Stories for January 1, 2006

• 

  Four stories with heart

  In City on Page A1 Sometimes, a good heart is hard to come by. No one knows this better than Cindy Scinto. Twelve months ago, Scinto was in the hospital. Her heart had stopped beating …

• Californians urged to flee rising water

  In Nation/World on Page A1 NAPA, Calif. – A powerful storm sent rivers and creeks over their banks and into cities and set off mudslides that blocked major highways across Northern California on Saturday. At …

• Christmas Fund drive beats goal

  In City on Page A1 The Christmas Fund effort ended this week in the best way possible: a post-Christmas donation of $10,000 from Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital helped boost the …

• 

  First Kids’ Night Out a hit

  In City on Page A1 The final hours of 2005 in Spokane were counted down by the pounding of drums by hundreds of kids. The city’s newest percussionists swarmed downtown streets and sidewalks with their …

• Study boosts use of Prozac

  In Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – Antidepressants, such as Prozac and similar drugs, help many patients overcome their often disabling psychiatric disease and do not increase the risk for suicide, according to two large …

• New Year finds Catholic Charities struggling

  In City on Page A1 Donations have dropped significantly this year to the annual Christmas Collection – Catholic Charities’ biggest fund-raiser and a major source of income for programs that help thousands in need throughout …

• 

  More critics want to remove Hoover name from FBI’s HQ

  In Nation/World on Page A2 WASHINGTON – Every year for the past three years, Republican Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana has introduced a bill to strip J. Edgar Hoover’s name from the FBI’s huge headquarters …

• Zeta weakens, won’t threaten land

  In Nation/World on Page A3 Miami Tropical Storm Zeta stalled and weakened Saturday in the open Atlantic, a day after it tied a record for the latest-developing named storm in an already infamous hurricane season. …

• Roberts seeks more pay for judges

  In Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – New Chief Justice John G. Roberts, in his first year-end report on the federal judiciary, called on Congress today to raise the salaries of federal judges and to …

• 

  Troops mark year’s end as violence continues

  In Nation/World on Page A3 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Bombings and shootings killed at least 20 people across Iraq on the final day of the year Saturday, while U.S. troops shivered in the cold during a …

• This just in, dawg: ‘Breaking news’ out

  In Nation/World on Page A3 DETROIT – No up-or-down vote necessary: Everyone from persons of interest to first-time callers will agree that 2005 offered more than its share of irritating words and phrases. Lake Superior …

• 

  Amtrak riders spend extra 25 hours on rails

  In Nation/World on Page A3 NEW YORK – The Amtrak train that was delayed for more than 24 hours finally pulled into Penn Station on Saturday – long after many passengers had run out of …

• Bombing kills 8 in Indonesia market

  In Nation/World on Page A4 Palu, Indonesia Suspected Islamic militants set off a powerful bomb packed with nails Saturday at a busy market frequented by Christians, killing eight people and wounding 45 as they bought …

• 

  Europe revisits nuclear power

  In Nation/World on Page A4 LONDON – It’s the core question radiating across Europe today: How can governments fight global warming while continuing to meet their populations’ growing demands for energy? Facing few viable answers, …

• Benedict’s emphasis on family

  In Nation/World on Page A4 VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI remembered his predecessor Saturday and again stressed the importance of a family based on marriage “in the life of the church and of society.” …

• In passing

  In Nation/World on Page A5 John Diebold, 79; computer advocate John Diebold, a business visionary who preached computerization during the era of Elvis and Eisenhower as the future of worldwide industry, has died at 79.

• 

  Codey’s time at top ebbing

  In Nation/World on Page A6 TRENTON, N.J. – He cracked jokes, nearly punched an obnoxious shock jock, and broke the news that the state was teetering toward bankruptcy. And New Jerseyans loved him for it.

