ISR to hold grand opening in Pullman
Isothermal Systems Research will hold a grand opening ceremony today for its new research and development center in Pullman.
About 20 people work in that building, said ISR spokesman Karsten Olson. The company, which makes high-tech cooling systems for electronics, has about 210 employees companywide. Its headquarters are located in Liberty Lake.
The grand opening will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1300 N.E. Henley Court, in Pullman, Olson said.
The Port of Whitman County spent about $1.7 million to construct the 14,000-square-foot facility. Part of the project was funded by the State of Washington.
ISR was founded in 1988 in Clarkston, Wash. Its facility there will be closed, Olson said.
WestCoast Hospitality to acquire Portland hotel
WestCoast Hospitality Corp. said the DoubleTree Hotel-Jantzen Beach in Portland will become part of the Red Lion stable of properties through a franchise agreement.
In late March, the 318-room hotel will be renamed the Red Lion Hotel on the River, said Spokane-based WestCoast. The hotel still will be managed by a company called North Pacific Management Inc., and the same group of private investors who owns it now will retain control.
As part of the franchise agreement, the hotel’s owners will renovate the property and create new outdoor meeting space on the banks of the Columbia River. The renovation fits in with WestCoast’s $40 million push to improve all of its Red Lion properties, the company said in a press release.
Former branch manager accused of theft
Sandpoint U.S. Bank filed a civil suit against its former Sandpoint branch manager, alleging he embezzled nearly $100,000.
The suit names former manager Frank A. Goodyear, and his wife, Mary Goodyear. It was filed in 1st District Court Monday in Coeur d’Alene.
According to the suit, Frank Goodyear stole customers’ deposits. The theft of $96,492 occurred between May and August of 2004, the suit said. Goodyear’s last day at the bank was Aug. 24.
“Defendant Frank A. Goodyear’s embezzlement was a breach of his fiduciary duty,” the suit said. “(He) breached an implied contract that he had with the plaintiff to turnover to plaintiff all funds that were in his possession and control as branch manager.”
The bank’s attorney, Wayne Sweney, declined comment.
Frank and Mary Goodyear could not be reached for comment.
The suit seeks the return of the money plus interest, attorney’s fees and court costs.
Ex-WorldCom worker testifies against Ebbers
New York
A former top accountant at WorldCom Inc. testified Wednesday she was told to make improper accounting entries because CEO Bernard Ebbers did not want to lower expectations for Wall Street.
Betty Vinson, testifying for the prosecution at Ebbers’ fraud trial, described making false entries quarter after quarter from 2000 to 2002, including fudging some numbers that she said she pulled “out of the air.”
Vinson said she took her deep concerns in October 2000 to WorldCom chief financial officer Scott Sullivan, who told her that Ebbers knew accountants were unhappy with what they were asked to do.