Richard Ripley

Key Tronic adds space, prospers

Spokane-based company beefs up offshore, renews lease, hires people here

August 26, 2010

Key Tronic Corp., the Spokane Valley provider of electronic manufacturing services, has bought a building adjacent to its manufacturing facilities in Mexico, has leased a building near its manufacturing operation in China, and has renewed for 10 on

D.A. Davidson raises Potlatch profit estimate

Brokerage now expects $1.59 per share earnings, up from $1.40, in 2010

August 12, 2010

Richard Ripley

D.A. Davidson & Co. has raised its estimate of Potlatch Corp.'s 2010 earnings to $1.59 a share, from $1.40 a share, and has increased its estimate of the Spokane-based company's 2011 earnings to $1.75 a share, up from $1.71.The Great Falls, also

Itron sees mid-20 percent jump in revenues this year

Backlog soars, global orders up, 'smart pay' solves issues

August 12, 2010

Richard Ripley

When Itron Inc. announced its second-quarter earnings July 28, it also provided upbeat guidance on what it expects its full-year 2010 results will be, backing up President and CEO Malcolm Unsworth's statement that, "We are having a fantastic said a

Wet spring had varying effects on Northwest growers

Moisture aids wheat crop, but reduces production of hay, apples, cherries

July 29, 2010

Richard Ripley

With precipitation above average throughout the Pacific Northwest in May and June, wheat growers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana report excellent growing conditions, but the rain has hurt some other crops, Spokane-based Northwest Farm say

Putting on an international project event under the gun

Beacon Hill had 20 days to ready gala for BMW plant

July 29, 2010

Richard Ripley

When a joint venture that includes the automaker BMW Group telephoned from Germany on June 10 to ask Beacon Hill Catering & Events to submit a proposal to put on a groundbreaking, the small Spokane company knew it would face logistics issues and a

Pend Oreille PUD sets transmission line project

$1.5 million contract let for construction; poles, other items cost $1.9 million more

July 29, 2010

Richard Ripley

The Pend Oreille County Public Utility District has awarded a $1.5 million contract to Potelco Inc., of Sumner, Wash., to build a 115-kilovolt power transmission line between the district's Diamond Lake substation and a lot where it will build its

Many qualify for help with heating bills

Programs reached only one-fourth of eligible households in county

July 15, 2010

Richard Ripley

Some 43,000 households in Spokane County, or about 24 percent of all households in the county, were eligible during the winter of 2007-2008 for the two largest heating-assistance programs here, says a study done by the Eastern Washington University

Retirement executives here lend hand in Cook Islands

During annual vacations, couple provide training, medical supplies, activities

July 15, 2010

Richard Ripley

Ron and Alice Semingson thought they'd get away from their management jobs with an assisted-living chain when they traveled to the Cook Islands 13 years ago for a tropical vacation, but failed to avoid work completely. Rather, they found enormous a

SIA security-camera work to cost nearly $1.7 million

Airport Board awards bid, though TSA funds upgrade, will use system as needed

July 1, 2010

Richard Ripley

The Spokane Airport Board has awarded a contract for almost $1.7 million to Pick Electric Inc., of Spokane, for the installation of more than 100 security cameras at Spokane International Airport that will be paid for by the federal Transportation

Conversion work starts on nine fields in city parks

$3 million from 2007 bond will pay for baseball fields that will open in May 2011

July 1, 2010

Richard Ripley

Schimmels Construction, of Spokane, has begun work under a $1.45 million contract from the city of Spokane to convert into youth baseball fields nine ball fields in city parks.One of the fields is at Liberty Park, three are at Chief Garry Park,