Archive for October, 2011

POST FALLS - After finishing second on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” last January and riding a public speaking wave for the business mogul’s associates since, Clint Robertson is back in Kootenai County going for the gold.

The 42-year-old has gone from strutting his business skills at Trump Tower to buying, of all things, a pawn shop in Coeur d’Alene with a focus on buying gold and silver.

“I am now the ‘Gold Guy,’” he said, referring to his marketing plan.

Some may see Robertson’s chain of events as bizarre, but he calls it divine.

Robertson and his family were renting a Post Falls home during the airing of the show, but moved to Florida afterward to hit the speaking circuit.

“I looked all over the nation at pawn shops for sale and, lo and behold, the one that worked out is in Coeur d’Alene,” he said. “That’s called providence. This is where the Lord wants us.”

Robertson said after getting a taste of the high life and rubbing elbows with the likes of Steve Forbes, chairman of Forbes Media, he’s ready to settle down in laid-back North Idaho.

“You just know when you’re home, and this is home,” said Robertson, adding that he has purchased a place in Post Falls.

Robertson purchased City Loan and Pawn at 1604 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene.

The name has been changed to Golden City Gold Buyers, which also buys silver, coins, jewelry and silverware.

“Troy McLean (an earlier contestant from Boise on ‘The Apprentice’) gave me some advice on what to do,” Robertson said. “He said go speak, but at the end of the day you still have got to have a j-o-b.”

Robertson, whose dad was a coin collector, said the plan is to eventually move the pawn shop portion of the business to a separate location.

Post Falls’ Anita Whitmore, who sold coins and jewelry to Robertson this week, said she never would have guessed Robertson would wind up back in the area owning a pawn shop after being one of Trump’s favorite candidates.

“It surprised me – he should’ve went further – but I’m glad he’s here,” Whitmore said. “He was awesome to me as far as explaining things (when buying metals).”

Whitmore said it was also nice to have Robertson pray for her and her mother for healing after the two lost a relative.

Rick Bennett, who sold the shop to Robertson and still works at the business, said the transition has worked nice.

“What I like about Clint is that we did the deal over a soda at the (Coeur d’Alene) Resort,” said Bennett, who didn’t realize Robertson was on “The Apprentice” until it was brought to his attention. “They don’t come any better than Clint. He’s just a good old Texan.”

Robertson lived in Texas, running a real estate firm, before going on the show due to struggling to make ends meet during the recession.

Robertson said he hopes local churches and charities will consider holding gold-buying fundraisers to help during tough times. Such events have caught on in other areas due to skyrocketing metals prices.

“In this tough economy, you’ve got to be a fireman and find opportunities when people are running out. In this economy, gold, silver and precious metals are that opportunity,” he said.

After believing he did what he had to do to win on “The Apprentice,” Robertson said Trump’s final decision and settling on $10,000 compared to the $250,000 winner Brandy Kuentzel received was “surreal.”

“I won the task, but lost the beauty contest,” he said.

But he said he now realizes opportunities – first in Florida and now in North Idaho – wouldn’t have come had he won.

“I don’t have a lot of money, but I have a lot of faith,” Robertson said. “I also get up every day loving what I do. I love the free, entrepreneurial spirit.”

Selling gold or silver? Here are some tips

If you plan to sell your gold or silver, Troy Gordon, co-owner of Integrity Coin and Bullion in Hayden, offers these tips before heading out:

• Know the current “spot price” – the price quoted for immediate payment – of gold and silver going in. Gold has been hovering around $1,700 per ounce and reached more than $1,900 about two months ago. Silver has been around $35 per ounce and broke $50 two months ago.

• Most jewelry is not pure gold, so you’re not going to get back what you paid for it when it’s melted.

• The higher karat weight, the more gold and value to the piece. Copper is added to a lot of gold products to make the metal harder. For instance a 14-karat ring, has about 53 percent gold.

• Silver or gold coins from mints typically have more value than jewelry. If they’re pure gold or silver, they should be able to fetch the spot price or close to it. Some dealers may pay slightly less for spot, some slightly more.

