Kennewick-Richland tops in country for quick home sales

The Kennewick-Richland area topped a national list for quick home sales in 2017.

Across more than 200 metropolitan areas, the average days on the market for a home was 67 days in 2017. This is a sharp decline from the peak in 2011 when the average was 120 days. The conditions in some local housing markets are much faster, with a typical sales transaction taking less than 40 days from listing to signing, according to a Health of Housing Markets report from Nationwide Economics.

Homes in the Kennewick-Richland area were on the market an average of 31 days in 2017.

Newhouse holding April 21 job fair in Richland

U.S. Congressman Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, will host a job fair in the Tri-Cities on April 21.

The free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is at the Red Lion Hotel, 802 George Washington Way in Richland.

Applicants should come prepared with résumés and/or interview materials.

Employers wanting to participate may call 509-452-3243.

Coalition holding community forum on immigration

The Tri-Cities Immigrant Coalition is holding a public forum about immigration at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Richland Community Center.

The panel includes law enforcement officers who will talk about crime rates of immigrants versus U.S. born citizens, educators who will cover learning English as a new language and other panelists who will discuss religion, cuisine, social habits, music and art.

Forum participants can answer questions or concerns the public may have on immigrants moving into the community.

The coalition is a nonpartisan group of volunteers who work to build bridges and understanding.

For more information about the group, email tricitiesimmigrantcoaltion@gmail.com or find on Facebook (@TCImmigrantCoalition).

Benton clerk’s office warns of jury duty scam callers

The Benton County Clerk’s Office is reporting that scammers are targeting the community using jury duty as the bait.

The fraudulent callers claim to be the county clerk and tell individuals that they owe money for not appearing for jury duty. They tell victims that they must get a Green Dot gift card, read out the card information and meet the scammer in front of the justice center to get documents releasing them from claims or damages.

If you receive a phone call related to jury duty that’s suspicious, call the Benton County Jury Department at 509-735-8388, ext. 3094.

Hanford cleanup tour registration begins this April

The U.S. Department of Energy has opened online registration for the 2018 Hanford cleanup tour program at hanford.gov.

The public tour provides participants with an in-depth look at several key projects that support the cleanup effort and includes briefings on several Hanford facilities supporting the cleanup mission.

Tour participants must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age.

Government-issued photo identification is required and must be presented when arriving for the tour.

All seats are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis through the online registration system. The free tours begin at 8 a.m. on the following days and last about four-and-a-half hours: May 8, 10, 30 and 31; June 5, 7, 13, 19, 21 and 27; July 10, 12, 18, 24 and 26; August 7, 9, 15, 21 and 23.

Richland seeks volunteers for several groups

The Richland City Council is seeking residents to serve on the following committees:

• Code Enforcement Board: Applicants must be Richland residents. The appointment is for two years. Position is open until filled. The board meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month.
• Economic Development Committee: Applicants with expertise and experience in various professional disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The board meets at 4 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month.
• Public Facilities District Board Pos. 1: Interested parties must submit an application, résumé and letter of recommendation from a local organization. The board meets at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month.

For more information, call 509-942-7388 or go to ci.richland.wa.us/bcc.

Pasco gets high marks as a retirement city in ’17 survey

Pasco’s rating as a good place to retire hit an all-time high, according to results of a biennial survey of Pasco residents in 2017.

The citizen survey has been conducted since 2005 through the National Research Center in Colorado.

The overall quality of life also was rated higher. Citizens gave positive feedback in the areas of employment, health care, fitness and education, as well as its openness and acceptance in the community. Confidence in law enforcement and city government also saw an increase.

Winter turns on the gloom with residents giving the city lower marks for snow removal compared to the last survey in 2015.

Pasco also recently topped the list of best places to relocate in the U.S.

MoveBuddha.com ranked Pasco as the No. 11 most popular mid-size city in the U.S. to move to. It also was named the most popular mid-size city destination in the Washington.

MoveBuddha.com is a moving assistance website that provides tools for those relocating.

