Muscle car sells for record amount at Pasco auction

A 1967 Shelby collector car sold for $662,000 in a recent Pasco auction.

The sale of the GT500 Super Snake reissue, No. 3 of 10 made, is the highest price paid at auction for this model introduced by Shelby American in 2018, according to Pasco’s Trucks and Auto Auctions owners Jake and Josh Musser.

Five of the models were shipped out of the country and one is owned by television star Jay Leno.

The collector car is painted Wimbledon white with GT500 side and guardsman blue Super Snake stripes. It was sold during the fourth annual Northwest Collector Car Auction on May 28 with full documentation, including a Marti Report, certificate of authenticity, build sheet, pre-delivery service sheet and photos.

Trucks and Auto Auctions began as a small public auto auction in 2009 in Nampa, Idaho. In 2016, the Musser family bought the location and began changing and adapting how auctions were conducted. In 2018, Trucks and Auto of Pasco was launched. Today the Pasco auction house is owned and operated by the Musser family.

74-year-old entrepreneur wins bronze at senior games

A Kennewick senior entrepreneur added a bronze to her softball trophy collection.

Connie Wormington’s softball team earned third place at the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in May.

The Fun Bunch team competed in the 70-and-over division. Fourteen teams from across the U.S. participated.

Wormington, 74, said 90-degree temperatures and 100% humidity made the games challenging for the players. She also suffered an injury – a softball hit her ankle bone – so had to miss the last three games of the tournament. She thinks the team may have been able to secure a first- or second-place finish if she had been able to play.

The injury may have kept her out of the final games but cancer didn’t stop her from playing. Wormington has been living with stage 4 breast cancer for more than five years.

Her team also won gold at a June tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee

Wormington and her husband Sandy are the longtime owners of Just Roses Flowers and More flower shops in Kennewick and Pasco, as well as Columbia Wholesale, which supplies flowers to other shops. The couple also own Just Storage, a self-storage facility in Kennewick.

Fires banned in Mid-Columbia river zone

All activities likely to start a fire are banned in the Mid-Columbia River Fire Zone through Sept. 30.

The ban by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers the Hanford Reach National Monument and Columbia, Cold Springs, Conboy Lake, McKay Creek, McNary, Toppenish and Umatilla national wildlife refuges.

Use of any fire, including charcoal briquettes and cooking stoves, is prohibited, as is smoking outside of an enclosed vehicle and operating any motor without an approved and working spark arrester. Fireworks and campfires are always illegal.

The federal agency said the wet spring led to a buildup of grass and vegetation, leading to a hazardous summer for wildfires as the heat rises and plants dry out.

“So far this year, we’ve been lucky, but in these conditions, that can change in an instant with one careless action,” said John Janak, FWS fire management officer. The ban took effect June 28.

What’s the most common job in our state?

 A study by Canadian direct bank Tangerine.ca analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to see which occupations have the highest employment per 1,000 jobs in each state.

It found that the retail salesperson job is the most common in 19 states, including Washington.

In Washington, retail salespersons make up about 28 of every 1,000 jobs. According to the data, roughly 89,010 retail salespersons are employed in the state.

In five states, the job of fast food and counter worker is the most common, including in Oregon, where the position makes up 29 of every 1,000 jobs.

Rotary Duck Race tickets on sale now

Tri-Cities Rotarians are selling tickets for the 34th annual Mid-Columbia Duck Race through Sept. 23, the day before Sept. 24 race at Columbia Park in Kennewick.

The annual Duck Race is a cooperative fundraiser that supports the charitable efforts of six local Rotary clubs. Nearly $3 million has been raised to support its work with education, human service organizations and other projects since it began.

Tickets are $10 apiece, with each ticket earning the buyer a free express car wash at Autobahn Car Care Centers in Richland and Kennewick. Purchasers must be 18 or over. The grand prize for the duck that crosses the finish line first is a 2022 Toyota Tacoma SR double-cab shortbed, valued at nearly $35,000.

Tickets are available at Toyota of Tri-Cities and Banner Bank branches in all three cities. Rotarians will sell tickets at the Richland Farmers Market and area groceries, including Yoke’s Fresh Markets, Fred Meyer, Safeway and at Ranch & Home in Kennewick.

Go to tcduckrace.com for information and a schedule of ticket sale events.

Washington AG tackles organized retail crime

Washington retailers and law enforcement are uniting with state officials, local law enforcement, prosecutors and others to combat organized retail crime in the state.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson established an Organized Retail Crime Task Force to coordinate information and strategies to combat the problem.

