Gov. Locke To Attend Kaiser Mead Dedication

Gov. Gary Locke attends the dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. today at Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp.’s $40 million carbon bake facility in Mead.

The plant, the largest of the company’s four smelters, has an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons.

Kaiser used local contractors and suppliers for the majority of the work. The project included the construction of a new 90,000 ton-per-year bake furnace that will replace three of four old furnaces.

The Mead plant employs 1,200 people.

In other events this week:

Today

The Idaho Barley Commission meets at 8 a.m. at Busch Agricultural Resources in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The U.S. Treasury Department releases its budget statement for August.

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week. “Safety and Health: The First Step Toward Sustainable Agriculture” is the theme. For information about activities in the Sandpoint area, contact the Bonner County Cooperative Extension Office at 208-263-8511.

Tuesday

The Treasury Department auctions two-year notes.

The Spokane Transit Authority holds a public meeting to explain and take comments on proposed route changes. The meeting is 6 to 9 p.m. at the Valley Library, 12004 E. Main.

Wednesday

The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute sponsors a tour of Spokane and Kootenai county farms, orchards and market gardens, with a focus on developing a sustainable regional food system for the Inland Northwest. For more information, call 208-882-1444.

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service conducts free one-hour money-management workshops at 6 p.m. in Deer Park at the Greenhouse Community Center and in Colville at the Community College Center. For more information call 800-892-6854.

The Treasury Department auctions five-year notes.

The Spokane Transit Authority holds public meetings to discuss proposed route changes: from 7 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. at the Plaza, 701 W. Riverside.

Thursday

Idaho Wheat Commission holds a meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the commission office in Boise. Call: 208-334-2353.

The Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates a century of service with a two-day marketing tour of the Lewiston-Clarkston area, starting with breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Spokane Regional Business Center, 801 West Riverside. For more information call 509-459-4109.

The U.S. Commerce Department releases its durable goods report.

Friday

The Washington State Department of Ecology holds an Ag Task Force meeting at 10 a.m. in the Shadle Public Library, 2111 W. Wellesley.

Saturday

The Washington Cattlemen’s Association holds a water symposium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Doubletree Inn in Pasco. For information call 509-857-2331. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Measuring the Economy - Lumber prices

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week, Sept. 22: Cover story explores how a new breed of tycoons is rocking the real estate industry by amassing billion-dollar empires. Inc. Technology, special issue: Magazine delves into how technology is enabling executives to better manage their time.

Media titans Here are the nation’s top 10 media titans, according to an annual roundup by Vanity Fair: 1. Bill Gates, Microsoft Corp. 2. Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. 3. Gerald Levine, Time Warner. 4. Michael Eisner, Walt Disney. 5. Andrew Grove, Intel Corp. 6. Ted Turner, Time Warner. 7. Louis Gerstner, IBM. 8. Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks. 9. Edgar Bronfman, Seagram. 10. Lawrence Ellison, Oracle Corp.