Tri-Cities Airport celebrates new nonstop service to LAX
Tri-Cities
Airport, city and county officials, and other stakeholders celebrated new
nonstop flights to Los Angeles on April 1.
The event
included a water cannon salute, speeches and refreshments at the Pasco airport.
The
airport announced the United Airlines nonstop flights last fall.
United
expanded its route network in March by launching 18 new domestic routes,
including the LAX-PSC route.
The
nonstop service to LAX was years in the making and the result of regional
collaboration to win a federal grant and leverage matching funds to incentivize
United to begin the service.
Tri-City taxpayers get some of state’s largest tax refunds
Taxpayers
in Franklin and Benton counties collect some of the biggest tax returns in the
state.
The two
counties ranked among the top 10 of the state’s 39 counties with the highest
amount of tax refunds, according to SmartAsset, an online financial technology
company.
Franklin
County ranked No. 3 on the list, with the average tax amount refunded totaling
$3,086, with 30,520 taxpayers receiving refunds. The average amount of taxes
owed was $5,467, from 5,540 people owing taxes.
Benton
County ranked No. 9, with the average tax amount refunded totaling $2,873, with
67,300 taxpayers receiving refunds. The average amount of taxes owed was
$5,318, from 16,370 people owing taxes.
SmartAsset
analyzed data from the IRS to determine the counties where people received the
highest average refunds and the counties that owed the most on average after
filing their taxes.
To determine the counties that received the highest
average refunds, SmartAsset divided the total amount of money refunded by the
IRS to each county by the number of refunds given out in each county. It did
the same to calculate the average amount owed, by dividing the total taxes owed
in each county by the number of filers who still owe taxes.
Gallo buys Hogue Cellars, other regional wineries
E. & J. Gallo Winery is the new owner of Prosser’s Hogue Cellars.
Gallo announced April 3 that it has entered into an agreement with Constellation
Brands Inc. to buy more than 30 wine and spirits brands, along with six
winemaking facilities in Washington, California and New York.
More than 30 brands will join the Gallo portfolio, including Clos du Bois, Black Box, Estancia, Mark West, Wild Horse, Franciscan and Ravenswood.
Also, as part of the agreement, Gallo will acquire several production
facilities across the U.S. The included wineries are Hogue Cellars in
Washington; Mission Bell, Turner Road Vintners, Clos du Bois and Wild Horse in
California; and Canandaigua in New York.
Through acquisitions, strategic partnerships and new brand innovations,
Gallo has sought to expand and diversify its portfolio across all price points
to meet growing consumer demand and evolving preferences.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto,
California, the company is the world’s largest family-owned winery with more
than 6,500 global employees and is the producer of award-winning wines and
spirits in more than 110 countries around the globe.
Cascade Natural Gas files request for rate increase
Cascade Natural Gas filed a request for a price
increase with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on April
1. The proposed increase is for $12.7 million annually over current prices, or
a 5.5 percent overall increase.
If approved, the monthly bill for a residential customer would increase
by an average of $2.83 a month, or about $34 annually. The request is for costs
related to providing service to customers and does not include the cost of
natural gas.
The main reason for the new request is to recover the investments made
in infrastructure upgrades, which accounts for about 70 percent of the total
request, as well as increased operation and maintenance costs.
The request comes on the heels of state regulators approving another
rate increase to recover costs associated with securing natural gas supply in
the wake of the October 2018 rupture of a Canadian pipeline.
The state commission approved that request March 28 to recoup an additional $48 million in costs accumulated between Nov. 1, 2018, and Jan. 31, 2019, following the rupture of the Enbridge pipeline that disrupted natural gas markets throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Under the rates approved March 28, a typical residential customer will
see a bill increase of about $4.11. This increase took effect April 1.
The commission approved the company’s request on the condition that Cascade Natural Gas collect the costs over a three-year period, rather than the two-year period originally requested.
School closes as precaution after Milne ammonia leak
A Prosser fruit and vegetable processor reported an ammonia leak April 7
that prompted the temporary closure of a nearby elementary school.
Milne Fruit Products detected the leak at 6:45 a.m. in one of the
plant’s tank rooms. A news release from the company said staff immediately
sealed the room to contain the gas.
Milne officials said the incident at 804 Bennett Ave. was “fully
resolved” by 8 p.m.
Prosser School District officials decided that night to close
Keene-Riverview Elementary School the following day, April 8. The school is
across the street from the Milne plant.
