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OCC Spokane Orange County Choppers Coming
12/27/2011

The OCC Spokane Washington chopper extravaganza draws nearer each day. It's an event that's sure to bring in biker enthusiasts from all parts of the Pacific Northwest.

'With giant 20-foot posters of three Teutul family members behind them, tourism and business leaders officially announced this summer's arrival of the Orange County Choppers team.

Speakers at the media event kick-started a months-long publicity drive to bring people from throughout the surrounding area to Spokane for the rare off-television appearance by the motorcycle customization crew.

"I'm excited to finally say that, yes, they're coming to Spokane," said Harry Sladich, president of the Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Today is a great day for Spokane County."

In a video played to assorted business leaders, Paul Teutul Jr. and Mikey Teutul announced their arrival July 28-30, and a somewhat menacing Paul Teutul Sr. told viewers, "Be there."

Orange County Choppers, based in upstate New York, is featured on the Discovery Channel program "American Chopper." The three family members along with a workshop crew build custom motorcycles, and their intra-family arguments are a trademark of the cable television show.

"How cool is this?" asked Kerry Dunne, the show's promoter. "We are going to bring people here to see the bikes and spend money in your community."

Officials at Northern Quest Casino announced a months-long promotion of the "Summer of OCC & NQC," in which an OCC-customized bike will be given away.

There will scarcely be a person from Montana to Seattle who won't know about this event, Sladich said. Several advertisements will begin airing, and officials will visit nearby locations to promote the event.

"There will be literally caravans of people driving here," Sladich said.

A tentative schedule features several live demonstrations by the Teutul family and the entire OCC crew building a Spokane-themed bike that will be given away at the end of the weekend.

Crew members will also be on hand to answer shop questions about bike customization, according to the schedule posted on the tour's Web site. Also, the crew is bringing $30 million worth of custom motorcycles to the show for viewing.

Orange County Choppers is only stopping in four cities this summer as part of its "OCC in America" Tour. Tempe, Ariz., is the only other stop in the West.

Officials there said more than 50,000 people attended that event last year.

Avid fishermen, the Teutul family plans to visit several good holes during their trip, Dunne said.'

OCC Spokane Orange County Choppers Coming

The new 2,000-square-foot SAII center, located in the Health and Education building at Deaconess Medical Center, brings revolutionary imaging technology to the local Spokane medical community. The center will house the first - and only - 3 Tesla (3T) scanner within a 150-mile radius of Spokane.

The Philips 3T is the next-generation high field magnetic resonance scanner and provides the best image quality available in the marketplace today. The 3T scans significantly faster than units currently being used today and possesses the ability to perform a diverse range of scans. Any exam, from neuro, musculoskeletal and abdominal imaging to functional and cardiac studies, contrast-enhanced angiography and spectroscopic imaging, can be completed quickly and more efficiently with a 3T. Additionally, the unit offers clinical versatility and customization capabilities that can be tailored to meet a center's specific needs.

In addition to being home to the most advanced scanner within a 150-mile radius of Spokane, SAII's new state-of-the-art center will boast many features including better scheduling capabilities, faster reporting turnaround times, improved film distribution and expertly designed space to enhance the patient imaging experience.

"With the opening of SAII's first center, the Spokane community will no longer have to travel far to undergo this type of advanced testing. Previously, patients had to travel in excess of 250 miles to Seattle to receive this type of superior scan. The advanced scanner will enable patients and their referring physicians access to the latest advances in neuro-vascular and functional imaging. We are pleased to bring this technology to Spokane, and look forward to ways in which it will change the face of local healthcare here," commented Steve Case, marketing manager for SAII.

Ron Cocchiarella, MD, president at SRC, added: "This technology will offer our medical community a choice to obtain more detailed imaging than any existing product in this region. We expect the added benefits to result in more specific diagnoses, shorter exam times, and enhance Spokane's tertiary medical status."

