In brief: I-90, Beck Road interchange opens in time for Black Friday

The Beck Road interchange on Interstate 90 in Post Falls opened Thursday morning, a day ahead of schedule.

Black Friday shoppers headed to Wal-Mart and Cabela’s in The Pointe at Post Falls development were using the interchange early Friday morning.

The full interchange, just east of the Idaho-Washington border, was built over the past five months by Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Co. of Draper, Utah.

It also provides better freeway access for Jacklin Seed, the Greyhound Park and Event Center and Riverbend Commerce Park, all on the south side of I-90.

Foursquare Properties of Carlsbad, Calif., the developer of The Pointe at Post Falls, is paying for the freeway project with up to $35 million in sales taxes collected at the Cabela’s and Wal-Mart stores and from any other retail businesses that come into the development.

Foursquare’s site plan for the 230-acre site shows room for three more big-box stores and around 30 smaller retail spaces, as well as a couple of hotels.

Scott Maben

Nine Mile Falls family flees early morning fire in basement

Residents hurriedly evacuated their Nine Mile Falls home early Friday morning in their pajamas as a basement fire filled the home with smoke.

The fire sparked in the home’s basement in the 9300 block of West Ownby Drive.

Capt. Kevin Von Steuben with Fire District 9 said there was moderate damage to furniture, but the homeowners were able to evacuate in time with no injuries.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire and continue to investigate the cause.

Nicole Hensley