At last night’s council meeting, five members were sworn into office by City Clerk Jennifer Rogers. New councilmember Kurt Maier began his first term of office and Ryan Whitten, Theresa Richardson, Jhoanna Jones, and Shayne VanDyke were reelected for another term.
Following the swearing-in, the Richland City Council elected council members to act as Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem for a two-year term. Councilmember Theresa Richardson was elected as Mayor. Councilmember Sandra Kent was elected as Mayor Pro-Tem. Theresa Richardson is the first female Mayor of Richland since 1958 when Patricia Merrill was chosen as the first Mayor of Richland. This represents a historic milestone in Richland, with both a female Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem serving concurrently for the first time in the City's history. Theresa Richardson began serving as a City of Richland council member in January 2022 and was selected as Mayor Pro Tem in January 2023. Sandra Kent was appointed to the Richland City Council in February 2008 to fill a vacancy and elected in November 2009 to complete the unexpired term. She was selected as Mayor Pro Tem once before in 2020.
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The City of Richland invites the community to a candidate reception for the next Police Chief on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Richland City Hall Council Chambers, 625 Swift Boulevard in Richland. This is your opportunity to meet the final two candidates and learn about their vision for leading the Richland Police Department.
The event will begin with introductions, followed by an opportunity for members of the community to interact with the candidates. Light refreshments will be provided. In October 2023, the City partnered with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to conduct a nationwide recruitment effort. After an extensive search, two finalists have been selected. The timeline for the search is as follows:
City Manager, Jon Amundson states, “We are excited to welcome the candidates for Police Chief to our City. I am encouraged by the robust search process conducted by WASPC and the quality of applicants who applied.” ![]() Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors (formerly Petersen Hastings), a nationally and locally recognized, fee-only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm headquartered in Kennewick, unveiled its “Where You’re Invested” rebrand today that includes a new company logo, brand style, and tagline. The revitalization of the firm’s brand is aligned with a modern and cohesive image as Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors embarks on its further expansion into new markets. Petersen Hastings’ clients’ aspirations and their life pursuits take precedence in everything the team does. The new tagline, "Where You're Invested," embodies this unwavering commitment on various levels. Beyond encapsulating the clear relationship between Petersen Hastings and its clients’ investment portfolios, it underscores the significance of directing energy and emotion towards meaningful pursuits in life and valuable connections. This tagline serves as a powerful reflection of their dedication to impacting lives beyond money – reinforcing the importance of holistic well-being and the multifaceted aspects of their clients’ lives. “It’s difficult for people to select a financial advisor when all firms look, talk, and act alike," said Scott Sarber, CEO. “We trust that the revamped Petersen Hastings Wealth Advisors brand and ability to effectively communicate our commitment to impacting clients’ lives beyond money, will point investors toward a firm that is truly on their side every step of the way.” This rebranding not only signifies a new chapter for the organization, but also underscores its steadfast dedication to providing exceptional service. The refreshed visual identity mirrors its resolve to adapt alongside their clients. As the firm moves forward, its brand evolution serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its valued clients. STCU continued its tradition of year-end giving with surprise gifts of $10,000 each to Columbia Basin College and WSU Tri-Cities, to assist students with financial needs. The credit union’s philanthropic arm, the STCU Here for Good Foundation, also made donations to Benton-Franklin schools, Forge Youth Mentoring, B5, and Grace Kitchen.
The donations, totaling $70,000, are part of STCU’s annual Season of Giving tradition. In addition to the Tri-Cities gifts, donations are being made to non-profit organizations across Eastern Washington, the Columbia Basin, and North Idaho, with a particular emphasis on education and workforce development. “STCU members like to know that their credit union is helping organizations that are committed to the success and growth of their communities,” said Ezra Eckhardt, STCU President and CEO. “And with costs remaining high for so many, we know that these donations will be appreciated.” STCU Here for Good Foundation Early in 2023, STCU partnered with the Innovia Foundation to launch the STCU Here for Good Foundation, cementing the credit union’s ongoing philanthropic commitment to education, arts and culture, and economic development. The foundation has set a goal of reaching a $10 million endowment within 10 years. STCU donations:
STCU Here for Good Foundation donations:
In addition, STCU employees who served at least 12 volunteer hours at a single organization were invited to apply for a Volunteers Count grant on behalf of that organization. As a result, STCU is delivering $75,000 in total donations this year, on behalf of nearly 450 employees who logged more than 12,000 volunteer hours in 2023. STCU’s Volunteers Count program offers employees 16 hours of paid time each year for volunteerism. The credit union encourages further volunteer activity by providing flexible schedules, leadership training at all levels, and other support to help them make a community impact. The Richland City Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the sale of a 50-acre industrial site within the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park to Cenate, a Norwegian company specializing in silicon-containing anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The resolution, dated November 7th, 2023, was officially signed into effect on November 29th.