"Our 25-year relationship with SRC serves as an excellent springboard as we unveil our newest capability to the Spokane medical community. In addition to providing the latest innovation in technology, our patients will also witness many other benefits of the 3T. Its versatility enhances center workflow and therefore, will expedite the time patients spend at the center. The new center and 3T unit will prove invaluable to so many throughout Spokane and the surrounding communities," stated Bruce Butler, Deaconess Medical Center.

SAII is a leading the way in medical imaging technology through its pioneering facilities in Spokane. Please visit www.spokaneadvancedimaging.com to learn more.

Bellevue, Wash.-based National Medical Development Inc. specializes in the analysis, development, marketing and operation of outpatient medical facilities that span the healthcare spectrum including those in diagnostic imaging, cardiology, endoscopy and surgery centers. NMDI's strategy is centered on building productive, cooperative relationships between local hospitals and physician groups. Founded in 1991, the privately held NMDI currently operates centers located primarily in the western U.S. The company has developed more than 40 projects with a total capitalization in excess of $100 million. For more information, go to www.natmed.net.

Deaconess Medical Center is a fully accredited, 388-bed hospital located in the heart of downtown Spokane, and serves a four-state area including eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana and northern Oregon. Deaconess Medical Center, with a staff of more than 650 physicians and 175 consulting doctors and health professionals, is a Level II trauma center and also a leader in the treatment of heart and vascular diseases, cancer and services for mothers and their newborn babies. Additional details about Deaconess Medical Center can be found at www.deaconessmc.org.

SRC is a radiology consulting practice that has operated within Spokane for 25 years. Over the last two decades, the group of six physicians has provided consulting serves directly to Deaconess Medical Center, Valley medical Center and outpatient imaging centers throughout Spokane.'

New Imaging Center Welcomed In Spokane Washington

'Sterling Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Sterling Savings Bank, which provides community banking services to small- and medium-sized businesses, and individuals.'

'Commenting on the first quarter results, Harold Gilkey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "It's always nice to start the year with solid performance in line with our previous guidance. We are particularly pleased with the first quarter results. Within the core bank operations, we saw strong continuation of the key trends that drove our record growth in total assets in 2005. The 12 percent increase in total assets, year-over-year, was driven by 30 percent growth in loan originations. Deposits also demonstrated robust growth, increasing 24 percent over the same period last year. The growth in deposits reflects our strength in commercial and retail delivery networks and the expansion of branching over the past few years."'

'Mr. Gilkey stated, "Sterling's loan portfolio is well positioned with a mix of variable rate loans as we wrap up the first quarter of 2006, further positioning us to pursue various growth initiatives, expanding our commercial bank footprint. Additionally, this mix provides further opportunities as we prepare for our acquisition of Lynnwood Financial Group, Inc., which we expect to occur early in the third quarter of 2006."'

'Commenting on non-interest expenses and efficiency, Mr. Gilkey stated, "A number of factors contributed to Sterling's growth in non-interest expenses during the quarter. These included the opening of new branches in Kirkland and Mercer Island, Washington, and the addition of staff for new offices that we are planning to open in 2006. In addition, we added a number of staff members in existing offices and various corporate positions as part of our efforts to accelerate growth in our existing offices and to build the personnel infrastructure necessary to support significant future growth. Given the financial and competitive position we presently enjoy and the talent now available to us, we believe it is in the best long-term interest of our shareholders to continue pursuing initiatives that are designed to contribute to Sterling's growth and expansion."'

Sterling Financial Corporation of Spokane Washington Announces Earnings

On Thursday, the YMCA announced its building will be sold and demolished for a 14-story condominium tower.

Meanwhile, a massive, 80-acre development north of downtown Spokane has been given the green light by Mayor Dennis Hession despite concerns raised by city and state planners.

Hession said Kendall Yards is the largest project of its type the city has ever seen. The Spokane Area Economic Development Council has estimated the 20-year residential and commercial project, intended to build 2,600 residences downtown, will ultimately have an economic impact of $3 billion.

