In the News

Feb. 27 / Quintrall tabbed for city post

Spokane Mayor David Condon named Better Business Bureau executive Jan Quintrall as the city's division director for Business & Developer Services. The appointment is subject to City Council approval. Quintrall has served as president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Montana for the last 13 years.

Feb. 23 / Coeur posts big earnings jump

Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. reported fourth-quarter net income of $11.4 million, or 13 cents a share, up from a net loss of $5.1 million, or6 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. For all of 2011, Coeur posted record net income of $93.5 million, or $1.05 a share, compared with a net loss of $91.3 million, or$1.05 a share, in2010.

Feb. 23 / USPS to bring three operations here

The U.S. Postal Service said it plans to closemail processing and distribution operations in Pasco, Yakima, and Wenatchee and to move those operationsto the Spokane center, located at 2928 S. Spotted Road, on the West Plains. USPS spokesman Ernie Swanson said the consolidation will result in additional jobs at the 340-employee Spokane center, but the agency hasn't decided yet how many people it will need to hire here.

Feb. 22 / Clearwater's net declines

Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp. reported fourth-quarter net income of $11.5 million, or 48 cents a diluted share, down from $37.8 million, or $1.60 a share, in the year-earlier period. For all of 2011, the company posted net income of $39.7 million, or $1.66 a share, compared with $73.8 million, or $3.12 a share, in 2010. Net sales for the quarter and the year increased, however.

Feb. 21 / Sterling cuts staff, plans to rebrand

Spokane-based Sterling Financial Corp,parent ofSterling Savings Bank, said it has shrunk its full-time equivalent workforce by 6 percent over the last couple of months and has launched a $3.5 million rebranding effort that includes changing the bank's name to Sterling Bank. The company said the job cuts will result in a severance-related charge of about $3 million, but will lead to$15 million in annualized staff savings.

Feb. 21 / Hecla reports record profits

Hecla Mining Co., of Coeur d'Alene, reported fourth-quarter net income applicable to common shareholders of $18.4 million, or 7 cents a diluted share, up from a net loss of $13.1 million, or 5 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. For all of 2011, the company posted net income of $150.6 million, or 54 cents a share, up from $35.4 million, or 14 cents a share, in 2010.

Feb. 17 / INB records bigger loss

Northwest Bancorporation Inc., the Spokane-based parent company of Inland Northwest Bank, reported a fourth-quarter net loss applicable to common shareholders of $776,000, or 25 cents a diluted share, compared with a loss of $608,000, or 20 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. For all of 2011, the company posted a net loss of $1.4 million, or 46 cents a share, compared with net income of $267,000, or 10 cents a share, in 2010.

Feb. 15 / Avista's net income falls slightly

Avista Corp., of Spokane, reported fourth-quarter net income of $24.6 million, or 42 cents a diluted share, down slightly from $25.7 million, or 45 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. For all of 2011, however, the company posted net income of $100.2 million, or $1.72 a share, up from $92.4 million, or $1.65 a share, in 2010.

Corrections & Amplifications

Tera Bailey is among nine stylists who founded Tryst Hair Co., a new salon in Schade Towers, at 528 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. Bailey's name was omitted from a list of the founding stylists in a story in the Journal's Feb. 16 issue.