• States ring in new year with slew of new laws

  In Nation/World on Page A6 The new year will dawn with an array of state laws taking effect across the country, offering a snapshot of issues that matter to Americans – including identity theft, sex …

• 

  Indian woman seeks spot in history, state Senate

  In Nation/World on Page A6 WALKER, Minn. – Irene Folstrom traveled a long way from the Indian reservation where she was born – to Stanford University, then on to law school at Cornell. Tribal members …

• 

  Medicare drug benefit ‘experiment’ launches

  In Nation/World on Page A7 It’s projected to cost $724 billion over the next 10 years. It’s expected to enroll nearly 30 million seniors and people with disabilities. It relies on private insurance companies to …

• 14 cats die in fire despite efforts

  In City on Page B1 A Spokane woman escaped her burning home Saturday morning but suffered first- and second-degree burns after running back inside to try to save her cats. Phyllis Sisseck lost 14 feline …

• 

  Raise a glass to this year’s Budnicks

  In City on Page B1 Get ready for the 19th bestowing of the Budnick Awards. Today we celebrate the area’s foremost dubious achievers of 2005, which turned out to be one glorious goofball year. How …

• Prayer circle begs blessings on Spokane

  In City on Page B1 On the last day of the most tumultuous year in Spokane’s recent history, Christians from throughout the area gathered to pray. They asked God for forgiveness, for grace and for …

• 

  Policing the city center

  In City on Page B1 They walk a beat where they could appear at any time on a downtown sidewalk, in the skywalk system or the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza. In just two months, Spokane …

• Idaho man could face death penalty

  In City on Page B2 TWIN FALLS, Idaho – A grand jury in southern Idaho has determined that a father charged with killing his three children could be eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors say …

• 

  Legislation could stop dogfighting

  In City on Page B3 BOISE – Animal cruelty opponents will focus on dogfighting when lawmakers return to the Idaho Statehouse. Idaho is one of only two U.S. states where staging a dogfight isn’t a …

• 

  Governor’s assassination drawing new interest

  In City on Page B3 BOISE – It was an explosion felt for years: A bomb killed former Idaho Gov. Frank Steunenberg as he opened the gate to his Caldwell home. The assassination, 100 years …

• 

  Mount St. Helens still shaking things up

  In City on Page B3 SEATTLE – For more than a year now, Mount St. Helens has been oozing lava into its crater at the rate of roughly a large dump truck load – 10 …

• 

  Man assaulted outside hotel as pair attempt to steal car

  In City on Page B3 Two men attempted to steal a car from a man leaving a downtown hotel Friday night, Spokane police reported. The 25-year-old victim told police he was confronted by two men …

• Smoking pot seeds ruled legal in Oregon

  In City on Page B5 PORTLAND – Smoking marijuana seeds is legal under Oregon law, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled this week. Pendleton resident Cameron Scott Beers, 27, was arrested in 2002 for driving …

• Police: Train tracks snag fleeing car

  In City on Page B5 WHITEFISH, Mont. – A freight train stopped in time to avoid striking a car that became stuck on railroad tracks Saturday in Whitefish, after the driver tried to elude authorities. …

• Meetings to focus on grizzly delisting

  In City on Page B5 HELENA – Public meetings are scheduled next month in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming on the federal government’s plans to remove federal protections for grizzly bears surrounding Yellowstone National Park. The …

• Spokane has many exemplary citizens

  In Opinion on Page B6 There are dozens of workplaces in the Inland Northwest, hundreds maybe, where someone has posted anthropologist Margaret Mead’s words of empowerment: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed …

• 

  Shannon Sullivan rose to our need

  In Opinion on Page B6 It’s been said more than once during the past eight months that Shannon Sullivan was an unlikely leader in the grass-roots drive that ousted the mayor of Washington’s second-largest city. …

• Navigating a complex collaboration

  In Opinion on Page B6 Dave Peeler, 54, is water quality program manager for Washington state’s Department of Ecology. He traveled between Olympia and Spokane throughout 2005 overseeing the Spokane River TMDL Collaboration, a unique …

• Ethical shopping poses its own problems

  In Opinion on Page B7 Earlier in December, there was a three-day sale of imported Oriental rugs at the Mennonite church near my house in Baltimore. “They are a little pricey,” one of my neighbors …

• Some predictions for ‘06 easy to come by

  In City on Page B8 A whole new year, bright and shiny, stretching before us like snow on a side street. Sort of makes one want to peer into the crystal ball for predictions. So, …

• Government almanac

  In City on Page B8 Spokane city mayor Noon Tuesday, Council Chambers, City Hall, Dennis Hession to be sworn in as Spokane’s mayor.

• Seahawks take aim on 12th straight victory

  In Sports on Page C1 GREEN BAY, Wis. – Michael Boulware didn’t blink, and he didn’t stutter. His tone was no-nonsense and matter-of-fact serious, even if his words seemed preposterous. “We’re going to look at …

• 

  Batista unleashed!

