Movers and Shakers Feb. 23, 2010

Hecla declares dividend

The board of directors of Hecla Mining Co. (NYSE:HL) declare the regular quarterly dividend of 87.5 cents per share on the outstanding Series B cumulative convertible preferred stock, for a total amount of about $138,000. The cash dividend is payable April 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2010. There are a total of 157,816 shares of Preferred B Stock outstanding.

The board also elected to declare the regular quarterly dividend on the outstanding 6.5 percent mandatory convertible preferred stock in the amount of $1.625 per share and to pay the dividend in common stock of Hecla, for a total amount of about $3.27 million in Hecla common stock (with cash for fractional shares).

The value of the shares of common stock issued as dividends will be calculated at 97 percent of the average of the closing prices of Hecla's common stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending on the second trading day immediately preceding the dividend payment date. There will be no fractional shares issued, so a cash adjustment will be paid to each holder that would be entitled to a fraction of a share of common stock (based on the average of the closing prices of Hecla's common stock over the five consecutive trading day period ending on the second trading day immediately preceding the dividend payment date).

The dividend is payable April 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2010. There are a total of 2,012,500 shares of 6.5 percent mandatory convertible preferred stock outstanding. Hecla will capitalize retained earnings for the fair market value of the shares of common stock to be issued as dividends. Sale of the shares of common stock received as a dividend by a holder will reduce a holder's proportionate equity in the company.

The broker's cut-off date for the dividend on the mandatory convertible preferred stock will be March 31 (one day before the dividend payment date) and the calculation of the number of shares of common stock to be issued per share of mandatory convertible preferred stock and the price to be paid for fractional shares will be announced before the opening of business on March 31, but American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the transfer agent for the company's shares of mandatory convertible preferred stock and common stock, will be instructed to issue fractional share payments to brokers and other nominees as required against full share certificates surrendered by them for a period of one week after the April 1, 2010, payment date of such dividend.

Idaho halts Web solicitations

World Web Pages.net, a New York Web site design company that telephone solicited Idaho businesses has been stopped from telemarketing in Idaho, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said.

The settlement is the result of the Attorney General's investigation of complaints received from Idaho businesses who received telephone solicitations from World Web Pages offering its Web site design services. The Idaho businesses claimed that World Web Pages did not obtain their consent to purchase a Web site, yet World Web Pages billed the Idaho businesses for monthly service fees. When the Idaho businesses attempted to cancel the unauthorized service, they were told that their accounts would be turned over to a collection agency.

"Idaho businesses should not be harassed by telemarketing companies offering a service and then threatening them with collection for a service they never purchased," Wasden said.

The Attorney General alleged that World Web Pages violated the Idaho Telephone Solicitations Act, as well as the Idaho Consumer Protection Act. Telemarketers offering a service to individuals or businesses must be registered before soliciting in Idaho.

Without admitting any wrongdoing, World Web Pages agreed to immediately stop soliciting in Idaho. The company must register to telemarket before it may resume telephone soliciting in Idaho. The company also paid a $500 civil penalty and reimbursed the Attorney General Office for its fees and costs.

World Web Pages also canceled the accounts of the Idaho businesses that complained to the Attorney General. The settlement provides for a $20,000 civil penalty if the company fails to register and continues to call Idahoans.

Making their mark

n Flip Factory Gymnastics at 1717 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d'Alene announced that Deanar Young has joined the business as the head of its dance programs.

Young has more than 30 years of dance experience and has set himself apart as one of the premier dance instructors in the entire Northwest, the company said in a press release. His accomplishments have included work on numerous television programs, music videos, movies and he has toured the world with several dance companies; the latest of which was with Disney's "The Lion King." Young has also instructed at some of the most prestigious dance studios in the country.

Coaching dance at Flip Factory Gymnastics begins for Deanar on Wednesday with the gymnastics team and will be expanded from there when Flip Factory Gymnastics moves in to its new facility on Hayden Avenue this spring.

If you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The Press wants to let our readers know. The service is free and items run Tuesday through Saturday. To get the word on the street on your movers and shakers, call city editor Bill Buley at 664-8176 Ext. 2016 or e-mail bbuley@cdapress.com.