Local News
Help Washington growers, manufacturers get their products delivered
By Kris Johnson As summer turns to fall and farmers wrap up their harvests, the changing season is a good reminder about the importance of trade and infrastructure for Washington’s economy. Apple growers in Wenatchee and Yakima, wheat growers on the Palouse, Mid-Columbia potato growers and Washington’s celebrated wine industry all rely on export markets…
An invisible hand to steer college savings: the education trust
By Beau Ruff There are many options available to pay for the education of a loved one. There are direct gifts, state-sponsored 529 plans and educational savings accounts, to name a few. But, if a person wants to use funds that are not available until after death and wants to influence how the money is…
Companies fight Lapp’s efforts to discharge bankruptcy debts
New claims have been filed against a Kennewick businessman in an attempt to stop him from discharging some of his debts under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Two separate court filings—from E2 Consulting Engineers and Integrated Global Staffing—allege “false representation,” “embezzlement,” and “fraud” against Kristopher Lapp, former president of the now defunct i-3 Global, which…
New brewery to open in Pasco this fall
Sage Brewing Co. will serve up multiple IPAs, hop-fed pales, easy-drinking beers When Tyson Crudup and Ben Grogan met each other while working at Yakima Chief Hops a few years ago, little did they know at the time they would eventually become business partners. This fall, the men expect to open Sage Brewing Co. at…
Kennewick print shop’s new owners plan to transition to franchise
Esprit Graphic Communications will become Minuteman Press by year’s end Skip and Shannon Novakovich began Esprit Graphic Communications in downtown Kennewick in 1989. They’ve long been active in the Tri-City business community, as well as involved in local charities over the past 30 years. They’ve received numerous awards over the years—including Kennewick Downtowners of the…
New Kennewick Goodwill store opens
Kennewick’s new Goodwill store opened at 345 S. Columbia Center Blvd. on Aug. 30. This is the first Kennewick retail Goodwill store location to be built from the ground up. G2 Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor for the $3.1 million retail store and warehouse. Archibald & Co. Architects of Richland was the architect.…
Construction on south side of mountain points to more growth
Signs of new construction on the south side of Badger Mountain—including a new service station and convenience store that will include a fast-food chicken restaurant—signal more growth coming to the planned development that’s been years in the making. Badger Mountain South’s owner and developer Nor Am Investments has an end-goal of building 5,000 household units,…
Tri-City employers balk at state’s overtime proposal
By Andrew Kirk Several Tri-City employers and nonprofit leaders criticized the state’s proposal to overhaul its worker overtime exemption rule at a recent public hearing, citing concerns about their bottom lines and ability to serve customers and clients. More than 50 people attended an Aug. 6 hearing in Kennewick—one of seven meetings held across the state—to…
Benton County consolidates public services under one roof
3 departments merged near Tri-Cities, expanded services coming to Prosser The process of jumping through the required hoops to start new construction projects is set to run more efficiently in Benton County once a new “one-stop shop” opens in the Tri-Cities, replicating some services currently only available in Prosser. The move will merge the county’s…
Tri-Cities Airport eyes increased flight capacity
Following a successful effort to land a daily, nonstop flight to Los Angeles, the Tri-Cities Airport is setting a course for adding capacity to existing routes. “I think that’s more realistic than trying to get some new market when you don’t have any grant dollars,” said Buck Taft, director of the airport. “Add capacity to…
