Richland launches community survey

The city of Richland is looking for feedback from its residents on quality of life, city services and priorities for the future. 

The city launched its biennial National Community Survey this summer. Randomly selected residents will receive a postcard in the mail with an invitation to participate in the survey. By using a random sample of households, the city said it will have statistically reliable and representative feedback from the community.  

The survey is conducted every two years and covers topics including economy, community design, utilities, safety, parks and recreation, education and more. 

The survey was developed by the National Research Center at Polco, a software company specializing in community engagement, and is designed specifically for local governments, allowing Richland to compare its results with communities across the country.  

Residents who weren’t selected for the initial survey will still have the chance to provide feedback when a community-wide online survey opens to all residents later this summer.  

After the survey process is complete, results will be compiled and shared with the community. The city will use the findings to help evaluate services, identify community priorities and inform future planning and decision-making.   

Go to: richlandwa.gov/CommunitySurvey.

Benton County Fairgrounds opens renovated grandstands

The newly renovated grandstands at McDaniel Arena in the Benton County Fairgrounds have opened just in time for the fair in August. 

The updated grandstands have double the seating capacity, expanding from 3,000 to 6,000. Other improvements include updated restrooms, improved access to amenities, enhanced air and sound quality, and the preservation of the historic south-side “over the chutes” structure.   

The project was funded by county economic development funds designated for projects that stimulate local economic growth, and was estimated to cost $12 million, the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported in June 2025.

High school students, seniors team up to preserve life stories

South Morrow County Seniors Matter’s “Students Writing Senior Stories Project” has been named a 2026 National Institute of Senior Centers Program of Excellence, recognizing the Heppner, Oregon-based intergenerational storytelling initiative.

The program pairs high school students with older adults to record and preserve personal histories. Literature students from the local high school are matched with residents of the area’s assisted living facility and other community seniors. Students train in interview techniques, active listening and informed consent before conducting weekly interviews over several weeks to gather memories and reflections.

Each student then writes a short “senior story,” reviewed with the participant for accuracy before completion.

Organizers say the program addresses two challenges common in rural communities: social isolation among older adults and a lack of authentic, service-based learning opportunities for students. Seniors gain sustained one-on-one interaction and the chance to have their stories preserved, while students build communication and interviewing skills through real-world responsibility.

The project relies on partnerships between the high school, the assisted living facility and senior center volunteers, and organizers describe it as low-cost and adaptable to communities of different sizes. Required resources include volunteer coordination, training materials and staff oversight for scheduling and consent.

South Morrow County Seniors Matter works to support the well-being of older adults in the region through a weekly luncheon with guest speakers, resource connections, enrichment classes and support groups.

Company upgrades HAPO’s Flash Cube building display

A Utah-based sign and display company behind marquee signs on the Las Vegas Strip and videoboards at college and professional stadiums has given a feature of a landmark Tri-Cities building a glow up. 

Yesco recently replaced the 15-year-old electronic display that wraps around the northwestern corner of HAPO Credit Union’s Business Complex at Clearwater Avenue and Columbia Center Boulevard, according to a release. 

The new mesh LED display from China-based manufacturer Yaham measures 20 feet high and 48 feet wide and weighs 3,000 pounds. It will significantly enhance image quality and performance of the advertising and promotional space. 

“This project blends innovation with established identity,” said Jeff Young, Yesco’s executive vice president, said in a statement. “The Flash Cube is already one of the most recognizable structures in the region, so our goal entailed installing YAHAM’s updated technology in a way that amplifies its presence without compromising its unique architectural character.” 

HAPO acquired the building in 2011 and spent a year updating it and making it into its corporate headquarters. Also known as the Columbia Horizons Office Building, it was originally built around 1977 to house a savings and loan association and provide office space, according to CKJT Architects. It’s highly polished facade of glass and aluminum lent to it being nicknamed “The Flash Cube.” 

“This upgraded display ensures the iconic HAPO ‘Flash Cube’ will continue to provide a powerful and recognizable brand presence in a highly visible location for years to come,” said Jeremy O’Niel, HAPO’s vice president of marketing and digital experience, in a statement.

Richland Thai restaurant wraps up successful fundraiser

A popular Richland restaurant and night life spot has met its goal to raise $100,000 for a major reconstruction project that will allow it to remain open. 

The Emerald of Siam announced via its social media on July 14 that reaching the goal means it can undertake necessary upgrades to replace its kitchen hood system, which includes relocating gas lines, electrical systems and fire suppression infrastructure. 

“Because of this incredible community, we’re able to move forward with the kitchen remodel that will help keep The Emerald of Siam serving this community for years to come,” read the post. “The love and generosity you’ve shown us over the past two months has been overwhelming in the best possible way. We will never forget what you’ve done for us.” 

Ravadi Quinn opened the Emerald, located on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown Shopping Center near the Uptown Theatre, in 1983 when there were no other restaurants in the Tri-Cities dedicated to Thai cuisine. The family continues to operate the restaurant. 

The restaurant has since become a haven for musicians, performers and various communities within the Tri-Cities, while also supporting numerous nonprofit and community organizations over the past 40 years. 

The restaurant’s owners learned this spring that they needed to make substantial updates to its building to meet current city and fire codes. They needed to raise at least half the goal to make the construction work and the requisite temporary shutdown feasible for the long term.

Pasco names new police chief

The city of Pasco has selected a 36-year veteran of its police department to lead the agency.  

Brent Cook, who served as Pasco Police Department’s interim police chief, was selected from five candidates after a nationwide search for a new leader. He was sworn in during Pasco’s July 27 city council meeting.

Cook has served in the department since 1988, when he started out as a volunteer reserve officer. In 1990, he was hired full time, and he has advanced through every rank of the police department since then.  

From 2019-26, Cook served as deputy chief, providing executive oversight of the department, leading strategic planning and organizational initiatives, managing the biennial budget and directing accreditation processes.  

He also was the only officer in department history to be named Officer of the Year twice.

The city of Pasco has announced Brent Cook, current interim police chief for Pasco Police Department, as the agency’s next leader. 

| Courtesy city of Pasco

PFAS found in Kennewick drinking water

The same manmade “forever chemicals” that stalled development at Vista Field for months have again been detected in the city of Kennewick’s drinking water. 

June water samples from one of the city’s water collectors in Columbia Park indicated that the running annual average for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at 10.5/16.0 parts per trillion, according to a release. That exceeds the new state maximum of 4.0/10 parts per trillion that went into effect in January. 

The city also detected levels above the state action levels in March 2024 and March 2025. 

The city is working with an engineering firm to design a $33 million water treatment facility and has received a $15 million state grant toward funding that future project. In the meantime, the state Department of Health recommends anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding or using tap water to mix infant formula to find an alternative source of drinking water. 

PFAS are a type of synthetic chemical used around the world since the mid-20th century. They have been found in everyday consumer items like nonstick cookware, water- and stain-resistant products, grease-resistant food packaging, and industrial items like firefighting foam and deicing chemicals. 

State officials recently cleared the Port of Kennewick’s Vista Field development of PFAS last week after they were found there as part of routine testing last summer. The discovery had forced the port to stall development until further testing and remediation could be completed.