Articles by Wendy Culverwell
Regional planning group chooses new director
The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments has tapped Michelle Holt to succeed Stephanie Seamans as executive director. Holt will begin on Feb. 15. She comes to the job from the College of Eastern Idaho, where she has served as executive director for Workforce Training and Continuing Education since December 2016. She previously held leadership positions with…
Inslee’s new recovery plan forces six counties to coordinate on Covid-19
It’s back to basics for Washington state businesses as Covid-19 infections rates rise. Gov. Jay Inslee debuted a new Covid-19 strategy that organizes Washington into eight regions and sets tough targets before restrictions meant to curtail the spread of the virus that causes the disease are loosened. Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery launched Jan.…
Banks brace for third round of PPP loans
Mid-Columbia lenders are ready to begin processing a new wave of Paycheck Protection Program loans. As a third edition of the popular forgivable loan ramped up in mid-January, local lenders said they would apply the lessons they learned from the first two but stood ready to respond to their customers, defying word that some lenders…
Cheering through the pain: Business groups lose members but not focus
As members of the Prosser Chamber of Commerce struggled to pay renewal fees under pandemic-related financial pressure, the executive director found a novel solution. John-Paul Estey asked Yakima Federal Savings and Loan to allow it use sponsorship dollars for canceled events to cover dues owed by cash-strapped members. The bank agreed. Yakima Federal was on…
Judge clears Kennewick port commissioner of misconduct in Vista Field land sale
An independent judge cleared Kennewick Port Commissioner Don Barnes of misconduct in a case that roiled the port for more than two years. Judge Paris K. Kallas overturned the findings of an earlier investigation by an outside attorney. Barnes, the board’s current chair, appealed the results of the investigation into his conduct concerning the private…
LIGO gets visitor center worthy of its Nobel Prize-winning science
With nearly 27 years designing homes and other buildings in the Tri-Cities under his belt, Pasco architect Terence “Tere” Thornhill is too diplomatic to call out a favorite. They’re all his babies, said Thornhill, who believes buildings should tell the story of what is happening inside. “I’m a believer in the evocative nature of architecture,”…
Ex-Tri-Cities Fever duo heating up stretch of Richland waterfront
Lionell Singleton and Houston Lillard were fierce competitors when they played for the Tri-Cities Fever, an indoor football league. They clashed on the field – Singleton as a defensive back and Houston as quarterback. Off the field, they were the best of friends and roommates who leveraged their good fortune to help students succeed. The…
Tri-Cities Animal Control has new management, renewed hopes for a new building
The Tri-Cities Animal Shelter and Control Services in Pasco has a new operator and a renewed interest in breaking ground on a long-anticipated new building. Rebecca Howard and Dr. Julie Chambers formed the nonprofit Neo’s Nation Foundation to submit the winning bid for the contract to operate the animal shelter and control facility, 1312 S.…
In-fill apartment project brings needed units to central Kennewick
Jason Zook is best known in the Tri-Cities for Smile A Mile Painting, a residential and commercial painting business with operations in the Tri-Cities and Central Oregon. But Zook has a background in construction and has always built projects for himself, something he treats as a hobby. “I know the steps from the concept on…
GF Blends soars on demand for gluten-free mixes
A family-owned Richland company is expanding to a new building, thanks to rising demand for its gluten-free bread, cake and other mixes. GF Blends will occupy a 20,000-square-foot production facility on Battelle Boulevard when construction wraps in April, said owner Glen Call, who is also a contractor. Allpro Inc. is developing the property for GF…
