Virginia Thomas

Earnings fall at many banks with Spokane presence

Some institutions blame lack of PPP funds; others fault rising interest rates

August 11, 2022

More than half of the banks with a presence in the Spokane area report a decrease in earnings for the second quarter of this year. Of 13 institutions with readily available earnings reports that have at least one branch in Spokane County, eight saw second

Latah Creek Animal Hospital to build new facility

Clinic to move across Cheney Spokane Road from current location

August 11, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Latah Creek Animal Hospital is building a new $1.4 million facility close to its current clinic. According to commercial building permit information filed with the city of Spokane, Latah Creek Animal Hospital will be constructed at 4302 S. Cheney Spokane

Vega Cloud, HP partner on new remote workstations

New service cater to regulated industries, data-intensive users

August 11, 2022

Virginia Thomas

A Liberty Lake-based cloud automation and optimization company has started collaborating with California-based technology company HP Inc. to develop secure remote workstations. Kris Bliesner, co-founder and CEO of Liberty Lake Cloud Inc., which does

Restaurateurs hope to strike gold in old Prospector's space

Couple plan 'blue collar' restaurant, music venue at building on North Side

August 11, 2022

Virginia Thomas

The former operators of Bigfoot Pub & Eatery are opening a restaurant and live music venue in the former Prospectors Bar & Grill space in the Wandermere area, on Spokane's North Side. John and Shadda Lee, who are husband and wife, plan to open Hammers

Spokane Industries forges ahead

New owners implement profit sharing, lean tenets

August 11, 2022

Virginia Thomas

The new owners of Spokane Valley-based foundry Spokane Industries Inc. say the company is responding positively to changes they've made since purchasing it earlier this year from brothers Greg and Tyrus Tenold. Pat and Lisa Turner claim that

To a greater degree: INW colleges expand certificate programs as gateway for new students

Trend occurs in era of declining enrollment

August 11, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Certificates are becoming a more popular offering at higher education institutions amid an environment of declining enrollment, representatives of Spokane's colleges and universities say. While students increasingly are seeking low-cost, low-time

My Turn Theater offers spotlight to disabled actors

Troupe to present 'Guys and Dolls' in September

July 28, 2022

Virginia Thomas

After successfully launching a theater company for disabled actors in Coeur d'Alene, Wendy Carroll is working to establish a similar organization, My Turn Theater, in Spokane.

Keurig Dr. Pepper, others invest $15M in North Idaho soda maker

Tractor Beverages seeks more funding for company's growth

July 28, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Dalton Gardens-based specialty soda company Tractor Beverages Inc. has landed $15 million in venture funding from Plano, Texas-based Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and others.

Marine Ravine exotic fish shop to open this fall

Hayden store will offer about 100 species of freshwater, saltwater fish, varieties of coral

July 28, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Exotic ornamental fish store The Marine Ravine is set to open this fall in Hayden. Owner Eric Cross says the store will open by early October at 2235 W. Dakota, in the Dakota Park Industrial Condos, just south of Coeur d'Alene

Ecological options emerge for end of life

Natural burial, water cremation steadily are gaining traction

July 28, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Funeral industry workers here say alternative burial methods are slowly gaining acceptance among Spokanites, while cremation continues to be the most popular overall option.