  In Sports on Page C1 Gonzaga’s J.P. Batista, at the urging of his head coach, has started believing he’s J.P. Batista again. That fact became obvious on Saturday when the Bulldogs’ broad-shouldered senior center, exhibiting …

• GU surpasses reasonable goals

  In Sports on Page C1 The problem with being a city’s surrogate pro sports franchise – and be honest, that’s what the Gonzaga Bulldogs are in Spokane – is the public’s not-so-subconscious assumption that you …

• 

  Late run carries Cougars

  In Sports on Page C1 PULLMAN – Seeing a basketball game decided in the final minutes is nothing new, so with the Cougars clinging to a 53-49 lead with 2 minutes, 15 seconds left to …

• On the air

  In Sports on Page C2 For 01-01-2006

• Brother vs. boyfriend

  In Sports on Page C2 Monday’s Fiesta Bowl has left Laura Quinn in a quandary. Her brother, Brady, is Notre Dame’s quarterback, so logically she should be rooting for him when the Irish take on …

• Today’s menu

  In Sports on Page C2 For 01-01-2006

• Locally

  In Sports on Page C2 Hayden Lake’s Mathews collects masters track honor George Mathews of Hayden Lake, who gobbled up medals in world and national competitions in 2005, was named co-field athlete of the year …

• 

  Crosby scores in overtime to give Penguins rare win

  In Sports on Page C3 Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal with 1 1/2 minutes left in overtime by steering a rebound past New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and also set up the first …

• Ice hockey attracts more than males to rinks

  In Sports on Page C3 NEWINGTON, Conn. – Sarah Appleton is hard-pressed to remember a time growing up when she didn’t play hockey with boys. The lack of good girls ice hockey programs forced her …

• 

  There’s plenty to look forward to during ‘06

  In Sports on Page C3 If ever there were a year for Chicago Cubs fans to get excited, 2006 is it. No, they didn’t make any moves you haven’t heard about and really, they’re not …

• Bloom plans to go from Winter Olympics to NFL

  In Sports on Page C4 Now that moguls specialist Jeremy Bloom has succeeded in making the U.S. Olympic ski team against a talent-laden field, he is expected to unleash a hair-raising maneuver at the 2006 …

• Blockbuster trade involving Tejada, Ramirez in works

  In Sports on Page C4 NEW YORK – The talk is brash and bold. The trade being discussed is one of those that could keep people talking – especially in New York – for weeks. …

• NO HEADLINE

  In Features on Page C4 Basketball NBA

• T-C’s outburst sinks Spokane

  In Sports on Page C4 KENNEWICK – The Spokane Chiefs ended 2005 in negative fashion Saturday night. Matt Schneider scored two goals during a five-goal second period to ignite the Tri-City Americans to a 6-3 …

• Canada tops U.S. team to move into semifinals

  In Sports on Page C4 VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Cam Barker, Dustin Boyd and Kyle Chipchura scored to help Canada secure a spot in the world junior semifinals with a 3-2 victory over the United …

• 

  Grizzlies hold off Sonics

  In Sports on Page C5 SEATTLE – Dahntay Jones made a one-handed 14-footer with 6.6 seconds left, and the Memphis Grizzlies held on for a 100-96 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night. Jones …

• Pistons mum about pursuit of win record

  In Sports on Page C5 PHILADELPHIA – At 24-4 after Saturday’s 97-84 loss to Cleveland, the Detroit Pistons have left the rest of the Eastern Conference in the dust. Unless they have a catastrophic collapse, …

• James scores 30 as Cavaliers snap Pistons’ 9-game win streak

  In Sports on Page C5 LeBron James scored 30 points with seven rebounds and seven assists Saturday in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 97-84 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons, who had their winning streak stopped at …

• Mavericks’ transformation ongoing process

  In Sports on Page C5 DALLAS – When Avery Johnson became coach of the Dallas Mavericks in March, his first priority was changing the team’s identity. His mantra: When you defend, you always have a …

• 

  Sun Devils crush Cougs

  In Sports on Page C6 Lewis and Clark High School grad Briann January scored 12 points in a reserve role to lead No. 11 Arizona State to its ninth straight win, 72-47 over Washington State …