• It pays to get a second opinion. Prices from buyers can vary a lot, just as the quality of metal and stones can.

• Be careful about ads asking to mail in your gold or silver and large groups that come to an area hotel to buy one day and are gone the next.

World Mark, The Club, commercial addition, 5447 S. Arrow Point Drive, Harrison, value $270,000, contractor Lynden Floor Design, issued Sept. 9

Roy B. Taylor, commercial structure, 18750 N. Highway 95, Hayden, value $201,000, contractor Laminated Building Systems, issued Sept. 7

KDB Investments L. L. C., commercial alteration, 33972 N. Corbin #A3, Bayview, contractor Copper Creek Builders, issued Sept. 6

KDB Investments L. L. C., commercial alteration, 33972 N. Corbin #A4, Bayview, contractor Copper Creek Builders, issued Sept. 6

KDB Investments L. L. C., commercial alteration, 33972 N. Corbin #A5, Bayview, contractor KDB Investments L. L. C., issued Sept. 6

Randall J. Gillingham, commercial alteration, 33972 N. Corbin #A6, Bayview, value $13,000, contractor James Darling, issued Sept. 6

Robert & Lynn Larsen, single family residence, 8129 W. Alexander Road, Worley, value $324,756, contractor Selkirk Custom Homes, issued Sept. 8

Mark & Traci Wilson, single family residence, 9254 N. Strahorn Road, Hayden, value $539,244, contractor Cougar Construction, issued Sept. 8

Mike & Leanne Casey, single family residence, 11495 E. Sims Lane, Athol, value $240,168, contractor JLR Developments Inc., issued Sept. 8

Prairie Avenue Mini Store Inc., commercial structure, 16436 W. Prairie, Hauser Lake, value $361,800, issued Sept. 12

Peter Grabicki, single family residence, 12425 N. Barrister Bar Lane, Hayden, value $194,308, contractor Makwil Construction, issued Sept. 15

Jarvelin Ismo, single family residence, 4968 E. French Gulch Road, Coeur d’Alene, value $354,140, contractor Timber Ridge Homes & Development, issued Sept. 14

Kootenai County (Airport), commercial structure, 11924 N. Atlas Road, Hayden, value $432,934, contractor Ginno Construction, issued Sept. 22

Ed & Dixie Schneider, commercial, 12961 W. Mountain Lion Road, Worley, value $27,000, contractor Active Electronics Construction, issued Sept. 22

Ed & Dixie Schneider, commercial, 12961 W. Mountain Lion Road, Worley, value $18,629, contractor Active Electronics Construction, issued Sept. 22

Ed & Dixie Schneider, commercial, 12961 W. Mountain Lion Road, Worley, value $20,000, contractor Active Electronic Construction, issued Sept. 22

Ed & Dixie Schneider, commercial, 12961 W. Mountain Lion Road, Worley, contractor Active Electronic Construction, issued Sept. 22

Larry T. Jones, commercial, 18434 N. Highway 95, Hayden, value $48,667, issued Sept. 22

Roy B. Taylor, commercial, 18750 N. Highway 95, Hayden, value $54,900, contractor Yesco Outdoor Media, issued Sept. 22

Kootenai County, commercial structure, 15580 W. Prairie, Hauser Lake, value $78,800, contractor CDA Structures, issued Sept. 21

Brad Grantham, single family residence, 4148 W. Flatwoods Loop, Rathdrum, value $441,444, contractor Bertram Construction, issued Sept. 21

Jeremy Brennan, single family residence, 6571 W. Big Sky Drive, Post Falls, value $396,680, contractor Cornerstone Inc., issued Sept. 19

Brandon L. Donat, single family residence, 25517 N. Lantern Hill Road, Rathdrum, value $181,334, contractor Mongan Construction, issued Sept. 22

Dave & Tina Wilson, single family residence, 16314 N. Radian Road, Rathdrum, value $327,217, contractor Rosenberger Construction, issued Sept. 21

Jodie Montemayor, single family residence, 14460 N. Smith, Rathdrum, value $201,009, contractor Creekside Construction, issued Sept. 22