Corps awards contract to replace dam turbines

The Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District awarded a more than  $321 million contract to Alstom Renewable US LLC of Colorado to design, manufacture and install 14 turbines at McNary Lock and Dam, replacing old ones.

McNary Dam was commissioned in 1954 and the 14 main unit turbines at the powerhouse have been in operation for more than 62 years. The project to replace them will take seven years.

McNary Dam near Umatilla provides power for 686,000 homes when it is operating at full capacity.

Tickets on sale for Pasco Taco Crawl fundraiser

What’s better than eating tacos? Eating tacos for a good cause during the Pasco Taco Crawl.

Buy a booklet of 20 taco vouchers for $20, then visit downtown Pasco to pick it up at Vinny’s Bakery, starting April 20. Participants then have 16 days to eat a taco at each of the 20 participating taco trucks and restaurants.

Take good tasting notes to vote for Best Taco in Pasco through May 4.

The winner will be announced at the Downtown Pasco Development Authority’s Cinco de Mayo Festival on May 5. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties.

Buy tickets online at pascotacocrawl2018.brownpapertickets.com.

Series of free classes set on business basics

Bring a brown bag dinner during a six-week series of sessions providing helpful tips, discussion, and networking with business owners, managers and employees on topics all businesses can benefit from.

The free sessions, sponsored by the Prosser Chamber of Commerce and Historic Downtown Prosser, are all in Prosser.

Here’s the schedule:

• April 18: Cross Promotional Partnerships, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Shear Delite, 1215 Meade Ave # A.
• April 25: Storefronts and Displays, 5:15-6:15 p.m., TRT Printed, 1120 Meade Ave.
• May 2: Business Marketing on a Budget, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Princess Theatre, 1228 Meade Ave.
• May 9: Customer Service 101, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Chapman Lampson Real Estate, 623 Sixth St.
• May 16: Making the Most of Downtown Events, 5-8 p.m., Studio on Sixth Salon and Spa, 610 Sixth St.
• May 23: Planning for Holidays and Seasons, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Northwest Community Foundation Gift Shop, 708 Sixth St.

Friends of library group to hold spring book sale 

The Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries is holding its semi-annual Giant Book Sale from April 26-29 at the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Kennewick branch, 1620 S. Union St.

Friends of the library members get first access from 4 to 6:30 pm. April 26.

The sale opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 27 and continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28 and from 1 to 3 p.m. April 29.

A variety of books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and more will be available, and prices range from 25 cents to $2 per item, unless otherwise marked.

Debit and credit cards are accepted.

Small Business Symposium April 18-19 in Kennewick

The 14th annual Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium is April 18-19 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

The conference is a collaboration between the Department of Energy and Hanford contractors to allow businesses to learn about the mission and work conducted at Hanford and gain insight on becoming a contractor.

The conference includes a welcome networking reception, breakfast, lunch, small breakout sessions and an exhibit hall with more than 250 participants, including small-business owners, procurement executives and supplier professionals. This year’s keynote speaker is Misipati “Semi” Bird of the Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Office of Professional Development and Community Education.

Cost of attendance is $100.

For more information and to register, go to bridgingpartnerships.com.

Priest Rapids reservoir lowered for inspection

The reservoir behind Priest Rapids Dam has lowered levels after an inspection drilling revealed leaking in spillway monoliths. Grant PUD officials declared a nonfailure emergency as a precaution.

Officials note that there is no threat to life or property, and dam operations will continue as usual. The leaking in the spillway structure was found by a contract crew drilling inspection holes. The investigative drilling was a precautionary move.

Richland police foundation holding May 2 meeting

The newly formed Richland Police Department Foundation is having its first Community Care Forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 at the Richland Public Library.

The foundation invites the public to attend to learn how they can assist the group.

Richland police officers are often the first responders for a crisis situation and it is not uncommon that they use their personal resources to help victims in need.

The Richland Police Department Foundation has a board of directors made up of volunteer citizens who support the officers and the mission of the Richland Police Department.