• 

  Arizona ruins UW’s house party

  In Sports on Page C7 SEATTLE – Hassan Adams and Brandon Roy lived up to their billing Saturday: They were their teams’ best players in a taut, top-flight game that demanded nothing less. Adams scored …

• Collins scores 31 as Gaels upset Nevada

  In Sports on Page C7 Brett Collins scored 12 of his career-high 31 points during an 18-0 run that led Saint Mary’s to just its second win over a ranked opponent in more than 30 …

• Top-ranked Tennessee grinds out victory over Notre Dame

  In Sports on Page C7 The only thing normal about Tennessee’s victory over Notre Dame was the fact that the Lady Vols won. Top-ranked Tennessee shot 33 percent from the field and was outscored in …

• Several teams will look for new head coaches

  In Sports on Page C8 By noon Monday, the Houston Texans likely will have called a select number of candidates to arrange interviews for their newly vacated coaching job. Names may include Gary Kubiak, Jerry …

• 

  Seahawks (13-2) at Packers (3-12)

  In Sports on Page C8 Series: Packers lead 5-4 The line: Packers by 4 1/2

• Week 17

  In Sports on Page C8 Panthers (10-5) at Falcons (8-7) Time: 10 a.m.

• 

  Carolina refuses to accept idea that major pressure is on them

  In Sports on Page C8 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As the Carolina Panthers talked about today’s game with Atlanta, it sounded as if they were in denial. They’re playing what would seem to be a pressure-filled …

• 

  Rock ‘n’ roll career never kicked into gear for ‘Manifold Mike’

  In Sports on Page C9 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Rock on, Mike Holmgren. Last week, Seattle’s coach was asked about some vintage video footage that surfaced in the 1990s when Holmgren held the same position …

• NFL scoreboard

  In Sports on Page C9 Saturday’s results Denver 23, San Diego 7

• Standings & Scoreboard

  In Sports on Page C9 AMERICAN CONFERENCE EastWLTPctPFPAHomeAwayAFCNFCDivy-New England1050.6673533105-2-05-3-07-4-03-1-05-0-0Miami870.5332902915-3-03-4-06-5-02-2-02-3-0Buffalo5100.3332453374-4-01-6-05-6-00-4-02-3-0N.Y. Jets3120.2002103293-4-00-8-02-9-01-3-01-4-0

• 

  Chargers can’t answer Bell, lose to Broncos

  In Sports on Page C9 SAN DIEGO – Drew Brees hustled out of the locker room with his right arm in a sling. LaDainian Tomlinson said he played the last 4 1/2 games with a …

• 

  Giants take NFC East crown

  In Sports on Page C9 OAKLAND, Calif. – Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress provided the big plays the New York Giants needed to win the NFC East and secure a home playoff game. Burress had …

• Pittsburgh builds momentum

  In Sports on Page C9 PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers went into last season’s playoffs with a rookie quarterback who hadn’t lost an NFL game and a 14-game winning streak. Even that combination couldn’t get …

• 

  Comeback victory suits Tulsa

  In Sports on Page C10 MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tulsa made a remarkable comeback this season. Fittingly, the Golden Hurricane used a timely rally to win their biggest game of the year. Paul Smith ran 4 …

• 

  N.C. State ruins South Florida’s first bowl

  In Sports on Page C10 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chuck Amato darted right, then danced left, successfully missing the bucket of water his victorious North Carolina State players tried to dump on him. Minutes later, as …

• Trojans review recruiting

  In Sports on Page C10 A recruiting tool regularly used by Southern California’s top-ranked football program is under review by the school for possible NCAA violations after trips to a Los Angeles-area restaurant owned by …

• Kicker finds redemption as TCU drops Iowa State

  In Sports on Page C10 HOUSTON – After rarely playing since missing three field goals in TCU’s only loss of the season, Peter LoCoco was shocked when called on late in the Houston Bowl. But …

• At a glance: 2005-06 Bowls

  In Sports on Page C10 New Orleans Bowl

• The Slice: 2006 will be big year for Aries

  In Features on Page D1 It’s kind of a pain to have to check your horoscope every day. So astrological scientists here at The Slice Research Park have come up with a breakthrough timesaving device.