"I committed to becoming involved in this project because it is the most substantial project that has ever occurred in the city of Spokane," Hession said, noting that the developer has verbally agreed to address the issues raised by planners.

"You have to remember that this project is very unique in that it is a huge project within the central core of the city," he added.

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The Kendall Yards project application has been declared "technically complete." That means it's been scheduled for a public hearing before the hearing examiner, who has final say to approve or deny it.

The mayor's actions had a Washington State Department of Transportation planner wondering whether traffic concerns would be fully addressed.

"I was made aware that the city has deemed the Kendall Yards project technically complete without the traffic issues that we had discussed at our June 6th meeting being addressed or mitigation being proposed," wrote Greg Figg, a WSDOT planner, in an e-mail to the city's traffic engineer.

"This is a significant concern to us given the traffic volumes that will be added to the Maple/Ash I-90 ramp terminals," he said.

In the YMCA deal, a developer will pay the group $5.3 million for its property in Riverfront Park on the Spokane River.

Developer Mark Pinch is proposing a $50 million tower with up to 80 residential units and two levels of parking.

The condominiums would start in the $300,000 range, he said.

"We're going to develop that as good stewards of the park and good stewards of the river and provide Spokane with a dynamite project," Pinch said. "At the same time, we'll provide people who aren't residents in those homes with great access and great views."

The purchase and sale agreement, announced Thursday by Pinch and YMCA President Rig Riggins, allows the YMCA to move closer to its goal of co-location with the YWCA on 3.5 acres the YWCA announced Wednesday it planned to purchase.

The announcement also triggers the Spokane Park Board's 30-day right of first refusal to purchase the YMCA property, which it plans to exercise. What remains to be seen is how the park board would raise the money to match the $5.3 million offer by July 28.

"We would like that piece of property as part of the park, not as a high-rise building," said Ron Rector, vice president of the Park Board. "We just feel it should be part of the park and part of the view. It's got the best view of the river."'

Spokane condos

12/27/2011

Nurses gathering around donning scrub caps of many colors to support a worthy cause. That site would be a nice reality. Children are our most precious items. When they get sick our hearts are torn.

'Sacred Heart Children's Hospital is honored by the support two incredible men, Ken Pickens and Doug Lee, and their goal to bring a cinema to the Children's Hospital. The cinema will provide a place where seriously ill children can be " just like other kids" and go to the movies with their family. In order to create this theatre experience money has to be raised. Ken and Doug are hard at work raising $100,000. Their goal is to complete the project by December of this year. Many community fundraising events are in the works to build this special place and Ken and Doug welcome your help!'

How would it look if nurses and doctors were to help with the fundraiser? I'm sure the children would be very happy.

Nurses Should Support Spokane Children's Hospital Cinema

This independent film stars Samuel L. Jackson and rap artist 50 cent. Primarily dealing with the subject of the transition of a soldiers life on the battlefront to life at home, it keys in on present day reality. While such films as Born on the 4th of July touched on the life of a soldiers return after the Vietnam war; Home of the Brave will use the presnt Iraq war.

50 cent used his own life experience to act in the role.

'While surviving shootings (nine, his notorious backstory goes) and stabbings in New York, as he did during his youth as a drug-dealing player, is not like trying to stay alive in Iraq, 50 Cent said he could empathize with what the soldiers go through. A trip to Iraq to perform for the soldiers only reinforced his feelings.'

Home of the Brave filmed in Spokane stars 50 cent

According to court documents, Walters and two teenagers arranged to meet Migaki, 17, last June 5 on the pretext that he knew how they could get some marijuana.

Instead, investigators wrote, they planned to rob Migaki and the weapon discharged as Walter was pumping the action of a sawed-off shotgun to intimidate him.

Walter fled but was arrested in Sacramento, Calif., after gave the slip to a police officer in Portland, Ore., by using a false name.

