Guitar maker opens shop on North Side Seth Ertl has opened Ertl Guitar Works, at 4601 N. Nevada, in a space formerly occupied by Urban Fashions. The shop repairs all stringed instruments, but primarily acoustic and electric guitars,

Coeur d'Alene-based Idaho Independent Bank has reported a much smaller net loss of $1.2 million, or 22 cents a share, for the third quarter, down sharply from a loss of $2.2 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-earlier period.Bank Chairman

The Spokane Valley Fire Department plans to construct a $3 million administration building near the Interstate 90-Pines Road interchange to replace its current offices on east Sprague Avenue.The department has been planning the project since and

The Northwest Mining Association will bring its big, long-standing annual convention back to Spokane, Dec. 5-10.The 116th Annual Meeting, Exposition & Short Course, the 2009 version of which was held in Reno-Sparks, Nev., will feature six days a

Longtime Journal of Business Editor Richard Ripley has announced plans to retire from the newspaper on Dec. 31.Meanwhile, Journal Publisher Greg Bever has announced two other management changes at the newspaper. Assistant Editor Paul Read will a

A new, upscale billiard hall, sports bar, and restaurant named Black Diamond Billiards & Eatery LLC has opened in the former McQ's Billiards & Sports Bar, at 9614 E. Sprague, in Spokane Valley.Owners Steve and Kenna Legault bought the assets of

Spokane's daily parking rates continue to rank among the lowest on the continent, based on results from a new survey by the Washington, D.C.-based National Parking Association that examined parking rates in 146 markets throughout the U.S. and and a

Northwest Farm Credit Services, of Spokane, has announced third-quarter earnings of $41 million, up sharply from $29.9 million in the year-earlier quarter.Through the first nine months of the year, the federally chartered ag lender reported of a

Brothers Pat and Peter Dix, longtime co-owners of Spokane-area specialty contracting companies Dix Corp. and Cobra Building Envelope Contractors Inc., have split the companies and have sold shares in them to their sons, the companies say.Pat's a