Richard Ripley

Encoder maker sees economy as bottoming

Sandpoint-area company expects to be hopping as industries upgrade

October 29, 2009

SANDPOINT, Idaho—A quiet but longtime Sandpoint-area manufacturer believes it stands to help sharpen the leading edge of the U.S. economy as it recovers.The concern, Encoder Products Co., makes devices used in just about every type of that

Roads chief hears pitch for corridor

Top U.S. highway official meets with Spokane group in Washington, D.C., office

October 1, 2009

Richard Ripley

A delegation of Spokane-area business leaders met Sept. 8 in Washington, D.C., with Federal Highway Administration chief Victor Mendez to make a case for a $35 million grant to complete construction of the southbound lanes of the North Spokane from

Why bankers are laughing ruefully

Editor's Notebook

September 17, 2009

Richard Ripley

A banker friend of mine says a colleague says these days, "In banking, 'flat' is the new 'up.'" Why bankers would laugh ruefully at such a remark was obvious when I worked on a story last issue about Sterling Financial Corp., of Spokane, from a

Al French to seek post at county

Spokane city councilman set to challenge Mager for commissioner's seat

September 17, 2009

Richard Ripley

Spokane City Councilman Al French says he will run for Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager's seat in the general election next year. The two-term councilman, architect, and businessman, who hasn't waged a partisan campaign before, says he a

$38 million Pullman smart-grid plan eyed

Avista, Itron, Schweitzer Engineering involved; proposal awaits broader effort's approval

September 17, 2009

Richard Ripley

Avista Corp. and several partners would make a $38 million investment in technology and equipment in Pullman if a $178 million five-state demonstration project is a winner in a national competition for federal stimulus grants that would cover half

Avista eyes big upgrades at dams later

Cabinet Gorge, Long Lake projects total $316 million, could serve 108,000 homes

September 17, 2009

Richard Ripley

Avista Utilities has listed in a new long-term plan three potential major hydroelectric upgrades at its Long Lake and Cabinet Gorge dams that would add 144 megawatts of generating capacity to its system, or more than the 125 megawatts of combined a

Sterling's shareholders to meet soon

Spokane company seeks authorization to issue higher number of shares

September 3, 2009

Richard Ripley

Sterling Financial Corp. has scheduled a special meeting for shareholders here Sept. 21 to seek their approval of a new ceiling on the number of shares of common stock the company's board of directors can issue.The Spokane company, which owns is

Avista plans to add much wind power

Company says such plants will supply 350 megawatts of capacity within 13 years

September 3, 2009

Richard Ripley

Avista Utilities plans to build or acquire 150 megawatts of wind-powered generation by 2012 to take advantage of renewable-energy tax incentives, to diversify its resource mix, and to meet renewable-energy requirements.The Spokane company lays a

Avista speaks out on cap-and-trade

Editor's Notebook

August 20, 2009

Richard Ripley

Avista Corp. is voicing its support for swift enactment of federal greenhouse-gas cap-and-trade and renewable-electricity legislation and helped formulate a key part of a bill the U.S. House passed last month.The Spokane company says the bill on

Farm Credit net income takes dip

Allowance for loan losses climbs by $23.8 million in second quarter of '09

August 20, 2009

Richard Ripley

Northwest Farm Credit Services, of Spokane, has reported second-quarter net income of $18.5 million, down sharply from $31.2 million in the year-earlier quarter.For the year's first six months, the federally chartered ag-lending cooperative of a