Under the plea agreement, Walter is required to testify against Caleb J. Hanowell, whose trial on the same murder and robbery conspiracy charges is pending.

A third defendant, James N. Beasley, 16, pleaded guilty last year, agreed to testify against Hanowell and could remain in juvenile detention until he turns 21.'

Guilty Plea In Spokane Washington Killing

12/27/2011

The Catholic Bishop's office building in Spokane Washington will be sold in order to help cover costs associated with a recent sex-abuse case against the diocese.

'The diocese has retained Keen Realty, a Great Neck, N.Y., company that specializes in representing companies in bankruptcy or other financial troubles, to sell its historic Catholic Pastoral Center downtown, as well as two vacant parcels near Spokane.

The Pastoral Center, also known as the Chancery, is among $11 million in assets the diocese claimed when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2004, listing more than $81 million in claims.

Keen Realty Vice President Michael Matlat said the Pastoral Center's asking price is $1.5 million. A 92-acre parcel of land near Medical Lake, west of the city, also is listed at $1.5 million, while a 3-acre parcel in the Spokane Valley is worth an estimated $75,000.

"It has always been our intention to sell everything," Shaun Cross, a lawyer representing the diocese in its bankruptcy case, said Wednesday. "This is the start of that process. Virtually everything the diocese owns will be put up for sale."

A federal bankruptcy judge recently ruled that churches, schools and other properties in 82 parishes are owned by the bishop and could be sold to satisfy creditors, who are mostly people who claim they were abused by priests and other clergy.

The properties are believed to be worth an additional $80 million. The diocese has appealed that ruling.

Spokane Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is among those named in bankruptcy claims as an abuser. Skylstad has denied the claim that he sexually abused a young woman in the 1960s.

The house where Skylstad lives also will be sold, part of an estimated $5 million in real estate the diocese owns, Cross said.

Another $3 million is potentially available from a parish construction loan portfolio, he said.

The diocese has announced settlements amounting to about $10 million with insurance carriers and is negotiating possible settlements with other insurance companies.

The 28,968-square-foot, three-story Pastoral Center on West Riverside Avenue was built in 1910 and has served as a general office building for the diocese.

The 92-acre vacant parcel is just northwest of Interstate 90 and Medical Lake Road, about two miles southwest of the Spokane International Airport.

The three-acre parcel is in a residential area next to Painted Hills Golf Course in the Spokane Valley.

The diocese recently sold the former St. Anne's Children's Home property for about $500,000.'
Spokane Catholic Diocese To Sell Bishop's Office Building

The extradition has been under review ever since the former Washington State University student was found in Dublin on Oct. 23, four years to the day after he fled the United States.

"This is really a very significant step in getting him back into a Whitman County courtroom," Prosecutor Denis Tracy said. "Based on the track record of Irish courts in not granting extradition, we were quite concerned. But it looks like the effort is paying off."

Russell, 27, is charged in the 2001 crash on state Highway 270, the two-lane road that connects Pullman and Moscow, Idaho.

His attorney, Mark Moorer, said his client has always maintained his innocence.

"That appears to be the question of the day: Will he appeal (the extradition ruling)?" Moorer asked. "I have an e-mail in to (Russell's) solicitor (in Ireland) and I am waiting for a response."

Accident reports said Russell was driving an SUV about 90 mph and trying to pass other vehicles when it struck three cars the night of June 4, 2001. All the dead and seriously injured victims were returning from a movie in one car.

Killed in the crash were WSU seniors Brandon Clements, 22, of Wapato; Stacy G. Morrow, 21, of Milton; and Ryan Sorensen, 21, of Westport. Seriously injured were John Wagner, of Harrington, Kara Eichelsdoerfer, of Central Park, and Sameer Ranade, of Kennewick.

Russell suffered minor injuries. At the hospital after the crash, his blood-alcohol level measured 0.12 percent, above the legal intoxication threshold of 0.08.

