Business Briefs -- May 2018

LIGO Hanford director to speak at Kennewick High

Learn about a groundbreaking scientific discovery made in the Tri-Cities and hear the sound that confirmed Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

Michael Landry, director of the LIGO Hanford Observatory in Richland, will present “Gravitational Waves from (very) Distant Shores” at 7 p.m. May 17 in Art Fuller Auditorium at Kennewick High School, 500 S. Dayton St. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The event is being organized by Kennewick High and its science department.

Landry will talk about how LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of space and time caused by events such as the explosion of stars. He’ll also play a recording of the gravitational wave vibrations detected by the observatory.

The observatory’s discovery earned several of its researchers the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.

Richland construction company selected for Kennewick school project

Bouten Construction Co. has been selected to add 22 classrooms, a gym and offices in a detached addition at Kennewick’s Amistad Elementary School.

Bouten, which has offices in Richland and Spokane, provided the lowest base bid of $12.5 million for the Kennewick School District project.

The Kennewick School Board approved two alternate projects, bringing the total construction cost to $12.8 million. Construction is expected to begin in this month and be completed by August 2019.

A $51.1 million state grant aimed at reducing class sizes in kindergarten through third grade will pay for the detached classroom addition. The second phase of construction, which would replace the current Amistad Elementary building, built in 1992, is dependent on voter approval of a 2019 bond.

Bouten’s most recent projects with the district include new buildings for Sunset View, Cascade and Lincoln elementary schools.

75 percent of teens aim for college, according to survey

About half of teens say financial independence is among their goals, according to a survey by Junior Achievement USA and American International Group Inc.

The 2018 JA Teens & Personal Finance Survey of teens ages 13 to 18 who were not enrolled in college showed 75 percent of teens set their sights on graduating from college, half planned on a savings plan and about 30 percent strive to start their own business and retiring before 65.

The survey of 1,000 students solicited via an email invitation showed more than half were concerned about paying for college as well as finding fulfilling and well-paying jobs. Other top concerns were 49 percent worried about not being able to afford their own home, 41 percent were concerned about not having an emergency savings, and 42 percent worried about not having money management skills.

Jacobs Radio expands reach with Oregon station buy

Kennewick-based Jacobs Radio recently bought radio station KEUB in Seaside, Oregon.

The purchase was the eighth acquisition by the station owned by Jeff Jacobs, who has been in the radio business for more than 30 years.

Richland School Board seeks new member

The Richland School District is accepting applications from those interested in filling a recently vacated position on the school board.

The term ends in December 2019.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and registered voters living in the Richland School District.

District employees may apply but will have to resign if selected to serve on the board.

Applications can be obtained at the District Administration Building, 615 Snow Ave. or online at rsd.edu/media/boardmembervacancyapplication18.pdf.

Completed applications along with a resume must be returned to the Administration Building by 4 p.m. May 21. Completed applications also can be emailed to nancy.mayer@rsd.edu

Biographical information and written responses to questions will be used to screen applicants to a list of finalists.

Personal interviews of finalists will be conducted in late May with a selection announced at the June 12 school board meeting.

Fast charging station opens for electric cars

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the installation of the first electric vehicle DC fast charging station is at 11 a.m. May 15 at the Southridge Sport Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick.

The station has a level 2 charging station as well as a DC fast charging station. It was paid for with a $405,00 grant from the state Department of Transportation as part of an EVITA pilot project to install nine stations along Washington highway corridors.

EVITA is an industry collaboration comprising Energy Northwest, Benton PUD, Franklin PUD, Benton REA, city of Richland Energy Services, city of Ellensburg Energy Services and Tri-City Development Council.

Author to speak at Women Helping Women event

Child welfare advocate Ashley Rhodes-Courter will speak at the Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities’ 18th annual luncheon on Oct. 11.

Rhodes-Courter was born to a single teen mother and spent 10 years being shuffled around foster homes before being adopted. She went on to earn a master’s degree in social work and was a New York Times bestselling author at 22.

