What Podolak says is generally true. Studs help in ice. Lugs (or tread) help in snow. I run a pretty aggressive, lugged and studded tire where I live. But Nokian, the brand I buy, makes a wide range of studded tire. You can, for example, get a studded tire that is very much road-tire-like, except for some minimal studding to help with the occasional icy patch.
Here's a link:
http://www.suomityres.fi/winter.html
Compare the Hakka SW300 with, say, the Mount and Ground W160. As you can see, there's quite a bit of room to match the tire with your specific application. I don't really know Spokane though, so I can't help much with the choice. I run the 300s, because I frequently ride on hard-packed, sometimes icy snow. (Streets in my town are never plowed to the pavement). I need the lugs for traction, and the studs to save my behind. Were I mostly on plowed pavement, I might look at the W240s or the W160s.
Riding in winter is fun, btw. I love it that I can actually seek out the ice and ride on it without fear of crashing.