A few days before his trial was to begin, Russell hitched a ride on Oct. 23, 2001, with Bernadette Olson, who was a graduate student at the time studying under Russell's father, Greg Russell. The elder Russell is a former prosecutor who then was working as the head of WSU's criminal justice program.

Olson drove Fred Russell to the airport in Calgary, Alberta. Federal officials believe Russell flew immediately to England before settling in Ireland.

In March 2004, Olson pleaded guilty in federal court to lying to investigators about her interactions with Russell. She later resigned from her post as assistant professor of criminal justice and legal studies at the University of West Florida.

Tracy's office, with help from U.S. officials, filed for Russell's extradition after a Dublin tipster spotted his photograph on the U.S. Marshals Service's Web site, which listed Russell among the United States' 15 most-wanted criminal suspects. He had been working in a Dublin lingerie shop under the alias David Carroll.

Until Tuesday, the return of Russell, who also faces four counts of vehicular assault and various charges relating to his fleeing the country, remained in doubt. That's because the previous 18 attempts to extradite U.S. suspects had been denied by Irish officials, including a vehicular homicide case out of California, federal officials said last year.'

Extradition In Motion For Accused Suspect In 2001 Auto Collision

'Thanks to modern technology a Spokane woman was reunited with her dog recently six years after she lost her.'

Just to clarify; the dog was lost, not the woman.

'Annette Wulff had a microchip implanted in her dog when she was just a puppy. However the dog – Lady – disappeared when she was just eight months old. Not knowing where she was or what happened to her Wulff feared the worst.

On Monday she got a call from Spokanimal.

“I was totally amazed I was just thinking about two or three days ago about getting a boxer and now the next day she was home,” Wulff said.

As for Lady, who was adopted by another family and re-named Baby, Wulff says she’s exactly as she remembers her, just a little bigger and with one other noticeable change.

“She likes to ride in the car now,” Wulff said. “I don't have to train her to do that … before she was getting sick now she doesn't get sick.”'

Doesn't this dog story bring a tear to your eye.

Dog Reunites With Spokane Woman After Six Years

Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar (NASDAQ: DISH) also is making high-definition channels available to customers in Dallas; Houston; Miami; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego; San Francisco; and Sacramento, Calif.

The company now offers local HD channels to customers in 24 cities. EchoStar is offering its entire DishHD lineup and more than 70 standard definition channels for $49.99 a month. Local channels will be added for $5 a month.

Dish Network plans to launch high-definition local channels through its satellite service in additional cities until it reaches more than 50 percent of all U.S. households by year's end.

EchoStar serves more than 12 million satellite TV customers nationwide.'

EchoStar expands local HD channels to Spokane

12/27/2011

'Avista Corp. said Monday it tapped insider Scott Morris to be president and chief operating officer for the electricity and natural-gas provider.'

Avista is headquartered in Spokane Washington.

'Morris, who was most recently senior vice president of the company and president of Avista's utilities unit, will continue to oversee that group, as well operations of the overall corporation.

Morris joined Avista's utilities group in 1981 in its marketing division and has held a variety of management roles within the company, including general manager for Avista's Oregon and California utility business. He has been president of Avista's utilities business since August 2000.'

Spokane Washington's Avista Corp. Chooses New President

Rising interest rates lessened the number of homes sold in the first three months of 2006, compared to a year ago, but the price of homes soared 17 percent in the same period.

The Spokane market was particularly strong, with prices rising 26.4 percent from the year before, to an average of $169,900, the report said.

"It's fairly typical that the Spokane market really heats up three years or so after the Seattle market has caught fire," said Glenn Crellin, director of the Pullman-based center.

After a few years of rising prices in the Puget Sound region, the Spokane market looks like a bargain and buyers swoop in, Crellin said.

The report is produced in conjuction with Washington Realtors.

Crellin said the raising of interest rates by the Federal Reserve Board is the main reason for the flat statewide market.

