Serving Franklin County, WA
Serving Franklin County, WA
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
PASCO — The City Council discussed funding for the effort to regentrify the downtown areas. During a council meeting July 24, Community and Economic Development Director Jacob Gonzalez introduced two Framework Consulting presenters, whom the city paired with as part of the downtown master plan adopted in January. Lesley Bain and Jeff Arango presented a change to the municipal code as well as a plan and a bid for funding “Paint Pasco.” Bain and Arango presented several steps to the process as well as a comprehensive appro...
PASCO - A group of legislators joined Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs on July 25 to tour Franklin County's downtown election center to see the ballot process first-hand. Hobbs was present with Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan, Reps. Stephanie Barnard, Bill Ramos, Chris Stearns, Sharlett Mena, Bruce Chandler and Sam Low; and Sens. Nikki Torres and Matt Boehnke. The tour came just days before the Aug. 1 primary election is set to close. Franklin County...
LIND — The Town Council approved a work order to provide an analysis of Well No. 7 during its meeting Tuesday, July 11. Work order No. 4 allocates $9,493 for labor toward the total $44.250 cost of the well project. The town has already approved funding for most of the rest of the project, officials said, noting it is also a qualifier for a future USDA grant to cover refurbishment of the well. Previously, the Department of Agriculture had advised the town that it was not under emergency status yet and needed to prove an e...
PASCO — Benton Franklin Health District officials have issued a warning for the West Nile virus after detecting it in the Richland area. A mosquito in Richland tested positive for the virus July 21, officials said. More than a week prior, multiple mosquitos tested positive for the virus in the Grandview area of Yakima County. Those are the first instances of West Nile being detected in the state this year, officials said, noting no cases have been reported in people or animals, so far, this year. The virus has not been d...
LIND — While residents wound down after a sunny summer day, the race for town council position Nos. 4 and 5 began to wind up during a candidate forum July 17. Modeator Robert Meader gave the candidates an array of questions to test where they stand on major issues, as well as how they handle the pressure of tense questioning. Five Position No. 4 candidates attended – Christopher Olson, Jamie Schmunk, Heather Reed, Richard Baldwin and incumbent Myra Horton. Richard Baldwin formally withdrew from the race due to personal iss...
LIND — A local woman believes town officials need to be more transparent when conducting the public’s business. During the July 11 Town Council meeting, resident Briana Osborn, who is also running for Town Council Position No. 5, called for more transparency. During the meeting, she noted having several disputes in the past with the council regarding public access to meetings, During public comment, she suggested the council create a public social media page and post recordings of the meetings, noting the recordings would be...
ELTOPIA - With world politics and economics unstable, agriculture leaders are noting the value of local commodities has increased, but so have costs. The U.S. Wheat Association reported a rise in wheat pricing by an average of 23 cents. Corn rose 20 cents and soybeans rose 29 cents in their third weekly price report for the month of July. The report noted the price hikes may be due in part to the European Union's request that the ban on Ukrainian wheat imports be extended as...
PASCO — County Administrator Mike Gonzalez expects county government to lose nearly a third of its employees in the coming months. During a Franklin County Commission meeting Tuesday, July 25, Gonzalez said 32.5% of county employees are expected to leave. “Despite rising morale at the courthouse, we are still set to lose a percentage of employees,” he told county commissioners. Retention and hiring of employees has been an issue across a large swath of industries and government agencies since Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-1...
PASCO - Preparations are underway in Wade Park for the upcoming 2023 Columbia Cup hydroplane races. On-water action is set for July 28-30. While hydroplane race boats will be launched across the river in Kennewick's Columbia Park, the Pasco side will be filled with food and drink vendors, games and more. Wade Park will have fencing, tents, seating and vendor spots are being set up to prepare for the large influx or people traveling Columbia River shoreline to watch the show....
BASIN CITY — Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will host its 40th Annual National Night Out at Memorial Park from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. National Night Out is a free community-building event with a family barbeque, a bouncy house and obstacle course, raffles and prizes, as well as music and entertainment. Sheriff Jim Raymond and his staff will be there to connect with residents, he said. “Together, we are making communities safer and more caring places to live,” he said in...
ELTOPIA — Franklin County Public Hospital District No. 1's emergency services will receive a $1.5 million grant from American Rescue Plan Act funds. Franklin County commissioners learned about the grant status during their July 5 meeting. The funds come out of the $18,495,757 in ARPA funds the county accepted in 2021 as part of the federal COVID-19 relief program. The hospital district encompasses about 715 square-miles, serving around 12,500 people in northern Franklin C...
CONNELL — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed July 11 that remains found six miles east of the city are those of a 2019 homicide victim. The remains of Estella Torres-Rodriguez, 52, were recovered between Connell and Kahlotus in a remote location, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Torres-Rodriguez was reported missing in 2019. Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Marcus Connor said the remains will be returned to her family in the near future. Torres-Rodriguez was last seen March 28, 2019, and listed as missing the followi...