Richland is one of two potential locations Cenate is currently evaluating for its first American factory. The second is Butte, MT. The proposed 40,000 sq ft production facility on the 50-acre site is a testament to Richland's dedication to sustainable energy solutions. If selected, this collaboration is expected to create 250 living-wage jobs, further enhancing the city's economic landscape. This project is the second to locate in the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park established by the City of Richland, Port of Benton, and Energy Northwest. The land was conveyed to the current ownership through TRIDEC from the Department of Energy in 2016 for industrial development and to create economic vitality for the community. The City of Richland expects an update on the decision from Cenate in mid-2024. The Richland Arts Commission is accepting nominations in two categories for the 2023 Supporting The Arts in Richland, or STAR Awards. This honor recognizes two recipients, one individual and one organization/business for their outstanding contribution and support of the arts in Richland.
Nominations must be received digitally or postmarked by Thursday, January 11, 2024. The Richland Arts Commission will review and discuss all submittals during a workshop. The chosen recipients will be presented with the award during a televised Richland City Council meeting early in the year. For more information, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/artrecognition or call Julie Piper, 509-942-7501 or email [email protected]. The Tri-Cities community and especially Washington State University alumni are invited to attend the annual WSU Tri-Cities Carson College of Business Point to Success Fundraising Brunch on Saturday, Feb. 3, to support WSU Tri-Cities Carson College of Business students, faculty and programs and hear from world-renowned inventor and WSU alumnus, Scott Crump.
“Supporting local Cougs doesn’t get any easier than brunch with friends at Anthony’s. This marks another year of great folks coming together to support strong business education, right here in the Tri-Cities. I’m looking forward to raising a toast, eating some toast, and making the most of this great event,” said Paul Carlisle, Entrepreneur in Residence and chair of the Carson College of Business advisory board. The event is sponsored by and held at Anthony’s at Columbia Point in Richland and will feature games and a live auction with a variety of unique packages, which include:
WSU alumnus and inventor shares his story The featured speaker, Scott Crump, is a WSU mechanical engineering alumnus and an inventor and entrepreneur who is best known for inventing the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology and the first 3D printer with FDM. He co-founded Stratasys, a company specializing in manufacturing 3D printing systems. Crump’s invention revolutionized the manufacturing process by allowing for the creation of complex parts and prototypes using a layer-by-layer approach. He continues to be a prominent figure in the 3D printing industry and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field. Gary Spanner, a member of the Carson College of Business advisory board and the event committee chair said, “Crump’s story of his entrepreneurial journey is fascinating, harrowing, and funny.” Local celebrities lead the ceremony Tracci Dial is a northwest native and award-winning journalist. She has worked in radio and TV news for nearly two decades and is currently the multimedia news director at Northwest Public Broadcasting. When Tracci isn’t digging through headlines she is outside hiking, paddle boarding, or running, or somewhere reading a good book. Her heart for public service goes beyond the paycheck; she is an avid volunteer sitting on the Pasco Taco Crawl committee, which benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties and serves in classrooms with Junior Achievement. Award-winning auctioneer, Chantel Booker-Kimball, will lead the live auction portion of the event. She comes from a long line of auctioneers and has made a name for herself as the 2022 Women’s International Auctioneer Champion. Support for Carson Cougs Proceeds from the Point to Success event will be dedicated to student support and faculty development to improve the Carson College of Business education program at WSU Tri-Cities. Anneke Rachinski, WSU Tri-Cities senior director of development appreciates the way the community comes together and shows their support for students. “We are so lucky to have a community that cares about investing in the future of our business leaders. With their support, we can keep providing exceptional resources and education to our students, setting them up for success for years to come,” she said. For more information visit the event page on the WSU Tri-Cities website: tricities.wsu.edu/2024PTS ![]() Local scientist Dr. Justin Teeguarden has been named a Distinguished Eagle Scout by the National Eagle Scout Association. The award was established to recognize Eagle Scouts who, after 25 years or longer of having received the Eagle Scout Award, have achieved extraordinary national-level recognition, fame, or eminence within their profession and/or service to the nation. In addition, these recipients have demonstrated a strong record of volunteer leadership service to their community. Dr. Teeguarden