The task force aims to dismantle larger organized retail crime rings by prioritizing efforts to prosecute large cases. Members include representatives from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walgreens, Nordstrom, Albertsons/Safeway, CVS, Gap. Inc., Rite Aid and Target, among others.

State seeks employers who hire workers with disabilities

The Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment will accept nominations for the 30th annual Governor’s Employer Awards through Aug. 25.

The program honors and celebrates the state’s employers who recruit, hire and advance workers with disabilities. Awards are given to employers of all sizes in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Three awards are presented to individuals, the Direct Support Professional Award for coaches or developers, the Governor’s Trophy in memory of Carolyn Blair Brown for a person with a disability who advanced employment in the state, and the Toby Olson Lifetime Achievement Award for a commitment to addressing the inequalities faced by those with disabilities.

Go to: bit.ly/GovernorsEmployerAwards.

Horn Rapids 5K benefits Union Gospel Mission

A 5K walk and run will benefit the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission’s shelter for women and children.

Admission is $20 for the event, which is sponsored by Rewster’s Craft Bar and Grill.

The walk begins at 8 am. July 24 at the Horn Rapids Golf Course, 2800 Clubhouse Lane, Richland. Participants will walk and run on a path through the Horn Rapids neighborhood.

Register online at bit.ly/HornRapidsRunWalk.

Mid-Columbia Ballet holds a garden party fundraiser

The Mid-Columbia Ballet will hold a garden party to celebrate its donors starting at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Reach Museum in Richland.

Tickets are $75 and are on sale at midcolumbiaballet.org.

Call 509-9465417.

Whitworth debuts brewing science certificate

Whitworth University is starting a certification program for adults interested in working in the craft brewery industry this fall.

The Brewing Science & Operations Certificate program will be offered through the Spokane school’s School of Continuing Studies.

Participants will study the science, business and culture of craft brewing while providing hands-on experience at a facility near campus. Classes will include introduction to brewing, intermediate brewing, business and marketing of brewing, and advanced brewing. An internship will be required at a local brewery.

The nine-month program includes Thursday evening and Saturday classes.

Applications are due by Aug. 1.

For information about the program, including fees and applications, go to bit.ly/WhitworthBrewingCourse.

All Pasco students eligible for free meals

All students in the Pasco School District are eligible for free breakfast and lunch through 2026 following changes to a federally-funded program called the Community Eligibility Provisions.

All students enrolled in district programs including preschool are eligible.

There is no application. The district asks families to complete a fall Family Income Survey to help it secure funding for additional programs.

Pasco seeks animal control proposals

The city of Pasco is soliciting proposals to provide animal control and sheltering services for the cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, acting as the Tri-City Animal Control Authority.

The prior shelter operator was removed over abuse and fraud allegations. The Benton-Franklin Humane Society served as the interim manager but has since stepped out of the role.

The city’s request for proposals seeks animal control services including enforcement of regulations within the three cities and the care and placement of stray animals collected from within the region.

Aug. 5 is the deadline. Go to pasco-wa.gov/Bids.aspx.

Fair seeks national anthem singers

The Benton Franklin Fair is accepting video submissions from singers interested in performing the national anthem during the annual fair, Aug. 20-27.

Individual and group entries are accepted. If the audition is for a minor, a parent or guardian may submit a video on their behalf.

National anthem singers are needed at the fair’s concerts, rodeos, Demolition Derby and other events.

Go to bit.ly/BFNationalAnthemSingers, or call 509-222-3749 for information.

Leskovar family author signing books in Kennewick

Christy Leskovar, a member of the family that owns the Kennewick car dealership, will sign copies of her latest book, which traces the family’s history from noon-2 p.m. Aug. 6 at Barnes & Noble at Columbia Center in Kennewick.

“East of the East Side” traces the Leskovar family history from a peasant farm in the duchy of Austria-Hungary to Paris to Detroit, to Montana and eventually to Kennewick.

“When my grandfather Tony Leskovar began his music career at the dawn of the 20th century in Austria-Hungary, concert musicians were treated like movie stars of today,” Leskovar said. “And then to be performing with the opera in Paris in 1914, Tony was definitely at the top of his game. It all went to pieces when the Frist World War started.”

Go to ChristyLeskovar.com.

Kennewick library reopens with temporary cooling system

The Mid-Columbia Libraries has reopened its Kennewick branch with a temporary mobile cooling unit in place to cool the building as summer temperatures soar.