PASCO — An old organization is making a comeback in Washington state, bolstered by woke shifts in Washington State University Extension Office’s 4-H and school-based Future Farmers of America programs. Washington State Grange, founded in 1889, is now providing an alternative way for rural families to participate in fairs statewide. Grange is a rural organization that unites rural families with agricultural programs, community halls and activities, and more statewide. The Benton-Franklin Fair in Kennewick was initially hes...
CONNELL — North Franklin Heritage Museum plans to remodel the condemned building that used to house a historical bank. The work will cost an estimated $400,000, so museum officials are asking for community donations. The Jesse L. Colley American Legion Post No. 195 was struggling to maintain funding for the upkeep of the building at 307 N. Columbia Ave. leading to its acquisition by the Heritage Museum on June 12. To add to the struggle, the building recently had its roof b...
RITZVILLE — The local middle and high school agriculture program has received a statewide honor. The Lind-Ritzville middle and high school agricultural program was recently selected by the Washington Association of Agricultural Educators as the “Outstanding Program(s)” for the year 2023. High School Principal Kevin Terris spoke highly of the teachers – Lori Sanderson and Andy Williams – noting the program deserves the award due to the teachers’ ability to “connect the two communities of Lind and Ritzville in a fun and compe...
LIND - An East Adams Rural Health mobile care unit will be here Thursday, July 27. The unit will park at City Park, 317 E. Second St. The clinic is taking new patients and will be providing checkups and introductions to the health care for Lind-area residents. "Come see us to establish care, follow-up closer to home, or just check things out," East Adams Rural Health said in press release. This will be its first time; the mobile clinic already visits Sprague once a month....
BASIN CITY - Flags were flying high and proud at the annual Independence Day parade on July 4, only a mile from Freedom Rodeo grounds. The 90-minute parade through the community saw exponential increases in both float entries, as well as attendees, organizers said. Floats and volunteers lined up alongside root sheds and at 10 a.m. proceeded down Road 170, west towards the gas station on the corner of Road 170 and Bailie Boulevard. reedom Rodeo Royalty led the parade carrying...
BASIN CITY — Freedom Rodeo preparations are in full swing. This year, the rodeo returns to the July 4 holiday – performances are set for July 3-5 – after being moved up last year to be able to facilitate Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association affiliation. Rodeo performances are at 7:30 p.m. on July 3 and 5; and at 12:30 p.m. on Independence Day, July 4, in the arena at 100 Park Drive. This year, the venue will feature new additions to the arena as well as improvements to surrounding seating areas and spaces for admin...
BURBANK - Several Republican members of the congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee spent Monday in Eastern Washington, specifically to learn about the importance of dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Committee Chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, was joined by as Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Republican Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, and Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, for a tour of Ice Harbor Dam, the lower-most Snake River...
PASCO — Additional residents are voicing concern over the increase in assessed value of properties in Franklin County. During the Franklin County Commission meeting Tuesday, June 20, more speakers came to the microphone in response to the valuation increases sent out by the Franklin County Assessor’s office. George Dockstader expressed worries over losing ground on an appeal unless there was a professional appraisal of his house. “Why should someone have to pay $600 to have someone tell them what their house is worth, to ap...
PASCO — A local man has been sentenced to 15 years in a federal prison for drug trafficking. Tustuji Matu Wakauwn, 42, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice. Wakauwn was also sentenced to an additional 10 years of probation following his release. Records show Wakauwn was arrested Oct. 7, 2021, and pleaded guilty to the charges June 8, 2022. He’s been in custody since his arrest. He was arr...
PASCO — Despite the lack of bicycle and pedestrian improvements requested by the City Council, council members unanimously approved a six-year transportation improvement plan during a meeting Tuesday, June 20. City Interim Public Works Director Jacob Gonzalez reported on the plan, which prioritizes transportation needs, before the opening of a public hearing. Resident John Scheline used the public hearing to voice concerns about the plan's lack of “needed improvements on Oregon and A Street.” He asked the council to re-evalua...
PASCO — The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is seeking recruits to replace workers moving on to other jobs. During a Tuesday, June 20 meeting, Franklin County Administrator Mike Gonzalez updated county commissioners on the status of staffing the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Gonzalez said the office is “losing employees” and that is seeking help on recruiting strategies. “The system is imploding” he said, describing the struggle to find candidates to fill attorney positions. According to Gonzalez, at least thr...
PASCO — The City Council unanimously approved additional funding for Phase II of the Water Treatment Plant project during a Tuesday, June 20, meeting. City Deputy Public Works Director Maria Serra recommended approval of Change Order No. 6 for Phase II. The order consists of a fuel tank and switchgear location revision, along with additional work for power and fuel lines, excavation for sumps and sensors for installation assistance, she said. This change order is the first brought to the council and it adds an additional $...
PASCO — Public Works Deputy Director Maria Serra presented an amendment to designing improvements for the historic downtown during a City Council meeting Tuesday night, June 20. The purpose of the project is to extend the aesthetics in various areas such as Peanuts Park and the Lewis Street overpass, she said. The project was previously put on hold by the council so that planning could be completed, she said. With planning now complete, the Public Works Department is presenting a second amendment to the plan proposing an a...