Column back home with Press

Hello everyone:

Each Sunday this space should hold this new (not really) business column. It will comprise new information about businesses in Kootenai County and reach into other North Idaho areas. It will include what in journalism we call the W's - the who, what, when, where, why and how. It will be the basic information, not in-depth features, with a nod to the "who" so we get to know a small background about the people involved.

The reason the "not really" follows the "new" is that I first wrote this column for The Press when I worked full time here in the early 1980s. In 1985 I became the journalism instructor at North Idaho College and about the same time started writing a business column for the "Handle" section of the Sunday Spokesman-Review. After my 25 years and about 1,200 columns, last week the Spokesman published its last Sunday Handle section, which primarily comprised items written by paid correspondents.

Evidently the section didn't attract enough Idaho advertisers to make it financially viable.

So, here I am! The Press graciously agreed that the business column shouldn't die. But to stay alive, I need clues from the readers. See details in the "tidbits" section at the bottom.

Now age 65, I grew up in Thompson Falls, Mont., where my parents moved from New York City. I started writing news as a high school freshman and continued with The Missoulian through my years in journalism at the University of Montana. From 1968-1972 I was a journalist for the Coast Guard in San Francisco and Great Lakes, Ill. Then I was a sports editor in the suburbs of Seattle, which was an exciting time in the 1970s when the professional teams became established there.

I earned a master's degree at the University of Washington to get the credentials to teach at the college level. This was my intention as my wife Mary (a nurse at KMC) and I had started a family, and sports journalism (mostly nights and weekends) doesn't fit well. My youngest brother Mark went to NIC, and when we visited him, we liked this area. On one visit I popped my head intro the Cd'A Press office, met the managing editor and came out with a job offer, which I took. And eventually the job at NIC opened, etc.

So, here we go. The actual business items this week will be fewer than normal because of the space I took with all the introduction stuff.

Sandy's Take-And-Bake Pizza on Kathleen

Promising "the best in Coeur d'Alene," Sandy and Ron Riggs will open Sandy's Take-And-Bake Pizza in the northwest corner mini-mall at Ramsey Road and Kathleen Avenue in early February.

The menu will include medium, large and family-size pizzas, salads and soft drinks. The only option will be take-and-bake in the 1,000-square-foot space that formerly housed a tanning salon. The anticipated open hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily with about 10 employees.

The Riggs describe themselves as "Coeur d'Alene originals" as they dated at Coeur d'Alene High School in the late 1960s and were the original owners of Blondie's Deli on Northwest Bouelvard.

Auto World opens on West Seltice

"Nicer, low-mileage cars" are the emphasis of Auto World, which opened this winter at 414 W. Seltice (just west of the overpass in Post Falls).

Owners Matt Nevarez and Joanne LaMothe have about 25 vehicles on the lots near Meineke Car Care Center. They ensure each vehicle has a 35-point inspection, and they offer financing. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 to 4 Sundays. Phone 457-0208.

Here's this week'stidbits:

• Watch for yogurt to become a specialty in Coeur d'Alene. Details on this probably next week.

• A gourmet sandwich shop is planned for Coeur d'Alene Town Center. Details on this should be available soon.

• Blood is the main product for two major pieces of business news. Really. More on this soon.

• A new bakery is planned for downtown Coeur d'Alene.

• Ah, back to the beginning. Yes, I count on readers to supply clues of business news - such as a new business, a new location or building, a major expansion, new owners, etc. Things such as a new flavor of ice cream probably won't make it; they're more of an advertisement. If you have a lead, e-mail me at nrosdahl@cdapress.com.