• The trail of Butch Cassidy

  In Features on Page D1 Here’s one of Spokane’s enduring mysteries: Did the outlaw Butch Cassidy return to live out his life in Spokane under the name William T. Phillips? The quick answer: Maybe. Or …

• 

  It’s time to take another peek at Kyle MacLachlan

  In Features on Page D2 “I think peacock is a word I’d put out there,” says Kyle MacLachlan in describing the sartorial style and elegant physical strut of David Swain, the maverick attorney he plays …

• Friendships come from making effort

  In Features on Page D2 Dear Carolyn: I just finished my first semester of grad school in a new town and have found it difficult to make friends. The people I liked and spent time …

• Horoscope

  In Features on Page D2 For 01-01-2006

• 

  Your guide to what’s new on TV this midseason

  In Features on Page D3 ABC “”In Justice” (premieres tonight at 10, then moves to Fridays at 9 p.m.): Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”) plays an oily lawyer on the righteous side of the system, working …

• 

  Take a chance on ‘Mia’

  In Features on Page D3 That’s entirely fitting for a show that has gone on to become a massive international smash. The ABBA musical, which opens at the Spokane Opera House on Tuesday, has 11 …

• Suddenly, Oldies DJ Jaxon out of action

  In Features on Page D3 Dean Jaxon, the morning personality at KEYF-FM (Oldies 101.1) was cut loose from the station on Dec. 21 after nearly six years. “It was quite a surprise,” said Jaxon, whose …

• Women in music made their mark in ‘05

  In Features on Page D4 Mariah Carey resuscitated her career with a return to the upper reaches of the Billboard charts. Latin music sensation Shakira parlayed her shaking, slithered and wiggling zest into a successful …

• Album sales down in 2005

  In Features on Page D4 Album sales were down about 7 percent as 2005 drew to a close, but the budding market for music downloads – which more than doubled over last year – helped …

• 

  Baby on board

  In Features on Page D4 SUNRISE, Fla. – According to the almanac, Dec. 21 was the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – but for Gwen Stefani it was a long, melancholy …

• B.I.G.’s power still echoes today with new ‘Duets’

  In Features on Page D4 The Notorious B.I.G. “Duets: The Final Chapter” (Bad Boy) ••••

• Music charts

  In Features on Page D4 Top Singles 1. “Don’t Forget About Us” Mariah Carey

• Absence makes the ‘Scrubs’ scripts grow wackier

  In Features on Page D5 Spending long periods of time in an enclosed space, with no contact with the outside world, can do things to a person. Just ask “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence and star …

• American life in poetry

  In Features on Page D5 Painful separations, through divorce, through death, through alienation, sometimes cause us to focus on the objects around us, often invested with sentiment. Here’s Shirley Buettner, having packed up what’s left …

• Wallace retains uniqueness in ‘Lobster’ essays

  In Features on Page D5 Essays by David Foster Wallace would be recognizable without his name attached. His relentless curiosity, his earnestness, his generous spirit, his often goofy tone, his erudition (which seems strange coming …

• Best-selling books

  In Features on Page D5 Fiction 1. “Mary, Mary”

• West side murder could make for interesting read

  In Features on Page D5 Spokane is used to unfortunate headlines. Serial rapists, eccentric county commissioners, downtown parking-garage controversies, serial killers, eccentric city council members, mayoral recalls – the list goes on and on. That’s …

• Science fascinating, story disappointing in ‘Predator’

  In Features on Page D5 “Predator” is an apt name for Patricia Cornwell’s 14th Kay Scarpetta novel, as it attempts to ensnare the reader in a morass of incomprehensible plots, vile violence and depressing, irritating …

• Soldier writings due out next fall

  In Features on Page D5 During the past few years, dozens of books have been released about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But one due next fall from Random House stands out for a …

• Idaho park sculpture proposals needed

  In Features on Page D6 Proposals are being sought from Northwest artists for an outdoor public sculpture to be placed in the city park in Kooskia, Idaho. The project is intended to complement the community’s …

• Support

  In Features on Page D7 Idaho Bereaved Parents of the USA – Coeur d’Alene Chapter a support group offering friendship and understanding to bereaved parents and families who have experienced the death of a child. …

• Spokane calendar

  In Features on Page D7 For 01-01-2006

• Good news? We can help you share it

  In Features on Page D7 If you would like to share your good news, please contact us. Forms for engagement, wedding, anniversary and centennial birthday announcements must be completed. Forms can be downloaded from The …

• Looking back Spokane City Hall in 1913

  Laying of the cornerstone This 1913 photo shows the laying of the cornerstone of the new Spokane City Hall. The new City Hall was built at the southwest corner of …

• Idaho calendar

  In Features on Page D7 For 01-01-2006

• Engagements

  In Features on Page D7 Myers-Primmer Kristin Primmer of Spokane Valley and Kyle Myers of Coeur d’Alene plan to marry Jan. 28 in Coeur d’Alene.

