(Kennewick, Wash.) – Prom night just got a whole lot easier for local high school students thanks to Steve and Shirley Simmons, owners of Kennewick's family-owned Country Gentleman restaurant. The couple will host two special dinner events May 5 and May 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for students attending the proms of Kamiakin, South Ridge, Kennewick, Pasco, Richland high schools. The entire restaurant will be reserved for students. A prix fixe meal includes salad, choice of entrĂ©e, dessert, sparkling cider, tip and tax for $15 per person. Country Gentleman can accommodate groups of up to twelve students. Reservations must be made by calling (509) 783-0128. "Going out for a nice dinner is expensive for most high school students and prom brings added…

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OLYMPIA... Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, spoke out against passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6001, the so-called "climate change"Âť bill, passed last night by the House of Representatives. The measure would essentially prevent Washington utilities from signing new long-term contracts for coal power – a move that could dramatically raise the cost of energy for ratepayers and businesses. "Washington produces less greenhouse gas than any state in the nation,"Âť said Delvin, a member of the Senate's Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee. "And only 16 percent of those gases come from electrical power generation – far more carbon dioxide is released by the state's motor vehicles. Yet in the name of "Ëśclimate change,' this bill will cost us…

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A spring household hazardous waste collection event for Benton County residents will be held on Saturday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to noon behind the Toyota Center in Kennewick. Unneeded household hazardous waste products can be brought to this location for safe disposal. Acceptable items include paints, waste oil, solvents, batteries, antifreeze, pesticides, aerosols, pool chemicals, and cleaners. Items that are not acceptable include explosives, radioactive materials, asbestos and solid waste. No fee will be charged during this mobile collection event, but proof of Benton County residency is required. No commercial waste will be accepted. For more information, call the Benton County Moderate Risk Waste Facility at 942-7387.

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Chambers will now face competition for tourism promotion dollars After an attorney general's opinion last year put in doubt whether chambers of commerce could use "hotel-motel" taxes for tourism promotion, Rep. Barbara Bailey decided to clarify the issue through legislation. Bailey introduced House Bill 1254 that would have allowed chambers to continue to receive a portion of the 2 percent lodging tax from cities and counties for tourism efforts. The House of Representatives decided to forgo Bailey's legislation Thursday in favor of Senate Bill 5647. The measure would expand the use of the lodging tax far beyond what was originally intended. Bailey urged lawmakers to reject the proposal. "This broadens the ability for these lodging tax dollars to be…

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Dr. W. Hugh Maloney, current president of the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), has been named president of Kadlec Clinic, the new ulti-specialty physician practice being developed by Kadlec Health System in the Tri-Cities. Dr. Maloney is currently a practicing internal medicine physician in the Seattle area, and will begin his new role at Kadlec this summer. "We are thrilled to attract a physician executive the caliber of Dr. Maloney,"Âť said Dr. Matthew Szvetecz, chair of the Kadlec Clinic board of managers. "Kadlec Clinic is an evolving group of physician specialists which is led and governed by doctors. Dr. Maloney brings a tremendous blend of expertise and leadership to the Tri-Cities."Âť Dr. Maloney is currently with the University of…

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Mid-Columbia Region, WA – The deadline for receipt of nomination packets for the 12th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards is Friday, April 13th at 5:00 p.m. The Three Rivers Alliance of Chambers recognizes small businesses in Benton and Franklin Counties for their exceptional customer service, outstanding commitment to employees, and superior community relations. The awards are presented to small businesses (fewer than 60 FTE employees, locally owned & operated, and for-profit) that best exemplify the qualities of honesty, fairness, ethical business practices, and concern for employees and customers. This year, a new category has been added: Micro-Business of the Year. These companies must meet the same criteria, but may only have 10 or fewer…

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Fluor employees participated in a Fluor hosted reception Thursday, March 29 at Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities for incoming Chancellor Vicky Carwein, faculty, and staff. Fluor Foundation President Bob Fluor presented two checks to the university to fund programs at WSU Tri-Cities sponsored by Fluor. The first check was for $5,000 to support this summer's WSU Tri-Cities Science Camp.  The second check was for a Fluor scholarship in the amount of $6,000 -- $3,000 this fall and $3,000 in the fourth year for an incoming freshman. In addition at WSU Tri-Cities, Fluor will provide four internships: two for incoming freshman and two for participants in the Columbia Basin College Bridges Program for students attending CBC and planning to complete…

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RICHLAND, Wash. "” EnergySolutions today announced the gifting of 10 scholarships to incoming freshmen at Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities as part of the company's commitment to education.  Each scholarship will provide a student with $3,000 during the 2007-08 freshman year and another $3,000 in the senior year. "We are thrilled to have EnergySolutions involved through its scholarship program as we launch our campus expansion,"Âť said Vicky Carwein, WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor. "EnergySolutions has proven to be a strong supporter of education at the high school level, particularly in the fields of math, science and engineering and we look forward this partnership."Âť "EnergySolutions believes in higher education and is committed to doing its part…

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OLYMPIA...Senate Bill 5202, a bill allowing police officers to carry spring-blade knives in the line of duty, has passed the House of Representatives. Sen. Jerome Delvin, R- Richland, sponsored the bill in response to a request by Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg. "Under Washington law, it's a gross misdemeanor to carry a spring-blade or switchblade knife,"Âť said Delvin, a former Richland police officer and ranking Republican on the Senate Higher Education Committee. "This switchblade law is a good one, but it had an unintended consequence: police officers often need to use knives in the line of duty, for example, to cut a seat belt off of an injured person in an automobile accident. This bill makes an exception for police officers in the line of…

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The Kennewick General Hospital board of commissioners announced today a financing package for construction of a new $128 million hospital at Southridge that includes $86 million in voter-approved tax obligation bonds, with the remainder coming from revenue bonds repaid with future hospital revenues. "This financing plan is the result of months of hard work aimed at making certain we have a responsible and sound financial package that relies as much as possible on the hospital's own resources,"Âť said KGH Board President Wanda Briggs. "We have done everything we can to keep the cost to district residents to a bare minimum while providing a modern hospital that will allow us to continue to deliver top quality healthcare for our district residents into the…

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