOMO block project and the King Street Center, both under construction. A founding member of the Building Commissioning Association, Hawkins sits on the board of directors for that organization, and helped to write its standards for quality. Scott Ellis has joined the firm as a mechanical designer, and has already worked on several hospital projects. He comes to Notkin from JMGR in Memphis, Tenn. He is currently working on a renovation of Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland and the phase four renovation of Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, Alaska.

GGLO

Eight members of the professional staff at GGLO have been promoted to the level of associate. Sean Canady joined the firm in 1994, and is currently working on several large-scale, mixed-use projects in Mukilteo, Kirkland, Redmond, Portland and Seattle. Dwight Doty also joined the firm in 1994, and is now managing design of a mixed-use apartment project in downtown Seattle. Todd Bertellotti has designed and constructed a variety of custom furniture and fixture pieces, and is currently managing the design of a number of residential remodel and addition projects. He joined the firm in 1995. Annie Meadows joined GGLO in 1995 after nine years of multi-family housing and mixed-use projects. She currently manages two multi-family housing projects in Oregon. Rob Misel is managing two multi-family housing projects in Issaquah. He joined the firm in 1996 and has experience in a variety of residential, commercial and industrial projects. Nancy Henderson came to GGLO in 1997 with several years of experience in multi-family, housing, retail, office and custom residential work. She is managing several multi-family projects along the West Coast. Colleen Knowles also joined the firm in 1997 with experience in corporate and residential projects. She is currently managing interior design work for a resort project in Idaho, and leads many of the firm's corporate tenant improvement contracts. Jamie Snyder, who has experience in commercial, healthcare, residential and office projects, is now managing several multi-family projects. She joined the firm in 1997.

PND

Andrea Kendall has joined the staff of Peratrovich, Nottingham & Drage as a senior engineer. She was formerly employed by the Boeing Co. and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. She served two years in Bolivia teaching math and science. Kendall is currently working on the Port of Port Orford permanent dock replacement project, a transfer bridge for the city of Kodiak's St. Herman Harbor, and new transient moorage for the city of Santa Barbara. Recently completed work includes the Puyallup River Bridge for Champion Pacific Forest Products, the Cornelius Pass Bridge for the Portland & Western Railroad and the Duwamish Yacht Club reconstruction in south Seattle.

INCA

Gary Wheeler has joined INCA Engineers in Bellevue as a senior project manager in the transportation department. He has been manager of the street maintenance division and of the engineering division of the city of Tacoma, and is past president of the Washington chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Driscoll

Senior project managers France Manalaysay and Steven K. Lampert and associate Greg Blount have been promoted to senior associates with Driscoll Architects. Blount, who joined the firm in 1988, supervises construction administration for the firm. Manalaysay, who joined the firm in 1993, has acted as project manager on numerous residential and mixed-use projects. Lampert acts a senior project manager, reviewing the firm's overall design efforts. He also participates in feasibility assessments with clients.

Perteet

Susan Roediger, Grace Kwok and Steve Muench have joined the transportation team at Perteet Engineering as design engineers. Roediger and Kwok are civil engineering graduates of the University of Washington. Roediger has specialized in traffic planning, utility design and construction inspection. Kwok has experience in roadway geometrics and hydraulic engineering. Muench, who recently received his master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington, was previously an officer with the Navy's nuclear submarine program.

CNA

Tamae Satsu and Christa Clark have joined the interior design team at CNA Architecture of Bellevue.

Vandervort

Mitch Yockey has joined David Vandervort Architects, with 20 years of experience in single and multi-family and commercial projects.

Marx/Okubo

Michael Schneider has been named vice president of Marx/Okubo Associates.