• REUNIONS

  In Features on Page D7 General N.A. Degerstrom Co. and Zortman Landusky Mine Employee Reunion – Summer. Contact Babes Crasco, (406) 861-5249 or bcrasco@msn.com.

• Radio

  In Features on Page D8 AM stations KQNT 590 – News talk. Morning News with Dean and Angela, 5-9 a.m.; Rush Limbaugh, 9 a.m.-noon; Dr. Laura Schlessinger, noon-3 p.m.; Glenn Beck, 3-6 p.m.; Real Money …

• 

  Supercentenarians

  In Features on Page D8 It was minus-26 degrees – the dead of winter in Mongolia – when Jerry Friedman stepped off a plane in Ulan Bator and resumed his search for the oldest people …

• Shy on space? Buy your pet a Murphy bed

  In Features on Page D9 Murphy beds hit their peak in the era of flappers and bread lines. But a doggie version is an interesting option for anyone with a space that’s too small and …

• Maybe we could learn something from furry friends

  In Features on Page D9 As the New Year approached and I was bombarded with self-improvement products, I started thinking about what my New Year’s resolution would be this year. And even more I wondered, …

• 

  CLEARING THE YUCK

  In Features on Page D10 This is a story about bird excrement that has a happy ending. But first, a bit of background.

• Haircut Sunday grooms minds as much as hair

  In Features on Page D10 Haircut Sunday struggled with truth in advertising last week. Its usual meeting day — the last Sunday of the month — fell on Christmas Day.

• 

  Consolidation ruled in retail market

  In Business on Page G1 NEW YORK – The shakeout from last year’s frenzy of retail consolidation will become more visible to consumers this year, from local department stores disappearing into the Macy’s chain to …

• 

  Hot housing sector was good to workers

  In Business on Page G1 NEW YORK – Ever since the labor market began improving 2 1/2 years ago, the housing boom has supplied an outsized share of new jobs. But if red-hot real estate …

• 

  Year offered something to build on

  In Business on Page G1 Will we miss 2005? If you dwell on the year’s major news stories, probably not. Natural disasters dominated national and international headlines. The war in Iraq continued, with the outcome …

• 

  Apple sets the pace in consumer electronics world

  In Business on Page G1 SAN JOSE, Calif. — Five years ago, Apple Computer Inc. was barely an afterthought in the halls of electronics companies. Not any more. With its best-selling iPods and landmark licensing …

• 

  Economy withstood its pricing pressures

  In Business on Page G1 NEW YORK – It wasn’t the way the inflation story was supposed to go in 2005. With oil and other commodity costs soaring, fears of prices surging out of control …

• Business Beat

  In Business on Page G2 NEW FACES Kelly Dullanty has been hired as a sales associate and designer at Tracy Jewelers. He has over 20 years of experience and previously worked at Pounder’s Jewelry.

• Week Ahead

  In Business on Page G2 WEDNESDAY Basics of Starting a New Business – Presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, this course will discuss how to get your business off on the right foot …

• 

  Bank offers real interest

  In Business on Page G2 SEATTLE — Wearing secondhand clothes and achy from a poor night’s sleep in shelters, customers line up at the city’s first and only bank for the homeless, believed to be …

• Money Tip

  In Business on Page G3 Money tip That doggy in the window costs much more than you think — almost $12,000 over a lifetime for a small dog that lives 15 years, and more than …

• Fund Fact

  In Business on Page G3 Fund fact Prodded by regulators, the nation’s mutual-fund companies have recently begun disclosing a broad range of information, including how much managers personally have invested in their funds. A number …

• More women get into the market

  In Business on Page G3 If you know a woman who isn’t yet investing, clip out this article and pass it on to her. She may thank you one day from the bottom of her …

• Look for a strong economic start in 2006

  In Business on Page G3 In both 2004 and 2005, stocks began uncertainly, but ended in a two-month winning spurt at the end of the year. I believe that the opposite might happen in 2006 …

• Tax Watch

  In Business on Page G3 Tax watch The Internal Revenue Service said that donated vehicles sold at auction cannot qualify for a higher tax deduction available for donated cars sold to needy individuals. The tax …

• Money Q&A

  In Business on Page G3 Money Q & A Q: I’d like to do all my bill-paying online, but is this a good idea? I’m worried about online security and losing important documentation.

