Journal adds more content to its Web site
The Journal of Business plans to launch this weekend improvements to its Web site that will give subscribers access to virtually all of the content available in the newspaper's print edition.

Until now, only a sampling of the stories that ran in the Journal's biweekly print edition had been available online. Beginning after Friday of this week, all stories produced by the Journal's award-winning staff for the print issue will be available online as well. Subscribers to the print edition will have full access to those articles online, in addition to their printed copy, and nonsubscribers will have the option of purchasing individual articles online, says Journal Publisher Greg Bever.

"This in no way will affect their personally mailed copy," Bever says, "but will instead give subscribers the option of reading the current edition online."

Much of the look of the Journal's Web site, at www.spokanejournal.com, is unchanged, but improvements have been made to the site to enable more stories to be displayed and archived, and for subscribers to reap more benefits from their subscription, he says.

"We've created a Web presence that will remind readers of their print copy and will provide ease of navigation throughout the site," Bever says.

In addition to having access to both fresh and archived news stories, users of the Web site will be able to purchase additional copies of such special publications as the Book of Lists and the Market Fact Book.

To gain access to all of the updated Web site's content, current subscribers simply must register at the site. Nonsubscribers can purchase individual content online, or purchase a subscription for $39 a year, which includes both the print and online editions.

"We look forward to serving our subscribers, as well as those who rely on the Journal of Business for pertinent business information, better with our new Web site," Bever says.

Indoor Golf facility featuring high-tech simulators opens
Indoor Golf LLC has opened an indoor golf facility featuring two High Definition Golf brand simulators and a driving range at 19223 E. Appleway, says Deb Kupcow, who manages the business for owner Johnny Humphreys.

Kupcow says that when using a virtual golf machine, players hit a golf ball into a projection screen, and the ball's speed and trajectory is picked up by cameras, which then determine and show on the screen the path the ball would have taken.

Customers can play the simulators with their own clubs or with a rental set, and can choose from simulations of a large selection of renowned golf courses such as Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, and Banff Springs, to show on the screen, she says.

The business, which accepts phone-in tee times, offers golf lessons for customers who wish to use the simulator to improve their golf game. Kupcow says Indoor Golf has two golf pros on staff, and uses video equipment to record and analyze an individual's swing.

Use of the simulator costs $30 an hour for each person, and one person can finish an 18-hole course in an hour, says Kupcow. She says the business also books small parties and has beer, wine, and snacks available for purchase.

Indoor Golf is open seven days a week and has six employees.

Two-suite building goes up in Hillyard near Knight's Diner
A Spokane real estate development company is constructing a 4,000-square-foot retail building in the south Hillyard neighborhood.

The developer, H.A. Tombari LLC, says it's acting as its own contractor on the $400,000 project, located at 3024 E. Fairview. James A. McArthur AIA Architect, of Spokane, designed the project.

The structure, tentatively called the Market & Fairview Building, is going up at the southwest corner of Market Street and Fairview Avenue just north of Knight's Diner. It's expected to be completed in the spring, the developer says.

The project will have two suites of roughly equal size. The development company says the project is being built on speculation and no tenants have committed to leases there yet.

Puronics water system distributor opens here
Great Northern Water, a distributor of Puronics brand water conditioners and purifiers, has opened in an about 3,800-square-foot leased space in the Spokane Business & Industrial Park, at 3808 N. Sullivan, says Jim Ferrell, who owns the business with his wife, Susan.

Ferrell says the business sells water conditioners and purifiers to residential and commercial customers, and installs the units, which are manufactured by Puronics Inc., of Livermore, Calif.

The water systems use reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection or sterilization, and a number of filtration methods to purify and soften water. Softening water is the process of removing minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.

Ferrell says the systems can improve the taste of water, and softening the water prevents a filmy residue from being left on a person's skin or on surfaces that are cleaned with water.

Ferrell says he will look to sell the systems throughout Washington and North Idaho, and has three full-time employees, not including himself and his wife. He expects to hire two additional employees as the business gets off the ground.

Marketing firm opens office on North Side
Rainmaker Marketing has moved into a 1,500-square-foot leased space at 8606 N. Wall from a home office here, says Billie Gaura, who owns the business with her husband, Kevin.

Rainmaker Marketing opened in January and offers marketing services specifically to businesses with 25 employees or less. Those services include brand identity, logo design, Web-site design, business development, and interactive media.

Gaura says Rainmaker Marketing's office features a networking lounge, wireless Internet service for clients, and space for children to play if clients need to bring them to the office during a scheduled meeting.

The Gauras completed some minor remodeling work at the new location.