Second Tabloid Business Newspaper Stakes Claim To N. Idaho Market

Not that we want to give free publicity to the competition …

It is interesting, however, that North Idaho now has two tabloid business newspapers. One is the North Idaho Business Journal, published for two years now by the Hagadone Corp. The other, the Independent Business Record, debuts this week, with all of the employees being former Hagadone employees.

Both papers will be published twice monthly and distributed free on newsstands or through mail by request.

The Independent Business Record is edited by Ric Clarke, formerly business editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press and the Business Journal. Joining Clarke, a Spokane native, are former Hagadone employees David Kilmer (assistant editor, originally from Walla Walla); Susan Cuff (reporter, originally from Missoula); Gretchen Berning, director of business and production; and Kiki Miller, director of sales and distribution and Coeur d’Alene native.

Owners are Clarke; Berning; Steve Schenk, public relations and foundation director at North Idaho College and Berning’s husband; and Steve and Sally Delgado, of Century Communications and Coeur d’Alene Travel respectively.

Clarke said interest in the venture was kindled when he earlier wrote a feature about Berning and Schenk, who originally came to North Idaho from Wyoming with the intent of owning a newspaper. The Schenks had met while students at the University of Missouri. Schenk has been with NIC for many years, while Berning earlier was managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press.

“We’re looking at this as an opportunity, not a vendetta or any adversarial thing with the Hagadone Corp.,” Clarke said. “We went to Duane (Hagadone) and asked him to sell the Business Journal to us. (When that didn’t happen), we decided to create our own product.”

The Independent Business Record “is meant to be a tool for business,” Clarke said.

The Record’s offices are at 2255 Northwest Blvd. (the former home of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association, actually on Seltice Way).

With its key employees withdrawing, the North Idaho Business Journal is still restructuring and searching for an editor, said Publisher Jim Thompson. Interim editor is David Gunter, assisted by Jeff Selle (both former North Idaho College journalism students). Also on the staff are Shawna Rorem, Russ Martin and Julie Mitten.

Since the papers themselves are free, advertising revenues will pay the bills.

Listening to spokesmen extol the idealistic reasoning of their publications’ existence reminds me of my first day of journalism school at the University of Montana more than three decades ago.

Intently surveying a large room of trembling freshmen, the venerable Dean Nathan Blumberg demanded answers to: “What is the purpose of a newspaper?”

He pointed to many of us one by one, and we (timidly, most of us) suggested it was things such as to be “fair, objective, informative, entertaining …”

Almost ignoring us because he knew what we would say, he bellowed, “The purpose of a newspaper is to make money!”

We were shaken. However, of course, he was, and is, right.

Little Mo’s Optical and Eye Clinic opened last week at E. 1596 Seltice Way, Post Falls. It is the second store for owner Dave Lillemo, who has had Little Mo’s in Coeur d’Alene for many years.

The optical shop will include a lab (featuring glasses in one hour) and a large frame selection. Doctors in the clinic are Stephen Moss and Justin Stormogipson.

Rossi Insurance also is expanding to Post Falls, with the North Idaho company’s fourth office in the Milltown Service Center at 306 N. Spokane St. Other offices are Rossi Insurance in Wallace (100 years old this year), Kellogg Insurance and Coeur d’Alene Insurance.

Providing a wide variety of insurance options and bonding, Post Falls agents are Jeff Wilkins, manager; Jan Liesenfeld, office manager; and Cindy Peery, commercial accounts representative.

“Safe tanning” is product of Hawaiian Sun, a new business at 6680 Government Way, Dalton (across from Silver Lake Mall). Owner Mary Lee Pauli said her tanning beds only use UVA rays that won’t burn or age a customer’s skin.

“You are here two or three times to get a tan and then once a month to maintain it,” she said. A physical therapist, Pauli came to North Idaho 17 years ago. She is originally from New York.