Mayor’s ‘State Of The City’ Address On Friday Morning

Bombed, iced over, flooded and blackened, Spokane in 1996 was not exactly the city where, as the promotional ads say: “Spokane: You’ll love it here!”

But Mayor Jack Geraghty this week may bring some hope to Eastern Washington’s largest community when he delivers his annual “State of the City” address.

Geraghty’s speech is the main attraction of the monthly Good Morning Spokane Area, an event sponsored by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday in the Red Lion City Center Hotel. Cost of the event is $10 prepaid, or $15 at the door. Call 459-4111 for tickets.

In other events this week:

Today

The Edward Jones securities firm, 523 Shadle Center, hosts a free satellite broadcast for individual investors at 3 p.m., with corporate executives and analysts making market forecasts for 1997. Call 326-5740.

NxLevel entrepreneurial training program holds free information reception at 6 p.m. in the Small Business Development Center, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd. 358-7890.

Washington Department of Labor and Industries holds meeting on new workers’ compensation insurance program for drywall contractors at noon in the L&I office, 901 N. Monroe St. Call 360-902-4776.

Disney expected to file its shareholder proxy containing details of Michael Ovitz’ severance package and Michael Eisner’s bonus.

American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting continues in Nashville.

Tuesday

Harold Gilkey, chairman of Sterling Financial Corp., and Larry Miller, vice president of agricultural policy and commercial credit association for Seafirst Bank, scheduled to speak to the Mid-Columbia Farm Forum and Ag Show at the TRAC facility in Pasco. Free and open to the public. Call 509-547-5538.

Nearly 50 scientists gather at the two-day Pacific Northwest Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems, or STEEP II, Conservation Farming Conference at Cavanaugh’s Inn-Columbia Center in Kennewick to discuss erosion and weed control, precision farming and alternatives to grass burning. Cost: $25 one day; $40 both days. Call 509-547-5538.

U.S. House of Representatives to vote on re-election of Speaker Newt Gingrich.

U.S. Department of Commerce releases November factory orders.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien leads trade mission to South Korea, Philippines, Thailand.

Wednesday

Federal Reserve releases November consumer credit report.

Friday

The Coeur d’Alene-based Idaho Technology Association meets at 2 p.m. in the Joe R. Williams Building, 700 W. State St., in Boise. Call Monica Paquin at 208-772-8900.

Northwest Gamefish Show opens at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds, through Sunday.

Saturday

John Schram, investment advisor with LPL Financial Services, presents free seminar on financial strategies for divorced and widowed women at 10 a.m. at the YWCA, 829 W. Broadway. Call 326-1190, ext. 111. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the Economy - Sales tax receipts

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Money, January: Three-month investigation of Blue Cross/ Blue Shield finds that consumers may be cheated by the health insurer’s trend toward merger and reorganization. Business Week, Jan. 6: From artwork to zero coupon bonds, a cover story suggests where to invest in the 1997 economy.

Grain handlers Largest Washington and Idaho grain companies, ranked by millions of bushels of storage capacity, according to the 1997 North American Grain and Milling Annual: 1. Central Washington Grain Growers, 20.1. 2. Odessa Union Warehouse, 12.3. 3. Walla Walla Grain Growers, 10.7. 4. Stegner Grain and Seed, 9.3. 5. Lewiston Grain Growers, 8.8.