G&G Properties L. L. C., commercial addition, 736 S. Spokane, Post Falls, value $2,000, issued Sept. 26

Edward Mylett, single family residence, 4225 W. Scot Ayr Drive, Coeur d’Alene, value $918,457, contractor Edwards Construction, issued Sept. 27

James & Gayle Foote, single family residence, 2442 E. Avon Circle, Hayden, value $295,772, contractor Mountain Lakes Construction, issued Sept. 26

Timbered Ridged Homes, single family residence, 11616 E. Sims Lane, Athol, value $322,476, issued Sept. 29

GJM Development, single family residence, 6798 W. Meadowbrook Loop, Coeur d’Alene, value $186,734, issued Sept. 30

GJM Development, garage/carport, 6798 W. Meadowbrook Loop, Coeur d’Alene, value $35,292, issued Sept. 30

William Daum Construction, SFR tract house, 503 W. Ashworth Lane, value $144,127, issued Sept. 8

Copper Basin Construction, SFR tract house, 3085 N. Connor Blvd., issued Sept. 9

Julie Bossard, commercial alteration, 804 N. Lincoln, value $8,000, issued Sept. 7

Treaty Rock Apartments, commercial shell building, 701 N. Compton, value $56,512, issued Sept. 16

Sky Prairie Church, commercial alteration, 1910 E. Seltice Irrigation, value $3,000, issued Sept. 12

Interstate Gas Service #2443, commercial addition, 2595 E. Seltice Way, value $14,000, issued Sept. 13

North Country Chapel, commercial addition, 2281 W, Seltice Way, value $2,289, issued Sept. 15

Monarch Development, SFR tract house, 1126 N. Harlequin Drive, value $145,813, issued Sept. 23

Monarch Development, SFR tract House, 4252 E. Amur Lane, value $194,356, issued Sept. 23

Monarch Development, SFR tract House, 4321 E. Amur Lane, value $152,977, issued Sept. 23

Riverview Ventures L. L. C., commercial-10 stall garage, 4120 W. Idewild Loop, value $40,948, contractor Rudeen Development L. L. C., issued Sept. 7

Riverview Ventures L. L. C., commercial-16 unit apartment building, 4589 W. Idewild Loop, value $1,339,076, contractor Rudeen Development, issued Sept. 7

Riverview Ventures L. L. C., commercial-10 stall garage, 4630 W. Idewild Loop, value $42,449, contractor Rudeen Development, issued Sept. 7

Riverview Ventures L. L. C., commercial-24 unit development building, value $1,764,330.00, contractor Rudeen Development L. L. C., issued Sept. 7

Active West Builders L. L. C., SFD with garage, 4363 N. Meadow Ranch, value $139,497, issued Sept. 6

Lighthouse Christian Academy, commercial-extending two walls, 920 E. Poplar, value $200, contractor Ken Bettis, issued Sept. 6

Coeur d’Alene Service Station Equipment, commercial-storage shed, 118 E. Poplar,  value $4,000, issued Sept. 8

Tom Gilbertz, commercial-new facade & awnings, 317 E. Coeur d’Alene, value $8,000, issued Sept. 8

Mountain States Leasing, CDA L. L. C., commercial-reroof, 3815 N. Schreiber Way, value $64,000, contractor Porter Construction, issued Sept. 12

Mountain States Leasing, CDA L. L. C., commercial-reroof, 3817 N. Schreiber Way, value $22,000, contractor Porter Construction, issued Sept. 12

Viking Construction Inc., SFD with garage, 6853 N. Caracara Lane, value $98,000, issued Sept. 13

Linda E. Abney, duplex-accessory dwelling unit, 1150 E. Forest Park Lane, value $50,000, contractor Marrs & Son Building, issued Sept. 14

Hallmark Homes Inc., SFD with garage, 2327 W. Freeland Drive, value $250,832, issued Sept. 14

Triple C Properties, commercial-relocate restroom, 224 W. Ironwood Drive, value $25,000, contractor NRCC L. L. C., issued Sept. 15

