Laughing Dog Brewery on tap at Beers, Bulls and Bears meeting

Two guest speakers will join the regular program at Beers, Bulls and Bears this month. Mike Deprez of Laughing Dog Brewery will be on hand to discuss samples from this favorite North Idaho craft brewer and Mike King from Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty will give an update on regional and national commercial real estate trends.

There will be the usual review of market and economic indicators and a great social environment to discuss investing.

Beers, Bulls and Bears is a monthly event that combines beer tasting with market commentary. It is held the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. at Daanen's Deli in Hayden. More information at: www.beersbullsbears.com

Lake City High business students selling discount Silverwood tickets

Business students attending Lake City High School will be selling discount Silverwood tickets for a fundraiser to benefit their trip to the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., May 5-9.

Business Professionals of America is the national career/technical student organization for students preparing for careers in the business world.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://lchs.cdaschools.org/silverwood. Tickets are good one day only June 25, 26 or 27. The prices are adult ages 8-64, $28 or two for $50; youth/senior ages 3-7 and 65-plus, $15.

Welco employees find jobs

Idaho Forest Group has hired four former Welco Lumber employees.

Welco closed its Naples cedar mill in mid-December, leaving 93 without jobs.

Idaho Forest Group plant manager Jesse Short said 29 former Welco employees applied for the positions at the Moyie Springs mill.

Idaho Forest Group in November stepped up production, requiring staff to work overtime. In 2010, the mill is expecting a 10 percent increase in production.

In November Short said there was a chance the lumber mill might add 25 positions within a year.

According to Short they should be able to meet customer demand with the current crew of 98 employees.

Power company earns acclaim

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is recognizing Rathdrum Power LLC, in Rathdrum, for excellence in worker health and safety.

A ceremony at the plant in Rathdrum was held Feb. 25 to recognize the facility for achieving the VPP star, the highest level in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs.

"This facility has not experienced an injury resulting in lost time in the last four years," said Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's regional administrator. "This record is a testimony that management and labor working together to implement safety and health management systems pay remarkable dividends. Their outstanding efforts have included significant management commitment and employee involvement."

Rathdrum Power LLC is a two-stage power generation plant with 20 employees working on a natural gas powered turbine and a steam turbine. Electricity produced is routed to a transformer in a substation and the output side of the transformer becomes the property of the Bonneville Power Administration. There is a smaller transformer in the substation to provide start-up and standby power for the facility.

OSHA's recognition programs include VPP for employers and employees who have implemented exemplary workplace safety and health management systems. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent injuries, illnesses and workplace hazards. As part of attaining VPP status, employers must demonstrate management commitment to the safety and health of their employees and actively involve employees in the safety and health management system.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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 [email protected].