Briefcase

Lucky Friday Mine returns to operation

The Lucky Friday Mine is back in operation, Hecla Mining Co. officials said Friday.

The underground silver mine near Mullan, Idaho, was closed following a fatal accident at the mine.

Larry “Pete” Marek, 53, was killed April 15 in a roof fall at the mine. The accident is under investigation by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Located in the Bitterroot Mountains, the Lucky Friday is one of North America’s deepest hard-rock mines. And it’s getting much deeper. Hecla Mining is sinking a new shaft to depths of nearly 9,000 feet. The $200 million expansion of the mine will allow the company to go after richer veins of silver deposits.

Becky Kramer

Spokane Symphony offers hand-on lessons

The Spokane Symphony is offering groups and businesses an “Orchestrating Greatness” program providing hands-on lessons in teamwork and leadership to their organizations.

The same idea has been explored in other cities. The program lets teams or executives lead the orchestra, work with sections of the symphony and interact with musicians during a rehearsal and a discussion.

The sessions are presented at the Fox Theater in downtown Spokane.

Music Director Eckart Preu created the program and leads each interactive session. Preu said the way an orchestra works provides a metaphor for businesses and any agency.

“A symphony relies on leadership, teamwork and coordination,” he said.

The Orchestrating Greatness sessions can be scheduled by contacting Annie Matlow, the symphony’s marketing director.

The fee is $2,000 for a session, which allows up to 20 participants from a business or group. The program includes a discussion period following the musical session.

Tom Sowa

Exclusive Yellowstone property on sale

BILLINGS – The 160-acre Blixseth “Family Compound” at the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club is being sold at auction by Edra Blixseth’s bankruptcy estate.

Hall and Hall real estate of Billings says the minimum bid is $11.1 million. The property includes two 2,240-square-foot residences and sits between the private ski hill and golf course.

The deadline for qualified competing bids is May 16. If there are enough qualified bidders, an auction will be held May 20.

Membership in the Yellowstone Club is not included in the price, nor guaranteed to the buyer.

Tim and Edra Blixseth founded the Yellowstone Club in 2001. The club filed for bankruptcy in 2008, after the couple divorced, and was sold to CrossHarbor Capital Partners of Boston in 2009.

Associated Press

United, Continental raise U.S. fares

DALLAS – United and Continental are raising airfares on many U.S. routes by up to $20 per round-trip ticket. It’s the latest effort to cover spiraling fuel costs across the airline industry.

The two airlines raised prices Thursday night. Spokesman Mike Trevino says fares went up $3 each way on flights longer than 500 miles, and $10 each way for first-class tickets.

U.S. airlines have raised prices more than a half-dozen times this year.

Associated Press