Liberty Bella Inc., commercial-shell for office building, 2155 W. Riverstone Drive, value $750,000, contractor DCI Engineers, issued Sept. 15

Stancorp Real Estate L. L. C., commercial-replace sidewalks, ramps & repave lot, 101 E. Appleway, value $300,000, contractor Williamson & Johnson Company, issued Sept. 19

Viking Construction Inc., SFD with garage, 3326 N. Ranero Road, value $143,279, issued Sept. 20

Active West Builders L. L. C., SFD with garage, 4397 N. Meadow Ranch, value $135,493, issued Sept. 20

Atlas Homes L. L. C., SFD with garage, 6701 N. Madellaine, value $278,386, issued Sept. 20

Bluegrass Development, commercial-tenant improvement-Subway, 3278 W. Prairie, value $60,000, contractor Beck Contracting Inc., issued Sept. 21

Motel 6 Operating L. P., commercial-move bathroom vanities, 610 Appleway, value $60,000, contractor Bear State Development L. L. C., issued Sept. 23

Ramso L. L. C., commercial-footing & foundation, 1745 W. Tilford, value $59,000, issued Sept. 23

Brad Marshall, SFD with garage, 5145 N. Hague Circle, value $275,000, contractor Monarch Development, issued Sept. 23

Upbeat Breakfast — Nov. 8

The Executive Round Table is hosting November’s Upbeat Breakfast. Speakers will include Phil with UGM (Union Gospel Mission), Mike Baker with Dirne Clinic, and Jeff Conroy with St Vincent DePaul. The topics will focus on services in Kootenai County that help the poor. With a reservation, the cost is $14 with a reservation or $19 at the door and includes breakfast and coffee. Reservations must be made by the Friday before the breakfast. For more information please call Brenda Young at (208) 415-0110 or email her at Brenda@CdAChamber.com.

Business After Hours — Nov. 17

This month’s Business After Hours is at Clark, Anderson, McNelis & Co., PA, located at 560 W. Canfield Ave., Ste. 100 in Coeur d’Alene from 5-6:30 p.m. Business After Hours is a networking event and opportunity for members to show off their offices or facilities. Food and beverages are provided by the sponsor business and there are drawings for door prizes. For more information please call Brenda Young at 208-415-0110 or email her at Brenda@CdAChamber.com.

Chamber Travel Raffle — Tickets on sale now

The chamber is doing a Travel Raffle awarding a $5,000 travel certificate towards a 2012 Chamber sponsored trip to the lucky winner. Tickets are $50 and only 400 tickets will be sold so the odds are fantastic! Trips include: Flavors of Thailand, South Pacific Wonders & Discover Tuscany. Drawing will be held at December’s Upbeat Breakfast held at the Coeur d’Alene Resort from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Upbeat Breakfast is $14 at the door or $19 at the door. You do not need to be present to win. For more information please contact Ginger at (208) 415-0108.

Winter is coming, but hopefully this lovely fall weather will last a bit longer. One of the things I love about North Idaho is that we enjoy all four seasons. Every season brings every business different challenges and successes. Some of our local businesses have found a way to extend their summer seasonal business by adding special events, extended hours or discounts in order to attract the locals and the out of town visitor. We recommend you check the chamber website for a complete list of events, attractions and links to business happenings. Information: www.postfallschamber.com

Many local nonprofits will host fabulous fundraisers in November. The Post Falls Food Bank will hold their turkey drive at Stan Craft on Nov. 11. The Jacklin Arts Center will host a jazz concert on Nov. 11 as well. St. Vincent de Paul will host their annual Soup Contest at the fairgrounds on Nov. 17 and The Post Falls Senior Center will have an all you can eat spaghetti feed and dance on Nov. 19. The Festival of Trees is an event that has become of a North Idaho tradition taking place each year beginning the day after Thanksgiving, so mark your calendar and come out for some fun, food and festivities all month long!

The Post Falls Chamber will hold our annual membership meeting at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Red Lion Templin’s. In addition to introducing our 2012 board of directors, we will be highlighting some of our most successful programs and talking about important issues that face our business community. Guests are welcome and can register online or call our office.

