Articles by Jessica Hoefer
Kennewick retirement community to undergo $1M in renovations
As long as Mother Nature cooperates, renovations will begin in April at Hawthorne Court, a senior living facility in Kennewick. The retirement community at 524 N. Ely St. is home to more than 100 residents, and has a mix of apartments for independent and assisted living. It’s managed by Leisure Care, which has retirement communities…
Small business keeps Tri-City carpets clean for 40 years
Guarantee System Carpet Cleaning & Dye Co. is celebrating 40 years of serving the Tri-Cities. Owners Garry and Tracie Lamberson said though they moved to Kennewick before the economic downturn of the 1980s, phones were ringing off the hook right after opening. “Business was good from the start,” Tracie said. Before moving to Eastern Washington,…
Construction begins on Kennewick’s new $3.4M ice plant
Mother Nature recently shared her wintry mix with the Tri-Cities, but the Three Rivers campus wants to be able to create its own ice year-round. Construction of a new $3.4 million ice plant is underway at the Kennewick campus, which is home to the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena and Three Rivers Convention Center. The Toyota…
Gesa to open new Pasco branch, improve Richland headquarters
Road 100 branch to feature 7,000 square feet; $645,000 in improvements planned at headquarters Gesa Credit Union will open its 18th branch this summer in Pasco. Construction on the $2 million project already has begun on the two-acre plot of land at 4824 Broadmoor Blvd. Kennewick-based Banlin Construction is the general contractor for the project.…
Manufacturing jobs on the rise in Benton, Franklin counties
Regional manufacturing jobs to grow 1.84 percent this year Manufacturing jobs in Benton and Franklin counties are expected to grow at a faster rate than the state average as food manufacturing rebounds in 2019. Locally, there are more than 8,100 manufacturing jobs, which accounts for about 7 percent of total nonfarm employment in 2018, according…
Assessor anticipates decrease in property tax bills
Despite a higher state school tax levy in 2018, families in Eastern Washington may see some relief on their property tax bill this year. That’s because the state collected more than it anticipated, and to alleviate the tax burden for 2019, the state rate of $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed property value will drop to…
Local CPAs optimistic most business owners will pay fewer taxes in 2018
Although business owners were anxious to see how the tax code overhaul affected their bottom line in 2018, many are scratching their heads as regulations fall into place. “I’ve put in enough hours at this point it feels as though I’m getting ready to take another CPA exam,” said Ty Schatz, a certified public accountant…
Les Schwab stores become Tire Centers in Benton City, Wapato
The Benton City Les Schwab store has joined the Tire Centers Inc. family, which has been servicing the Yakima Valley for more than 60 years. Phil Winterholler operates the Benton City store at 744 Ninth St. He became an independent owner of a Wapato store in 1998. The 403 W. First St. store in Wapato…
Longtime Pasco eye doctor sees missions, fun for retirement
After almost 50 years in the same location, Pasco Vision Clinic is moving to a building with better visibility. The business will remain in Pasco but will transition to 2715 W. Court St. around the first of the year, once the inside of a former furniture store is remodeled. Dr. Cory Manley is excited for…
Restaurant in heart of wine country on the market for less than $1M
A historic Prosser home converted into an established restaurant is on the market for an eager entrepreneur. Jeremy’s 1896 Public House, an eatery and pub at 1232 Wine Country Road, once was home to the first Prosser mayor, E.W. Taylor. It’s been Sue and Dick Poteet’s restaurant for the past four years. It’s known for…
