Tri-Cities Real Estate News & Views

Richland School District Down to Two Potential Superintendant Candidates

The Richland School District has been interviewing candidates for the soon to be open superintendant position. Last week the school board interviewed several candidates and they have narrowed down the list to two.  The two candidates that are being considered are: James Busey, who is currently the superintendant of the Lake Chelan School District; and Steve Chestnut, who is currently the superintendent of Selah public schools. The two candidates will be going through day long sessions today and tomorrow. These sessions will include a tour, lunch with the board members, and meetings with staff. From 7:30-9:00 pm there will be an open forum in the Richland High School Library for community members to ask questions. The new superintendant is…

1169 Views, 0 Comments

Registration Begins in March for Hanford or B Reactor Tours

On March 9 internet registration will begin for those interested in tours at Hanford. The Department of Energy has planned 60 tours for this year of the nuclear reservation between April 13 and September 15. For a list of all the tour dates or to register for the Hanford tours visit the Hanford website.  The Department of Energy has also schedule an additional 50 tours of the B Reactor between April 6 and September 25. For a list of all the tour dates or to register for the B Reactor tours visit the B Reactor Tour Headquarters between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm after registration begins on March 16. Those would like to participate in the tours must be 18 years old or older and to visit Hanford a participant must be a U.S. Citizen.

1264 Views, 0 Comments

Wine Seminar at Washington State University Tri-Cities On Thursday

On Thursday there will be a wine seminar at Washington State University Tri-Cities about learning to detect defects in wines. The seminar will be led by Thomas Henick-Kling, director of WSU’s Viticulture and Enology Program, and Richland Larsen, USDA plant pathologist at the WSU extension in Prosser. The wine seminar will begin at 6:30 pm in the Consolidated Information Center at WSU Tri Cities. Participants must be 18 years old or older and the cost is $35 per person. Preregistration is required, you may preregister at the WSU Tri Cites website or by calling 509.372.7606.'

View Larger Map

1173 Views, 0 Comments

Regional Science Bowl This Saturday in Richland

This Saturday February 20, the annual regional science bowl, sponsored by the Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will be held in Richland. About three dozen teams of high school students will compete in the event. Teams will answer questions about subjects like astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and other topics. The team who wins the double elimination competition will be able to compete in the national science bowl in Washington D.C. with the trip paid for. The competition will begin at 8:15 am, and the awards ceremony is expected to begin at 3:00 pm.

1465 Views, 0 Comments

ShareFest 2010 Money To Go To Benton-Franklin Juvenile Drug Court

Several years ago churches in the Tri Cities area joined together to put on an event called ShareFest. The event brings area churches together to hold food and blood drives, do service projects, and hold special offerings for community groups. This year there will be a blood drive March 15 – 26 at various churches in the area. The ShareFest workday will be on March 20 this year and collection Sunday, where churches hold the special offering, will be on March 21. In past five years that collection has gone to fourteen different agencies like; Grace Clinic, Boys & Girls club, Young Life, Union Gospel Mission, Domestic Violence Services, and others. This year the money raised will go to the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Drug Court. For more …

1157 Views, 0 Comments

EMS Levy Put to Vote April 27

West Richland residents will be voting for the second time on an EMS tax that would fund ambulance transport services. Currently Benton Fire District 4 does run any ambulances, when they respond to an emergency where an ambulance is needed they have to call an ambulance from Richland Fire Department of Fire District 2 in Benton City. The first time the levy went to vote it was paired with a $3 million bond and did not receive the 60% needed to pass. This time through the levy is by itself and would cost residents about $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The levy will be put to vote April 27.

1394 Views, 0 Comments

Junior Achievement Putting on Bowling Classic Fundraiser

For the past 14 years Junior Achievement in the Tri Cities has been putting on a Bowling Classic Fundraiser. There will also be an online auction on March 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. For the bowling classic team captains need to recruit four other players to make a team, each player must be 18 years or older, they also need to raise a minimum of $100 to be eligible to win prizes. There is $50,000 in prizes ranging from vacations to Costco gift cards to various gift certificates. To enroll a team in the event visit the Junior Achievement Website.

1578 Views, 0 Comments

Washington Policy Center Hired New Director for Eastern Washington

The Washington Policy Center has recently hired a new full-time director at the new Eastern Washington office. The new director Chris Cargill will be focusing on outreach to citizens, media, and community organizations in Eastern Washington. Cargill will be the voice of Eastern Washington, making sure the concerns of citizens are brought to attention on the west side. There will be a luncheon on Wednesday, February 17th from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Kennewick for those who would like to meet Chris Cargill. If you would like to attend please RSVP to Lindsay at 1-888-972-9272.

View Larger Map

1263 Views, 0 Comments

Home Sales up in Washington

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at Washington State University, in the fourth quarter of last year, 2009, home sale shot up 21.3 percent. When compared to the fourth quarter home sales in 2008 this is a big improvement, up 46 percent. The median home sale price is still down though; in 2009 the median home sale price in the last quarter was $244,000 which is 8.5 percent lower than what it was in 2008. Over the whole year the median sale price was $250,700 which is down 11.8 percent compared to 2008.

1461 Views, 1 Comments

Tri Cities Washington Economy Doing Well

The Tri City Economy continues to do well despite the nationwide down economy. Last year there were 3,400 more non-farm jobs than there were in 2008. Some credit the success of the Tri Cities to the $2 billion in stimulus money that was granted to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation but according to Dean Schau, an economist for the Tri Cities region, the money didn’t help create more jobs but it helped to keep already existing jobs. Schau believes that the Tri Cities has been diversifying since the 1980s into industries that are pretty good. Industries like health care and the food industry.

1373 Views, 0 Comments