The library branch at 1620 S. Union St. temporarily closed over lack of air conditioning. Until a new system can be installed, the library system is tinting windows and using fans to improve air circulation in a bid to maintain comfortable temperatures

Hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Curio, Energy Northwest become used nuclear fuel recycling industry partners

Curio recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Energy Northwest as an industry partner and potential off-taker of products produced through its NuCycle nuclear waste recycling process.

This agreement is part of Curio’s plans to deploy the nation’s first state-of-the-art commercial nuclear fuel recycling facility that will provide a variety of in-demand commodities and products including domestically produced low-enriched uranium (LEU) nuclear fuel for the current U.S. fleet of nuclear reactors, as well as HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) and transuranic based TRUfuel for advanced reactors under development.

Curio developed NuCycle to recycle used nuclear fuel and develop off-take isotopes for a wide variety of industries to include space, advanced batteries, and nuclear medicine. NuCycle leverages decades of American R&D to create a compact, clean, economical, scalable and proliferation resistant nuclear waste recycling process. With NuCycle, Curio will be able to dramatically reduce the quantity of radioactive nuclear waste and create a new and unprecedented standard for nuclear used fuel recycling across the globe.

Inslee issues directive vaccination standards for state employees

Gov. Jay Inslee has directed his cabinet agencies to implement policies to require their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Office of Financial Management will begin the process of rulemaking and engage in bargaining with labor.

Current employees are not required to have recommended boosters, though current exempt and non-represented employees will need to be boosted consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations by July 1, 2023.

In addition, during 2023-25 successor bargaining occurring this summer, the governor has directed that management pursue a policy requiring current represented employees to be up-to-date on their Covid-19 vaccination, including any boosters recommended by the CDC.

The governor also has directed that agencies require all new employees to be fully up-to-date on their Covid-19 vaccination prior to starting work, including any recommended boosters. This change will take effect sometime in fall 2022.

This directive applies to the governor’s executive and small cabinet agencies. The governor encourages other agencies such as higher education and agencies led by separately elected officials to consider implementing similar measures. 

In issuing this directive, the governor is exercising his executive authority, not the emergency powers he used to issue other Covid-19-related emergency orders.

Workers’ compensation benefits to increase by 7.5%

For most workers injured on or before July 1, 2021, time-loss and pension benefit payments will increase by 7.5% based on the change in the state’s average wage as announced by the Washington State Employment Security Department on June 16.

State law requires that benefits be recalculated each year to reflect the change in the state’s average wage from the previous calendar year. The results of this recalculation is the cost of living adjustment (COLA).

The COLA for 2022 increases the maximum monthly benefit to $8,250.80, or 120% of the state’s average monthly wage.

The increase also applies to pension benefits paid to family members of those who died because of a work-related accident or disease.

The increase became effective July 1 for most, with some exceptions: Certain workers who also receive federal Social Security benefits may not be entitled to this annual COLA; and most workers with an injury between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, will receive their first COLA on July 1, 2023.

Christensen acquires Idaho fuel distributor

Christensen Inc., a Richland-based distributor of fuel, lubricants and propane, has acquired Idaho-based United Oil.

Terms were not disclosed.

The deal united two family-owned operations and adds 3,000 customers to Christensen’s Pacific Northwest distribution network.

“The addition of United Oil and its entities support the Christensen growth strategy by strengthening our distribution network in one of the fastest-growing markets in the country,” said Tony Christensen, CEO of Christensen Inc., in a statement announcing the deal.

Christensen services more than 10,000 retail fuels, commercial, industrial and fleet card customers.

Richland repaving Jadwin Avenue

Road crews began preparing a section of Jadwin Avenue for a repaving project, with disruptions expected to last until fall.

The city of Richland began prep work on the busy arterial between Van Giesen and Coast streets. The repaving project includes upgrading streetlights, pedestrian crossings and making safety improvements. The street will be restriped to include bike lanes.

Traffic control measures will be in place. Updates will be posted at ci.richland.wa.us/trafficimpacts.

Pepsi doubling its Pasco warehouse

Pepsi is nearly doubling an existing warehouse in Pasco.

The project will add 22,500 square feet to the 23,000-square-foot warehouse at 2525 W. Hopkins St., according to documents filed on Pepsi’s behalf by HARMS Engineering under the Washington State Environmental Protection Act, or SEPA. 

The project will add office space, warehouse space and loading docks. Existing loading docks on the south will be demolished and replaced with new ones on the east.