Canada’s forest industry appears alive and well, if recent stock market numbers are any indication.
That’s good news for our local operators and anybody connected with both Tolko and West Fraser Forest Products.
RBC Dominion Securities Inc. analyst Paul C. Quinn upgraded West Fraser to “outperform” from “sector perform” and raised his target price to $110 from $95 as part of an upbeat look at lumber, timber, wood products and pulp companies.
“While lumber prices retreated recently, current pricing is still stronger than what we had expected 6-12 months ago and we think upward pricing revisions are in order,” he writes.
“For the remainder of 2018 and 2019 we think lumber prices will be supported by tight supplies, strong US residential construction fundamentals, and a lagging industry supply response.”
For West Fraser, Quinn says “in the near term, we believe the shares should trade at a multiple that is well above the typical Canadian paper and forest products trading range, reflecting very strong levels of profitability, coupled with what we view as WFT’s strong operational performance [best-in-class operator] and rock solid balance sheet.”
That’s a pat on the back to the hard workers at West Fraser!
Meanwhile, publicly traded companies in the OSB field like Norbord, where Tolko does its business, are also enjoying recommendations from analysts.

* * * * * * *

There sure is lots of hustle and bustle going on in High Prairie. Yup, it’s the big High Prairie Elks Professional Rodeo!
Among all kinds of things, from working on the grounds to ordering food to manning the offices, there are many people working on vehicles and floats for the huge parade. Join in the fun getting your own ready, or bring a chair and catch the action next Tuesday morning.
Yee Haw!

* * * * * * *

Last week, following stories on national news of a plethora of UFO sightings, we had to pull out our own little story from 2011. You can watch the video clip as it was taken by some folks in the dark of winter just outside of Kinuso. It’s a ton of fun and good for a chuckle.
So here’s the spoiler alert – don’t read at the bottom of this column if you don’t want to know more about the UFO until you have seen the clip. You can watch it by clicking on our “Profanity Rated – Another UFO Sighting” in the Quick News sidebar at southpeacenews.com. Be sure to have speakers on.

* * * * * * *

Those folks who have issues, one way or the other, with Big Lakes County and their wolf bounty, should take a look at Canmore in southern Alberta.
There, town fathers and mothers say they are overrun with rabbits. In fact, they have been for some time as the little bunnies just keep on making more and more of themselves. You know, like rabbits!
Six years ago Canmore started its “feral rabbit management program” and of course, got the predictable outcries and outrage. Since then, they have spent about $400,000 on the program, destroying about 1,200 rabbits.
Yup, that’s $333 average cost per rabbit!
It’s reported about 1,000 bunnies are still at large. Except that could double in the next year as, well, rabbits do what rabbits do.
The rabbits are said to be descended from family pets released years ago. As Elmer Fudd would say, “Oh, those wascally wabbits!”

* * * * * * *

You can still catch Mars as it comes closest to Earth this week. Look southeast at night, about one-third up the sky. Red dot!

* * * * * * *

A woman in southern California was attacked by an estimated 80,000 vicious African bees.
According to reports, the 50 year-old cleaning lady was working with three others when she went to her vehicle to get a mop. The bees were making their home in a nearby drainage pipe and attacked her, stinging her about 200 times.
When firefighters arrived after a 911 call, they sprayed the woman with carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, saying it would take too long to suit up. The super aggressive and territorial African bees, brought to Brazil originally to make more honey, are slowly making their way north and are now in southern states including Nevada and California. They will chase people up to 500 metres.
Moral of this story? It’s like “Don’t take a knife to a gun fight.”
So, the moral seems to be, “Don’t take a mop to a bee fight.”
Hmmm! Groannnn!

* * * * * * *

Well, shucks! The Kinuso UFO?
More than one person was surprised when a new radio tower was built just north of the highway back in 2011. Maybe they didn’t notice it under construction, but they sure noticed it when the aircraft warning lights were turned on.
For some of those who travelled the road frequently, or just once in a while like our friends in the video, it sure was a surprise to see something in the middle of the night that wasn’t there before.

* * * * * * *

Have a great week!

Never give up! When a beaver’s dam is destroyed, they simply start work on new one. What would happen if all people in the world did not give up as easily as a beaver?