But he cautioned that the market appears flat only in comparison to the superheated housing sales of recent years.

"The market remains very strong," he said, especially compared to the rest of the country.

Roughly half of Washington's 39 counties reported fewer sales between January 1 and March 31 than a year ago, but the statewide total was only 0.3 percent (120 sales) below the record for a first quarter.

King County, the state's largest, saw the number of homes sold in the first quarter drop 10 percent from the year before. But neighboring Snohomish and Pierce counties each reported roughly 9 percent more sales.

In Eastern Washington, Spokane was the only urban market with rising sales. The number of homes sold in Yakima was down 3.6 percent and in the Tri-Cities was down 5.8 percent. The top performers in Eastern Washington were Kittitas and Walla Walla counties, where sales rates were nearly 50 percent above a year ago.

Statewide, there are only about half the homes on the market required to avoid significant inflationary pressure on housing, Crellin said.

The statewide median price soared to $280,200 during the first quarter, 17.1 percent above a year earlier, but a slower increase than during the fourth quarter.

Grant and Yakima counties were the only areas to report median prices down from a year ago, and only slightly. Sparsely populated Columbia County was the only market in the state reporting a median price below $100,000.

Prices averaged double digit increases in 29 of the 39 counties.

The most costly market in the state was San Juan County, where the median price of $625,500 was 33.8 percent above last year.

King County remained the most expensive urban market, with a median price during the first quarter of $399,500. Yakima was the least expensive urban market, with a median price of $129,400.

Buying a house continues to become more difficult in Washington.

The Housing Affordability Index - which measures the ability of a middle income family to buy a median price home with a 30-year mortgage - slipped further below 100 in the first quarter.

The statewide rate of 93.3 meant that a typical family had only 93 percent of the income required to buy a median-price home. Buyers in seven counties faced index values below 100, with the problem especially big in San Juan, Jefferson and King counties, which had values ranging from 37.1 to 77.1.

At the other extreme, four counties had index values above 150, suggesting the typical family would not have much trouble buying. They were Benton, Columbia, Garfield and Wahkiakum counties.

The first-time buyer affordability index for the first quarter stood at 54.3, the fourth consecutive quarter of record low affordability.

"The biggest challenge is finding affordable starter homes," Crellin said. "Only three counties offer the typical entry-level buyer the opportunity to afford a typical starter home." They are Benton, Columbia and Wahkiakum.'

Spokane Home Prices Surge 26.4 Percent

12/27/2011

The Gonzaga Bulldogs of Spokane, Washington will get their chance to match up against the high caliber Duke Blue Devils later this year.

'Duke and Gonzaga, two of the most successful college basketball programs of the past decade, have never played. Until now.

The Blue Devils will play the "Bulldogs" on Dec. 21 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Where are J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison when we need them?

Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth said the deal is another sign of the Bulldogs' high national profile.

"A few years ago, it might have been 'Gonzaga gets to play Duke,"' Roth said Thursday. "Now it's Duke versus Gonzaga. Two national powers playing each other."

The match was brokered by Madison Square Garden officials, who signed agreements with both teams, Roth said. He declined to discuss how much Gonzaga will be paid for the game.

This will be the first meeting between the two schools, which were ranked in or near the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 all last season.

Even though Duke is from the storied Atlantic Coast Conference and Gonzaga hails from the lightly regarded West Coast Conference, the teams have been linked in recent years.

Duke and Gonzaga are the only Division 1 teams to have won at least 80 percent of their games in the past six years, and they are the only teams to have avoided a 10-loss season in the past eight years.

In addition, Morrison of Gonzaga and Redick of Duke engaged in a season-long showdown for the national scoring title. Morrison won with an average of 28.1 points per game, while Redick averaged 26.8. But Redick edged out Morrison in most player-of-the-year selections.

Redick has used up his eligibility, while Morrison opted to skip his senior year and declare for the NBA draft.