The elementary students went to school across town at Housel Middle
School as a precaution.
“Milne’s primary concern remains the public’s safety, the safety of any
children in the area, as well as the safety of our own employees,” said Michael
Sorenson, Milne’s president and general manager, in a news release.
“We immediately contacted federal and state agencies as well as local fire, police and school officials, who later in the day wisely decided to move students out of an abundance of caution,” he said.
Company officials said there was no immediate release to the atmosphere
until company and fire officials properly ventilated the storage facility later
in the day.
“It’s unfortunate that this impacted students and teachers but it was in
the best interest of everyone concerned,” Sorenson said. “Milne strives to
operate the plant safely and to remain good stewards of our environment through
our ongoing preventative maintenance, safety and sustainability programs.”
West Richland post office renamed
to honor Marine
The West Richland post office has been renamed to honor a
Marine from Richland who was killed in a cargo plane crash in Mississippi last
year.
The post office at 801 W. Van Giesen St. is now named the
Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building.
Schmieman’s family and friends, Marine Corps
brothers-in-arms and local leaders honored him during a March 20 ceremony.
“It is our hope that the renamed facility will remind users
not only of Dietrich, but of all those who have served under arms and given
their all for our nation,” according to a statement from his parents Susan and
Eric Schmieman.
Schmieman, a Hanford High graduate, served in the 2nd Raider
Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when his cargo plane crashed on July
10, 2017, killing 14 others on board. The crash was caused by a deteriorating
propeller blade on the KC-130T, according to the Military Times.
Congressman Dan Newhouse proposed the bill to dedicate the
post office in Schmieman’s name. It was signed into law by President Donald
Trump in December.
Chamber gives top awards to
businesses, individuals
The
Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its Business on a Roll Award
winners March 27 during its annual meeting and awards luncheon in Kennewick.
Winners
were Knutzen Engineering of Kennewick (10 or fewer employees), Petersen
Hastings of Kennewick (11 to 50 employees) and Gravis Law of Richland (more
than 50 employees).
The
awards recognize businesses achieving success in 2018.
Award
recipients are businesses demonstrating growth in revenue/income or employees;
seeking involvement in the Tri-Cities community; and receiving recognition as a
model business for others through national or industry awards.
All
nominees had to be members of the chamber and could self-nominate.
Other
awards handed out at the ceremony included the regional chamber’s Board of
Directors S.T.A.R. award, which was presented to Paula Linnen, executive
director, external affairs, Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for
her service, time, attitude and reliability.
Charles
“Mort” Mortimer received the Tom Powers Ambassador of the Year award for his
time spent volunteering with the regional chamber.
The
Tri-Cities Cancer Center received the Community Impact Award and Washington
River Protection Solutions took home the Corporate Impact Award for their
support and financial contributions to the regional chamber, respectively.
Kadlec transfers operations of
Prosser OB/GYN clinic
Prosser
Memorial Health began operating Kadlec OB/GYN Clinic on April 1.
Dr.
Brian Sollers and physician’s assistant Teresa Charvet will continue to provide
care at the Prosser Women’s Health Clinic, and will be employed by Prosser
Memorial Health.
Current
patients of the clinic at 336 Chardonnay Ave. will receive official
notification of the transition. There will be no care disruptions for patients
during this process.
In
addition to this transition, Prosser Memorial Health will begin an extensive
remodeling project at the Prosser Clinic next door. The remodel will convert
the current unused pharmacy space into exam rooms and an imaging center.
When
complete, the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day offering full
laboratory and X-ray services, similar to the new Grandview Clinic.
State raises minimum sales age for
tobacco products
The
minimum sales age of all tobacco and vapor products is now 21 years old.
Gov.
Jay Inslee signed the bill into law April 5 at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. The bill was
considered in five legislative sessions before being passed this year.
The
American Lung Association in Washington said the new law will make Washington
the 10th state to increase its sales age for tobacco products to 21.
West Richland library grand
reopening set after remodel
The
West Richland library’s grand reopening celebration after more than $306,000 in
improvements is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27.
The
opening ceremony and a ribbon cutting begins at 11 am at 3803 W. Van Giesen St.
Visitors
can stop by and enter to win a new Apple iPad. There also will be music,
activities and refreshments
The
temporary branch, located behind the permanent branch, will be closed April 21
for Easter and April 22-26 for moving.