• 

  Resolved: financial turnaround

  In Business on Page G3 NEW YORK — Ten years ago, Pamela Newman rang in the new year as a waitress. And she swore it would be the last year waiting tables. “I looked around …

• 2005 records

  Idaho Largescale sucker, 8 pounds, caught in Lake Cascade by Patrick Perry of Boise.

• 

  Adventurers, wildlife made great strides

  In Outdoors on Page T1 If you were a local skier or snowboarder or an employee at a winter recreation area that required snow, you want to forget the disastrous dearth of snow last winter. …

• Highlights from the field

  In Outdoors on Page T1 Milestones Fish fee imposed: British Columbia began charging non-residents in addition to their license fee an extra $20-per-day surcharge to fish popular trout streams including the Bull, Elk, St. Mary, …

• Fishing for dollars

  In Outdoors on Page T1 One angler earned $39,620 in 2005 fishing for northern pikeminnows with a hook and line, followed by another angler who reeled in $38,084 during the five-month bounty season. Both are …

• 

  High achievers

  In Outdoors on Page T2 Washington stood out with another crop of high achievers in the world of mountaineering. 8,000 meter high: Ed Viesturs of Bainbridge Island, Wash., climbed Nepal’s 26,540-foot Mount Annapurna last spring, …

• 

  Motorized vehicles forced to gear down

  In Outdoors on Page T2 More rules were enacted to take the edge off an expanding population of motorized vehicle operators riding machines that are faster and more technologically advanced that anything riders imagined 30 …

• Field Reports

  In Outdoors on Page T2 FISHING Clearwater limits reduced

• American culture in nation’s capital

  In Travel on Page T3 WASHINGTON – From a portrait of George Washington and photos of Weimaraners to eyewitness accounts of historic events, the nation’s capital is promoting the summer of 2006 as a celebration …

• Cruisin’ trends

  In Travel on Page T3 The past year was an event-filled one for the cruise industry, with ships housing Katrina evacuees, ports in New Orleans and Mexico damaged by storms, a freak seven-story wave washing …

• Chef-owned eateries new trend in Seattle

  In Travel on Page T4 The latest dining trend in Seattle: small, highly personal, chef-owned restaurants popping up in mostly residential neighborhoods. From a recent tour, here are my picks of the crop:

• Paris top spot to spend New Year’s Eve

  In Travel on Page T4 Thousands of holiday revelers will spend New Year’s Eve in a distant locale. So where will they be celebrating? Paris is the top spot worldwide for ringing in the new …

• Internet sites offer bargains for the penny-wise traveler

  In Travel on Page T4 By most standards, this should be a tough time for travel bargains. Fuel prices are high. Airline consolidations and bankruptcies are leading to cutbacks and route consolidations. The return of …

• A pirate’s tale

  The details are chilling, a cruiser’s nightmare: Passengers on the luxury cruise ship Seabourn Spirit, sailing from Egypt to Kenya, were awoken by pirates who attacked the ship with machine …

• May have to change cruise date to get a better deal

  In Travel on Page T5 Q. We promised our graduating children a cruise next summer. We thought this would be a low time of year but discovered that it’s the busy season. How can we …

• Apple Cup should return to Spokane

  In Sports Wouldn’t it be terrific if next fall’s Apple Cup were in Spokane’s Joe Albi Stadium?

• Blanchette captured Missildine

  In Sports John Blanchette’s take on Harry Missildine really took me back to my young sportswriting days at WSU’s Daily Evergreen and at the Moscow Daily Idahonian.

• Letters policy

  In Sports We welcome letters of up to 300 words on all sports and outdoors topics. All letters are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one letter a month. Please include …

• Zags haven’t played up to potential

  In Sports In response to the review of the Zags-Memphis men’s basketball game in Wednesday’s (Dec. 28) Spokesman-Review, I was wondering if anybody dared to mention the fact Gonzaga actually could (and …