Yogurt - your way

Business Bits

The customer will make all the decisions at Top This, a yogurt store to open about March 1 in the eastern half of Ironwood Square near the intersection of Ironwood Drive and Government Way. Options will include 15 yogurt flavors and more than 65 topping choices.

Giving locals their fill for Christmas

Diners delighted with free dinner at G.W. Hunters

POST FALLS - In Charles Dickens' beloved novel A Christmas Carol, the newly-reformed Ebenezer Scrooge buys an enormous turkey from the local market - the biggest bird in all of London, it seems - and sends it to the home of Bob Cratchit, his loyal but oft-mistreated employee.

Amendment opponent gaining support

Blog editor says voters could lose their voice

COEUR d'ALENE - Some Kootenai County residents are voicing support of a Boise activist campaigning against constitutional amendments slated for the November ballot.

Still time to warm up for derby

There's still time to warm up for the Nov. 3 and 4 Lake Coeur d'Alene Anglers Association members derby, said Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Driving the economy?

Shutdown slows - but doesn't halt - U.S. car demand

DETROIT - The government shutdown dampened - but didn't stall - Americans' demand for new cars and trucks.

U.S. housing starts surpass 1 million in March

West Yellowstone ponders $1.4M forest land purchase

Politics and pizza served for 21 years

Lunch bunch to mark 'coming of age' with Friday cookout

A dramatic decline

Euro drops toward parity with dollar

Horsepower in, gas-sipping out

SUVs, muscle cars help auto industry maintain momentum

DETROIT (AP) - Americans again bought vehicles that sit up high and come loaded with features like backup cameras and smartphone capabilities in June. Horsepower was also in; gas-sipping not so much.

Entrance fees rising in some national parks

WASHINGTON - Be prepared to pay a bit more if you're headed to some national parks and recreation areas this summer.

Your most important wine dollar

The 2014 Harlan Estate Cabernet will release this month for $1,500 per bottle. A bit later in the spring, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti will arrive. There is little doubt it will touch $2,000 per bottle for the current vintage. Are the wines delicious? You bet. I can say this with certainty for both of them even though I have only experienced one of them during my wine journey. Are they worth that price tag? I’ll leave that up to the collectors who pursue them each year.

Obama announces $33B in commitments for Africa

A hull of a business

Duo seeks to make fastest boats in the world, help NIC students in process

Our aging satellites may lead to a 'weather gap'

Weather Gems

My longtime friend from Wolf Lodge, Bob Hollingsworth, also an 81-year-old student in Randy Mann's physical geography course at North Idaho College, gave me an interesting article last week from the Sept-ember 2014 issue of Popular Mechanics entitled, "The Weather Gap," by Kathryn Miles.

Sloppy spring could lead to fast finish

The spring hasn’t been too kind on those area high school sports teams that are trying to fit whatever season they can into the final weeks of the school year.

'Demystifying' wine and other silly wine trends

Every year there are wine trends that develop usually coming out of some large marketing group all intended to sell more wine. We get it; most all wineries at the end of the day are businesses as are all the other companies up and down the wine “food chain”. Businesses exist to make a living for employees and owners while providing service or product to their customers. Most of the time though the simpler more conventional means of doing so makes the most sense. When it comes to wine the best way to accomplish selling more wine is to make the best wine you can at a price point that represents value for your customer and is sustainable for the business. For those in the retail segment of the business it means picking great wine and providing exemplary service. No gimmicks needed!

Sandpoint barber shop to close at end of month

SANDPOINT - The bear in the photograph was shot on Kodiak Island.

Don't buy into the failure story line

We have heard a lot at the Legislature this year about our schools being poor, our student outcomes being weak, and about little progress being made in education. Unfortunately, this storyline serves the purpose of those who advocate for the elimination or weakening of our public schools.

Into the Sunset

“Starter home” can mean a lot of things. Maybe you’re starting with something small. Or it’s an older house in need of some upgrades. Maybe it means you’re starting at the most affordable option on the market. Or it’s simply the first home you ever buy.