Coffee shop at BlankSpace closes;
event venue to grow
BlankSpace
announced plans to expand its Kennewick event venue into the space formerly
occupied by The Local coffee shop.
BlankSpace
reported on Facebook that it is tripling the size of its venue at 5453
Ridgeline Drive to include a kitchen and balcony access. Completion is set for
the end of April.
The
Local announced on Facebook its plans to downsize with the closure of its
Southridge location, which was inside BlankSpace. It opened there in January
2017. Its last day there was March 30.
The
Local at 8530 W. Gage Blvd., Suite E, in Kennewick remains open.
West Richland election ballots due by April 23
West
Richland voters are being asked to consider a $12.5 million bond to build a
larger police station. The special election ballots are due April 23.
The
bond would add 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to property taxes. That
means owners of a $200,000 home would pay $84 a year.
The proposed 22,500-square-foot police building would have a secure armory and evidence room and a safer lobby for visitors and staff. There also would be more space for police and parole officers, who currently work four to a desk.
Parole
officers must now meet with offenders in hallways or parking lots because of
lack of space at the current facility.
There also would be additional space for officer training,
community meetings and an improved kennel for animal control, which community
members have requested.
The location for the station isn’t set in stone, but two
properties are under consideration: a 2.5-acre Bureau of Land Management-owned
lot just east of Bombing Range Road off Morab Street and a privately-owned,
2.5-acre lot off Mount Adams View Drive.
Both
properties are near the Benton Fire District 4 station on Bombing Range Road.
Fourth annual Taco Crawl to benefit Boys & Girls Club
Taco
trucks and Mexican restaurants in downtown Pasco are participating in the
fourth annual Pasco Taco Crawl to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton
and Franklin Counties.
Customers
can buy $25 booklets containing vouchers good for one taco from each of the 20
participating establishments, valid from April 19 through May 4.
They
also can vote for the best taco. Voting closes May 3. The winner will be
announced at the Downtown Pasco Development Authority’s Cinco de Mayo Festival
on May 4.
Nearly
2,000 people ate their way through downtown Pasco in previous events, devouring
more than 22,000 tacos while raising more than $20,000 for the Boys and Girls
Clubs.
To
buy booklets or more information, Go to PascoTacoCrawl.com.
Career Fair set for April 30 in Prosser at high school
Prosser
Economic Development Association and the Prosser School District are joining
forces to host a career fair on April 30 at high school’s main gym, 1203
Prosser Ave.
This
free event will be available for students from 1 to 3 p.m. and open to the
public from 3 to 5 p.m.
The
focus of the career fair is to educate students and the public about the
potential employment options available in or near Prosser to all skill levels.
Key employers will have booths to demonstrate their prospects, products and
services.
To
learn more about the event or how to participate, call 509-786-3600 or email
economicdevelopment@prosser.org.
Moak seeks another term for port commission spot
Port
of Kennewick Commissioner Thomas Moak has announced he seeks a second six-year
term on the port commission.
Moak
said he wants to follow through and complete the Columbia Gardens Wine and
Artisan Village, create new opportunities on Clover Island and a Columbia Basin
College culinary school, intensify the progress at Vista Field and develop the
former Tri-City Raceway in West Richland to enhance the Red Mountain wine
region.
Moak
has lived in the Tri-Cities since 1979, and has been a librarian and manager
for Mid-Columbia Libraries since that time. He currently is manager of the West
Richland branch.
He
served one session in the state House of Representatives and 12 years on the
Kennewick City Council. He serves on the boards of the Kennewick Housing
Authority and the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership. He is a past
Kennewick Man of the Year.
New law makes corrections to state
paid leave program
A
new law makes several technical corrections to the new Paid Family and Medical
Leave program and clarifies a key provision related to supplementing wages while
an employee is out on leave.
The
bill was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on April 3.
The
state Employment Security Department operates the program.
When
benefits become available in January 2020, Paid Family and Medical Leave will
provide partial wage replacement to all eligible state workers for leave to
bond with a new child coming into the home through birth, adoption or foster
placement, to care for themselves or a family member during a serious illness
or injury, and for certain military-related events.
This
statewide insurance program is funded by a small premium shared by both
employees and employers. Employers began collecting premiums Jan. 1.
Under the original law, employers would not be allowed to supplement the pay of an employee out on Paid Family and Medical Leave with other forms of paid leave, including vacation or sick leave. The new law changes this, essentially allowing employees the option to top-off their Paid Family and Medical Leave benefit with company-provided paid leave. This is in alignment with other states’ policies and was supported by stakeholders representing the interests of both employers and employees.