Gonzaga is 7-1 all-time against ACC teams.

Duke, coached by Mike Krzyzewski, finished the season 32-4 after losing in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Gonzaga, coached by Mark Few, finished 29-4 and also lost in the third round.

Gonzaga may try to schedule another East Coast game during the trip, Roth said. While the schedule for next season has not been released, Gonzaga will play Texas at a tournament in Phoenix, he said.

Game time and ticket information for the Duke game are not yet available, Roth said.

Eric Gelfand, vice president of public relations for Madison Square Garden, told The Spokesman-Review newspaper that the Dec. 21 date was picked in part to give Duke and Gonzaga fans attending the game a chance to experience the Big Apple in its holiday splendor.

"We want fans from both schools to come and enjoy our city," he said. "I hope Gonzaga's fans travel well, because Duke's do. They've played here many times. It's like their home away from home."

Roth said Gonzaga was hoping to charter an airplane for Bulldogs fans wishing to attend the game.

"There is no more beautiful place to be at Christmas than New York City," Roth said.

Gonzaga has played once before in Madison Square Garden, losing to Saint Joseph's 73-66 on Nov. 14, 2003, in Morrison's first college game.'

Spokane's Gonzaga vs Duke In Madison Square Garden

'Wireless Internet, which allows a computer to connect to the Web via radio signals, has recently come online at each branch of the Spokane County Library District, Spokane Valley's new community center and Valley businesses from truck stops to taverns.

"I can sit here and show houses while I tend bar," said Charlie Price, real estate agent and part-time barkeep, on a recent afternoon at the Peking Palace.

The Sprague Avenue restaurant and bar installed a small network about five months ago so patrons can browse on their laptops while they imbibe.

Some business owners have looked at the high-speed connections they maintain for their back offices and decided they may as well run it through wireless equipment as a way to draw customers.

"In a business like this you may as well share it," said Craig Swanson, who owns the Rock Inn. "It's been a good deal."

About a year ago he put up about $500 for a commercial-quality network. It hasn't brought in a lot of people, he said, but now some of the regulars show up with their computers.

Because he helps them advertise, Ptera Wireless Internet Services doesn't charge for the Internet connection itself.

The company hooked up Percy's Cafe Americana at the U-City Mall last week, and Ptera owner Jim Wilson said he has seen wireless networks at businesses become more numerous in the past few years.

"It's easy enough to do these days," he said.

Many laptops come with wireless hardware installed, and most others can be upgraded easily.The rest of the network is simply a special radio transmitter plugged into an Internet connection.

Having a network everyone can access has its drawbacks, though.

"They don't really want people to come into their parking lot and use their Internet," Wilson said. The idea is to bring network customers inside so they will patronize the business.

A more advanced network requires users to log in with a password. Other features also help protect users and the business itself from people accessing files on other computers on the network.

Users can protect themselves with firewall software like the kind that comes with newer versions of Microsoft Windows.

The Spokane County Library District introduced the technology at all 10 of its libraries in April. Although users can't print documents through the connection and librarians aren't trained to handle technical questions, regional manager Ellen Miller said most laptop users she's seen are pretty savvy.

"Before we even had a chance to publicize it in any way, people were figuring it out," Miller said. "They're so pleased that it's free and that you don't need a library card to access it."

Free wireless Internet is making its way into other parts of the public sector as well.

Spokane Valley's CenterPlace community center, which opened last fall, has a network. The city even lists as one of its goals for this year to look into what it would take to create a wireless network covering the entire city.

So far, that's just meant looking into costs and available technology and any network would be years off. But the City Council has shown a keen interest in its use as an economic development tool.

In Liberty Lake, laptops are a frequent sight at the Cafe Liberte, and there are even networks accessible from the food court at the Spokane Valley Mall.

Wireless technology has gained an even stronger presence in the hotel industry.

"It's becoming almost a necessity for a lot of the business travelers," said Lee Cameron, general manager at the Mirabeau Park Hotel.

