Field Burning Summit May Help Clear The Air

Maybe the smoke around recent field-burning legislation will clear after the Inland Northwest Field Burning Summit.

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the Department of Ecology’s regional office, Monroe and Wellesley. Call Emmett Fiske at 509-335-8623 for more information.

Field burning, always a controversial issue in the Spokane area, was thrust into the public consciousness earlier this month when Gov. Lowry signed legislation removing restrictions on when grass seed growers can torch their fields.

In other events this week:

Tuesday

Nordstrom holds its annual meeting of shareholders in Seattle.

A study evaluating the economic impact of an $80 million downtown revitalization proposal will be released at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. on the top floor of The Spokesman-Review Tower, 999 W. Riverside.

United Retail Merchants opens its General Merchandising Show at the Quality Inn, Sheraton-Spokane and the Spokane Super 8. Call 624-1341.

A state conference of the Washington Public Ports Association opens Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park, running through Friday.

ISO 9000 Roundtable breakfast at Itron Inc., N2818 Sullivan Rd. Randy Nell will discuss the company’s experience obtaining certification. Call 533-4705 for reservations.

Wednesday

Washington State Housing Finance Commission holds free home buyer education seminar at 6:30 p.m. on the eighth floor of the Seafirst Financial Center, 601 W. Riverside. Seminar repeats the same time Thursday. Call 353-6025.

Thursday

Group Health Northwest hosts the Business After Hours gathering at 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Lidgerwood Health Care Center, 6002 N. Lidgerwood. Call 459-4111.

The annual meeting of the Washington State Automotive Wholesalers Association opens at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park, running through Sunday.

Consumer Credit Counseling of Spokane will hold a workshop, “A Penny Saved.” Thrift consultant Carnette Ball will discuss the use of coupons and other steps that will yield household savings. The workshop runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the service’s N1912 Division offices. Cost: $10. For advance reservations, call 327-3777.

Friday

Don Hodel, former Secretary of Energy, speaks to the Mayor’s Annual Prayer Breakfast at 7 a.m. in the Crescent Court Ballroom. Call 325-1105.

Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce holds its business connections breakfast at the Red Lion Inn starting at 7 a.m. Cost: $10. Call 924-4994 for information.

Saturday

Northwest Native Arts Market & Art Show features more than 30 Northwest Native vendors sponsored by the Northwest Inter-Tribal Arts Council, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and Key Bank of Washington. Show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday at the Spokane Convention Center.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week: First Chicago’s decision to charge customers for talking to bank tellers could presage a bitter transition in the way consumers and banks interact, says Business Week. Forbes: Boeing must cut manufacturing costs for some of its recent jet-order contracts to be profitable, says Forbes.

Good work Some of the companies that pay their directors mostly lavishly, as ranked by Forbes. Dollar amounts represent total annual compensation (including stock) for a director: Compaq Computer, $274,000 Intel, $249,000 General Electric, $132,000 ConAgra, $129,000 PepsiCo, $100,000