The
bill also makes some technical corrections to the law, including clarifications
related to employer-run voluntary plans, appeal rights for employees covered by
a voluntary plan, disclosure and privacy provisions, and some definitions
within the law, and employees in this state.”
More
information about the program can be found at paidleave.wa.gov.
The
Office of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds recently launched its new
website with information about services and resources for workers and employers
who need help resolving issues with the Employment Security Department and the
Paid Family and Medical Leave program at: paidleaveombuds.wa.gov.
Digital Marketing Summit date
announced
The
Crush Inland NW Digital Marketing Summit will be Oct. 11 at the Three Rivers
Convention Center in Kennewick and is seeking speakers.
Digital
Crush is a one-day conference for digital marketers and business professionals
looking to grow their digital marketing skills.
Speakers
applications can be found at thedigitalcrush.com.
Tickets
to the conference will go on sale later this year. Follow Digital Crush on
Facebook for updates.
State tax requirements alter for
out-of-state businesses
Gov.
Jay Inslee has signed a bill that simplifies Washington tax responsibilities
for out-of-state sellers without a physical presence in the state.
The
new law immediately removes the requirement for out-of-state businesses without
a physical presence to collect and remit Washington sales tax if they make 200
or more transactions into Washington. Businesses will use $100,000 in sales to
Washington as the primary threshold for collecting.
Beginning
July 1, the bill eliminates the notice and reporting requirements established
in the state’s 2018 Marketplace Fairness law.
On
Jan. 1, 2020, the economic nexus threshold for business and occupation tax will
match the retail sales tax threshold of $100,000. The threshold for retail
sales tax and B&O tax will be calculated using all gross income, not just
retail sales.
The
bill also eliminates click-through nexus and most import commerce exemptions.
The
Marketplace Fairness law went into effect Jan. 1, 2018.
Washington
businesses that make sales into other states should be aware that they may now
be required to register and collect sales tax in those states for items shipped
outside Washington.
Check taxadmin.org or streamlinedsalestax.org for
information about tax collection and registration requirements in other states.
Kennewick school chief announces retirement
Kennewick
School District Superintendent Dave Bond has announced his plans to retire at
the end of the 2019-20 school year.
Bond has led the school district since 2008. He began
working in Kennewick in 2001, holding other administrative positions before becoming
superintendent, including assistant superintendent for secondary education from
2006-08, and principal of Kamiakin High School from 2001-06.
The
district has outlined plans to start the search for a deputy successor
superintendent immediately. The person selected will work alongside Bond for
the 2019-20 school year until he retires.
The
school board has hired Northwest Leadership Associates, a school leader
recruitment firm, to recruit, screen and guide the district through the
interview and hiring process.
The
public is invited to provide input about the qualities and characteristics they
would like to see in the next superintendent through a survey at:
http://bit.ly/kennewicksupsurvey.
The
application deadline is May 10, with a hiring decision expected to be announced
by early June.
CBC launches new teacher education
degree program
After
nearly four years of work and dozens of requests, Columbia Basin College is
rolling out a degree to help school districts hire qualified teachers.
The
new bachelor of applied science in teacher education: residency teacher
preparation program, with early childhood education endorsement, kicks off with
20 spots and is designed for students who finished their associate of applied
science degree in early childhood education at CBC.
When
finished, the students will be qualified to teach pre-kindergarten through
third grade. That covers a broad swath of jobs which can range in pay between
$13.78 an hour and $23.35 an hour in Washington, according to the Bureau of
Labor and Statistics.
The
first half of the program is designed to allow students to continue working
during the day while they take classes at night. Then, for the second half of
the program, students will move into classrooms, where they will start student
teaching.
CBC
plans to expand the program by summer 2020 by offering an option for part-time
students.
More information, visit columbiabasin.edu/teachered or call Daphne Larios at 509-542-4562.
Visit Tri-Cities releases 2019 visitor guide
Visit
Tri-Cities has released the latest edition of the Tri-Cities Visitor Guide.
The
2019 issue features the local wine industry, STEM attractions, family
activities, outdoor recreation, taco crawls and other things to do in the
Tri-Cities.
To
get a free copy, call 509-735-8486 or stop by the visitor center at 7130 W.
Grandridge Blvd., Suite B, in Kennewick. The guide also is available online at
VisitTri-Cities.com.