Benton Fire District 4 placing bond on ballot

The Board of Fire Commissioners for Benton Fire District 4 passed a resolution to place a bond request on the August ballot.

The bond would be used to buy land and build a new fire station in the western part of the district to help serve the area, reduce response time and provide additional support. West Richland has grown 25 percent since 2010 and response times can be as long as 17 minutes in the western part of the district. The volume of emergency calls in the district has increased 62.5 percent.

The bond would cost taxpayers 28 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which is $28 annually per $100,000, or $84 annually for a homeowner with a $300,000 home.

State’s monthly jobless rate up from February to March

Washington had a slight uptick in the unemployment rate in March. The state’s seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent in February.

While 3,900 more jobs were added in March, the labor force also grew by an additional 1,800 people statewide. From March the previous year, the state’s labor force grew by 70,000 people. The national unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1 percent.

The sectors with the biggest year-over-year growth were retail trade, professional and business services, and education and health services.

Ecology taking public comment on vit plant permit

The Washington Department of Ecology is taking public comment through June 8 on modifications to the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, or vit plant, at the Hanford site.

The modification will incorporate the draft Environmental Performance Demonstration Test Plan for the low-activity waste facility into the original permit and well as other revisions to support the plan.

To review the proposal, go to https://bit.ly/2HXOoM2. Comments are preferred electronically and can be sent until June 8 to wt.ecology.commentinput.com. Comments also may be sent to Daina McFadden, 3100 Port of Benton Blvd., Richland WA 99354.

Total recycling at Hanford surpasses MSA goals in ’17

Mission Support Alliance manages the Hanford site’s recycling program and the total amount diverted to landfills was 57 percent, surpassing goals by 7 percent.

MSA said nonhazardous waste includes plastic, cardboard, paper and scrap metals. In addition, 154 metric tons of universal waste, including batteries and fluorescent lights, were collected for recycling off site.

Last year, Department of Energy and Hanford contractors recycled 1,224 metric tons of nonhazardous waste.

Second annual George and Pat Jones Community Service Day is June 15

Tri-Citians and Tri-City businesses are encouraged to gather together to work on a community service project of their choice from 8 a.m. to noon June 15.

A barbecue rib-eye steak luncheon will be served at Columbia Park near the bandshell area at noon for the first 500 people who RSVP to participate in the second annual George and Pat Jones Community Service Day.

Here’s how it works: Your company chooses a community service project to work on that day. To see available opportunities, visit communityserviceday.com.

Any business or individual wanting to attend the luncheon needs to RSVP at communityserviceday.com.

In 2017, more than 300 people participated in Community Service Day, completing more than 20 projects in and around the Tri-Cities.

The event’s namesakes, George and Pat Jones, are avid community volunteers and fundraisers.

Food For Fines underway at Mid-Columbia Libraries

Mid-Columbia Libraries hosts its annual Food For Fines drive during May.

The library district hopes to boost donations to local food banks by inviting patrons to pay their overdue fines by donating non-perishable food items at any branch.

Each item donated counts as $1 toward overdue fines, up to $10 per customer account. Fines aren’t required to donate, and all food will be donated to local food banks.

CBC fundraiser features classes on beef butchery

Columbia Basin College’s hospitality program will host its first ever fundraiser, an artisan butchery workshop, during three individual sessions June 20-22.

The half-day, hands-on sessions will be held at Senior Life Resources Northwest’s kitchen in Richland and feature Tracy Smaciarz, an artisan butcher, and Pat Mallon, a beef producer and expert.

The class includes tutorials on butchering, filleting, cooking and mastering beef know-how.

Participants will take home tools of the trade: knife, apron, cutting board, beef chart and about 12 pounds of personally carved beef, plus an autographed photo with instructors.

Sessions culminate in a family-style barbecue of freshly ground hamburgers.

Each class is limited to 15 participants to ensure practical, hands-on experience.

Sessions are from 2 to 7:30 p.m. at 1824 Fowler St., Richland. Cost is $350.

For more information, visit columbiabasin.edu/hsp.