Falling Fortunes, Impending Strike May Mean Move For Mariners

America’s pastime may vanish this week as Major League baseball players prepare to strike the owners of 28 clubs across North America.

At first blush, Seattle Mariner fans would seem to have the least to lose. The team has been losing six out of 10 games and, besides, it can’t play in the Kingdome until the ceiling is fixed.

But some believe the players’ dispute could be the third strike that moves the Mariners out of Seattle for good.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal last week, slugger Ken Griffey Jr. said the Mariners ought to finish the season in Tampa, Fla., since that’s where the team will be in 1997.

In other events:

Today: ISO 9000 series continues through Wednesday at the Applied Technology Center, N3939 Freya. This week’s seminar, beginning at 8 a.m., discusses “How to Build the Structure.” Call 533-3448 for more information.

Tuesday: Washington State University Cooperative Extension holds meeting to organize a grasshopper control program for the Palouse. The two-hour meeting begins at 7 a.m. at the Hill Ray Plaza Center in Colfax. David Keim, with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will give an update on the plague and suggest a strategy for controlling the pests. For more information, call John Burns at 1-397-6290.

The Association of Idaho Manufacturers holds an organizational meeting at noon in Bay I at Coeur d’Alene’s Holiday Inn, 414 W. Appleway. The non-profit group, which represents medium-sized manufacturers and promotes growth in Idaho, is holding meetings around the state to boost its membership. For more information call Kathy McDevitt at 1-800-241-5776.

The Northwest Natural Resources Institute kicks off a four-day educational workshop for 130 school teachers at Hayden Meadows Elementary School in Hayden Lake.

Department of Labor reports on second-quarter productivity.

Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh holds shareholders meeting seeking approval for merger with The Dreyfus Corporation.

Thursday: The city of Spokane and Community Colleges of Spokane host a seminar on “The Basics of Exporting” from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the Fifth Floor of City Hall. To register for the $20-per-person event, call 625-6844 or 625-6190.

White House Conference on Small Business opens in Wichita, Kan.

Labor Department issues July Producer Price Index.

Department of Commerce reports on July retail sales.

Friday: Galen Dean Loven, director of Tools for Management, speaks at 7:30 a.m. at Good Morning Spokane, a program sponsored by the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce. The $7-per-person event will be held at the Holiday Inn West Sunset Hill. Reservations can be made by calling 624-1393.

Labor Department reports on the July Consumer Price Index and real earnings.

Commerce Department reports June business inventories.

Strike deadline for Major League Baseball players.

FAST FACTS: Barrons, Aug. 1: Barrons’ talks to a Seattle money manager who thinks Coeur d’Alene Mines is a good play for the next year based on significantly higher silver prices. Forbes, Aug. 15: Outlet malls may be expanding too fast, Forbes says. The number in the United States grew from 183 in 1990 to 294 today. DISCOUNT KINGS The nation’s largest outlet mall developers, ranked by Forbes based on leasable square feet. Factory Stores: 3.9 million McArthur/Glen Realty: 2.9 million Horizon Outlet: 2.2 million Prime Retail: 2.2 million Tanger Factory: 2.0 million Chelsea GCA Realty: 1.9 million