Please vote on Nov. 8.

Recently we have been hearing a lot about “Job Creation” from our national leaders. While we may feel rather helpless in the national discussion, there is a local program that employers should know about; Hire One Vet — Idaho. This is a collaborative program of the Idaho Department of Labor, the Idaho Chapter of Employer Support of the Guard & Reservists and the Idaho National Guard. Employers that hire a veteran can earn sliding scale Income Tax Credits. Note there are specific qualifications.

Approximately 300 soldiers, in the five northern counties have recently returned from a one-year deployment to Iraq. It has been estimated that roughly 30 percent have no job to return to. This program is designed to match these soldiers with employers needs. Robert Shoeman at our local Idaho Department of Labor office is in charge of assisting returning vets. In a recent letter Robert writes, “Hiring a Guard member is much more than being patriotic. It makes good business sense. Our soldier’s posses a wide variety of unique skills & attributes. Now is the perfect time for any business to add to their bottom line by hiring at least one Veteran.”

For those wishing to learn more contact Robert at Robertshoeman@labor.idaho.gov. With Veterans Day just around the corner this is opportunity to check out this ready to go Jobs Creation program.

Upcoming chamber and affiliate events include:

• Upbeat Breakfast Nov. 8 with guest speakers including Phil with UGM (Union Gospel Mission), Mike Baker with Dirne Clinic and Jeff Conroy with St. Vincent DePaul.
• Business After Hours, Nov. 24 at Clark, Anderson, McNelis & Co., PA.
• Lighting Ceremony Parade, Nov. 25
• Resort Holiday Lightshow, Nov. 25 to Jan. 1
• The Festival of Trees, Nov. 25-27

The next wave in medical gizmos isn’t an imaging machine or robotic surgeon. It’s your mobile phone.

Texted medication reminders is on the broad list of possibilities for an emerging health-care tool: wireless technology. Providers call it “non-compliance:” when patients don’t follow instructions complications can occur, so some physicians are looking at ways to use cell phones to give them more control.

The idea may be fairly new, but it’s catching on. Take the West Wireless Health Institute. Founded in 2009 in San Diego WWHI is an independently-funded, nonprofit medical research organization focused on using wireless technology for health-care innovation and cost reduction. It seems to be the first of its kind, but undoubtedly won’t be the last. Ideas include intensive care units managed by iPad, using immediate consultations with online physician specialists. That’s better than waiting for a doc to call back or drive over. With wireless technology, the patient’s medical data can be streamed “live” and discussed by the ICU and the consulting doc remotely, all in the patient’s room.

Similar technology can be used for hand-held ultrasounds and other tests. Already emergency rooms aren’t what they once were. Things can be done faster, and time spared can mean a life saved. A local patient who went to Kootenai Medical Center’s ER with heart palpitations in September didn’t have to leave the room to get a chest X-ray. A portable unit was brought to the bed and the film taken while the patient sat on the gurney.

In a pinch, cell phone cameras could be used to take photos of a patient’s injury or condition, and sent to the health-care provider. While that’s not nearly as good or thorough as a live consultation, mobile technology can prove useful in certain situations, allowing “diagnosis at the point of care.”

Telemedicine is the next wave.

How about wireless blood pressure monitoring? An article in the Aug. 11 issue of Scientific American reported on a device that looks remarkably like a tiny tattoo — a skinlike, electronic patch with wireless mini-circuits that pick up and transmits blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. The chips are layered on silicone strips, 50 nanometers thin and almost transparent, in an exciting example of integration between man and (miniature) machine.

The technology itself is nothing new, but the configuration is. There are hiccups yet to work out, such as shelf life. The device stays on only about a week and needs to be close to a power source to function without interruption. Researchers are working on it; the device has big potential for preventing emergency situations, potentially saving millions of dollars annually on ER heart-related admissions.

On the other side of the wireless coin, especially regarding use of cell phones (and iPads), is privacy. Patients would need to consent to the use of mobile medical messaging and perhaps incur their own increased responsibility in monitoring both the communications and access to their devices.