Its wireless Internet has been up since 2003, and extensive renovations will include more advanced networks that will theoretically allow someone to walk through the hotel watching a streaming video without ever losing a connection, he said.

People also use the access in the hotel's Max Restaurant'

Wireless Networks Popping Up In Spokane Washington

There, amid the smell of fresh cedar shavings and the sounds of lowing cattle, bleating sheep and squealing pigs, 600 kids from grades three to 12 are waking up at 6 a.m. and going to bed at midnight. Almost every moment between is dedicated to preparing their livestock for judging, cleaning work areas and learning during the Junior Livestock Show of Spokane.

"It's a lot more than bringing a hog to the show," said Treva Norris, executive director for Junior Show, which is now in its 70th year. "It's the building of character. The show is such a good opportunity for young people."

On a perfect-temperature Wednesday, a third-grader blow-dried an enormous steer twice her height for an hour. A boy, dressed in rain gear, shared a steel cage with a hog as he tried to wash the squealing beast. A team of 4-H members hung signs above a row of pens, only to discover their sheep found a way to stand higher and tear down the posters. Here, parents are expressly forbidden from doing the work, and youngsters take on adult responsibilities.

Men with handlebar mustaches and cowboy hats talked to high-schoolers wearing baseball caps and sneakers about the price per pound for beef this weekend, and tours of preschool children wandered the clean-swept aisles pointing at the animals.

Barely taller than the hog pens surrounding her, and holding a large push broom, 10-year-old Jessica Magers swept cedar shavings away from the fronts of the Greenacres 4-H Club pens. She bought her pigs in January and has been up every morning feeding them ever since.

"The best part is getting to spend time with them," she said of her two hogs, weighing 262 and 266 pounds, named Petunia and Zelda. Last year, Magers won the Grand Champion award in her division for Fitting and Showing techniques, which involves the 68-pound-girl washing and trimming an animal four times heavier than she, and then displaying it before a judge.

While proud of that award, the end result for Magers' animals was the same as it is for all the livestock at the Junior Show. All animals – from the champion steer to the lamb that was a best friend for months – go up for sale at the end of the show. Months of hard work are auctioned in front of a crowd, then put on a truck for the meat-packing plant.

It's Magers' third year at the show, and she's cried both times before when she sold her hogs. Will she do it again?

Sheepishly, she said, "Yeah," but soon followed with a quick, "I hope not, though."

Included on most young people's schedules are hours of "pen duty," when aisles are swept spotlessly clean and pens are tidied. Different clubs compete for the best-kept pen areas.

Representing Waitsburg, Wash., Brad Grende, a high school senior and Future Farmers of America member, knows that the show offers a chance to learn – and a chance to get out of learning.'

Spokane Washington Junior Livestock Show Begins

12/22/2011

Who choreographed these two guys relaxing and watching a ferry make its way across the Sound? :-) The Seattle area is having a week-long warm spell that is not expected to end until next Tuesday. It is a great time to get out on the water. Orcas were spotted recently right in Elliott Bay, visible from piers along the Alaskan Way waterfront. They were just visitors passing through, though. There are 3 pods that live in Puget Sound and they mostly like to hang out up in the San Juan Islands closer to the Canadian border.

Information for Spokane, Washington

Spokane, WA

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Latitude: 47.673341 -- Longitude: -117.410271

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12/27/2011

Information for Spokane, Washington

Spokane, WA

Homes - Schools - Census Data - Jobs - Maps

Latitude: 47.673341 -- Longitude: -117.410271

Enter our Photo Sweepstakes and Win $200 for your Spokane photos!

ASKME a Question About Spokane, Washington

Census Data for Spokane, Washington

Cities

Check out what's happening in the NewQuestCity Forums for Washington .

OCC Spokane Orange County Choppers Coming 12/27/2011

OCC Spokane Orange County Choppers Coming
12/27/2011