The Lady Riverhawks of Chiawana High School in Pasco defeated the Federal Way Eagles 43-40 for the state opening basketball game. We’re all wishing them luck against Auburn Riverside tonight. Click here to read the play by play.
The Tri Cities will play host to a pair of co-authors whose book Weird Washington will be presented at local libraries in West Richland, Benton City, Prosser, Othello and Kennewick (tonight at 7pm). The book is a traveler’s guide to unique, quirky, bizarre and strange places here in the state, along with the tall tales, legends, and unbelievable facts about happenings over the course of our state’s history. Outside of Benton City/Kiona, the authors visited a babies cemetary set up in the hills which they felt was very eerie. Strange things happen…..
The words “jobless recovery” and “recession” have been tossed around a great deal over the past year or so, but here in the Tri Cities community leaders are delighted to announce that our area leads the nation in job growth during these difficult times. Garner Economics, a consulting firm from Atlanta published a report for March indicating that the Tri Cities is at the top of the list for the nation as far as job growth is concerned. From January to June 2009, the Tri Cities was one of 9 metrolpolitan areas compared for positive job growth. The report also indicates that the Tri Cities actually was a top performing economy for the entire year 2009. This writer believes that this proves that the folks who have worked so diligently over the past couple of decades to diversify the Tri Cities, have been very successful and kudos to them!
Former Republican Congressman from Spokane, George Nethercutt Jr., is giving a presentation on March 9th in Richland, entitled “How Green In our Valley: Streategies for Creating a Sustainable New World.” The free program will be at the Richland Community Center from 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm. contact Teresa Claar at 375-2068 for registration and more information.
Liberty Tax Services are offering free tax help to Pasco & Richland educators, school employees and bus drivers for “Educator Appreciation Days” at their offices on Road 68 and queensgate from March 1-7. Most educators spend their own money on supplies for thier classrooms and they could be eligible for a tax break for 2009 taxes. Those eligible are educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, instructors, counselor, principal or aide who spends at least 900 hours in a private or public school.
83 Delta High School (Kennewick School District) students competed in National History Day regionals at EWU on February 27th, and many students will advance to the state competition on May 1st at Bellevue College. The contest theme was Innovation in History: Impact and Change, and students have been working on thier projects since November with many completing extensive research in support of the project, including personal interviews with experts on their selected topic. National History Day is a project-based program which teaches essential research skills necessary for higher education success in any field.
The Horse Heaven Hills Middle School chaper of the National Honor Society will be hosting a benefit dinner for the Shriner’s Hospial at Nothing but Noodles resturant on Grandridge Blvd in Kennewick, on Tuesday March 9th from 4 pm to 9 pm. Diners are to tell their servers that they are with the HHH Honor Society to have proceeds from their order to go to the Shriner’s Hospital.
With the building of the new elementary school in Cottonwood Springs/Badger Canyon area, the Kennewick School District will be making necessary changes to realign school populations and boundaries. Click here to take a look at the proposed boundary changes. http://bit.ly/dpiEOy
According to the Tri Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau, the Tri Cities is a wonderful spot for tourism with a 4 percent increase in rented hotel rooms in the community for 2009. In comparison to the other areas like Spokane, Yakima and King County which saw drops in their hotel occupancy, the Tri Cities boasts $366 million in travel and tourism which helps support more than 4,400 jobs per year; this of course helps to diversify our community even more.
Wineries, golf, and recreational activities in the sunshine attracts folks to the wonderful Tri Cities, and we’re always hopeful that some of those tourists will become residents one day! Conventioners have brought big business and tourist dollars to the Tri Cities to the tune of 113,000 visitors which converts to more than $32.5 million in direct spending. Thus far for 2010 and beyond, around 180 conventions and sporting events have been scheduled worth $34.9 million in local spending.
The bureau has made tremendous strides to present the Tri Cities to the outside world, and to share all our positive aspects, which are many and diverse. They have been delightfully successful! When you come visit us and decide to stay, the agents at Distinctive Properties, Inc., will be more than happy to assist you with your real estate needs. Check us out at www.distinctiveprop.com