In the end cost may be what drives the wireless train. With health-care costs increasing for consumers and providers who need expensive equipment, health insurance costs getting more prohibitive even for middle income consumers, and the overall cost to the economic picture, whatever improves that picture will be embraced of necessity.

Technology is moving so fast with home- and phone-accessed Internet that people are self-diagnosing online more often, and worse, self-medicating (or not medicating). Bringing physicians into the wireless picture has to be an improvement. Health care is best managed as a team.

The flu, or influenza, is a viral illness that affects the respiratory tract including your nose, throat, lungs and bronchial tubes (the airways that lead to the lungs).

Mild cases of the flu can be confused with the common cold, however, the flu usually causes a more serious illness. Symptoms of the flu can include coughing, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue and headache. Flu symptoms tend to start suddenly and be accompanied by a high fever.

Complications can occur, such as pneumonia, bronchitis and ear and sinus infections. People at higher risk of flu complications include children, people over 50 and those with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease or HIV infection.

Every year we hear of some new animal named strain of the virus and that we are not protected from this strain. Thus a new vaccine suddenly appears on the market. While new strains occur of the influenza virus most are benign in the sense of their pandemic effects on the population.

We use a more conservative approach to influenza prevention in our practice. A patients vitamin D level is essential to have documented to make sure that their levels are in optimal range or if they need to add a strong dose of vitamin D to make. The optimal levels that we like to observe are between 70-90 ng/dl in the blood. Nearly every individual we have treated their level was well below this optimal level. Vitamin D will give a good safe and effective early prevention and immune boost for influenza.

We also use a natural homeopathic based flu prevention item that is physician only. This a natural based preventative supplement that builds the bodies natural immunity to the virus. We have personally used this item for many years on ourselves and our children with great success in preventing influenza.

As an acupuncturist and chiropractor my tool bag is large with a vast array of items that I can use to help prevent influenza and to treat you if you become ill. From acupuncture to herbs to safe effective conservative supplements that we can use to keep you healthy and get you well.

Jerry Lee Bailey II, BAA, DC, CAc, FIAMA, is a chiropractic physician, acupuncturist and functional nutrition at Lakeside Holistic Health, PLLC, 518 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Information: (208) 758-0568 or www.LakesideHolistic.com

It was sown from the seeds of discontent.

“We started Coeur Apparel because we were disappointed customers ourselves,” Alexander said.

He explained that he had ordered 20 articles of clothing that included a company logo. The price was high and the order took five weeks to deliver. That wasn’t even the worst part.

“The quality was outrageous,” Alexander recalled.

So four years ago, Alexander put his own screen-printing experience to work and started Coeur Apparel. How has that worked out for him?

“Business is up 200 percent this year over last,” he said.

The secret to their success is, of course, fast delivery of superior products at fair prices. But it’s a personal touch, too. Business is booming because, through face-to-face meetings, new customers are coming on board regularly.

Coeur Apparel is bolstered by mega client Super 1 Food Stores, which relies on Alexander for customized coats, aprons, hats — even those nifty little bowties. Employees of Gold’s Gyms in Boise and tribal casinos in Montana proudly don Coeur Apparel’s duds daily.

“We work with lots of schools and lots of sports tournaments too,” he said.

Coeur Apparel specializes in custom embroidery — need a personalized golf bag for Christmas, anyone? — and state-of-the-art screen printing.

What sets Coeur Apparel apart, Alexander says, is the company’s approach to doing business. Its website (coeurapparel.com) is sophisticated yet simple to use, so for those who want to deal online-only, they certainly can. But Alexander offers more.

“We understand that business people are busy, so we want to make this as easy for them as we can,” he said. “We want to sit down with them and do a needs assessment — figure out what they want and what we can do with their budget. We like the interaction — the building of rapport.”

Rapport has led Alexander to the brink of another big contract involving a local company that gives each of its employees a $1,000 annual allowance for clothing bearing the company’s name. Like Super 1 Foods, the company will have its own secure site which will track every order and give each employee a running tally of his or her remaining balance.

For more information, call 777-9358 and visit coeurapparel.com.

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