earned his Eagle Scout Award in May 1985 where he was a member of Troop 146 in El Sobrante, California. He has distinguished himself through his career at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) where he is serving as Chief Science Officer of the Environmental Molecular Sciences Division and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) user program in Richland, WA. With over 20 years (at PNNL) of scientific leadership as a computational and experimental scientist, Teeguarden leads EMSL’s strategic science planning and internal research and development initiatives. Dr. Teeguarden has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career and during his leadership tenure in the Boy Scouts of America, including at the Blue Mountain Council, where he started volunteering as Cubmaster in 2010 with Pack 231. Most recently his volunteer role is as council vice-president (strategy) on the Executive Board and as Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 190. He has exemplified the meaning of continued service to God, country, and other people by following the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. Justin says that working outside of his own professional expertise, across multiple, sometimes unfamiliar science and technology domains, and between the laboratory’s directorates, has been the most enjoyable part of his PNNL career. Because insights into trends, transformative ideas, intelligence on competitors and sponsor priorities come from all part of his laboratory team, he has learned that openness to ideas, advice and mentorship from sector, line and science and technology leadership and exceptional staff scientists are all essentials for developing strategies built on goals with broad strategic benefit. The impact of Dr. Justin Teeguarden has been far-reaching, especially as one of the world’s leading scientists in his field, but as he would humbly argue, his numerous professional achievements and many accolades pale in comparative importance to his service and commitment as a mentor to youth along the Scouting trail, whose futures will be shaped and prepared for even greater things. Justin is a father of three Eagle Scouts and lives with his wife Katrina in Richland, WA. A formal recognition ceremony for this award will be held at a future time. Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, in partnership with Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Care, is proud to announce the hosting of a pet loss grief support group on December 13th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. The event will offer a compassionate space for individuals in the community who have experienced the loss of a beloved pet.
Led by Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Director of Community Care, Cara Hernandez LICSW, CSW-G, the open forum support group aims to provide a supportive environment for attendees to share their experiences and emotions associated with pet loss. Cara will also offer valuable tools and coping strategies to help participants navigate the grieving process. The holiday season can be a particularly challenging time for those mourning the loss of a pet. Tri-Cities Chaplaincy recognizes the importance of addressing grief during this time and is committed to providing the community with the necessary tools to cope and find support. Laurie Jackson, CEO of Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, expressed her commitment to supporting the community: "Losing a pet is a deeply emotional experience, and the holidays can intensify those feelings. Our goal is to create a safe space for individuals to share their grief and provide them with practical tools to navigate through this challenging time." The collaboration with Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Care underscores the community's joint effort to address the emotional needs of pet owners during difficult seasons. Details of the Event: Date: December 13th Time: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Location: 3315 W Clearwater Ave, Kennewick For more information about the pet loss grief support group and registration, please contact Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Care at [email protected]. For more information about Tri-Cities Chaplaincy's support groups at TCCBestLife.org. The lights, music, and festivities continue every night through January 1 beginning at 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way in Richland. On Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. through December 23, visitors will get an extra special treat with Santa and Mrs. Claus, costumed characters, and food vendors.
Children of all ages are encouraged to write a letter to Santa by December 20. A mailbox to the North Pole is located in the miniature historical village in the center of the park. Remember to include a return address as each each child will receive an extra touch of magic when opening their personalized reply from Santa or one of his elves. Be sure to join one of the historic talks on the Alphabet homes that were built in support of World War II in the 1940’s and 1950s. The talks will be on Sunday, December 10 and 17 at 1:00 p.m. in the miniature village. You can drop into the nearby Richland Community Center for a little warmth and enjoy the holiday decorations or sign up for the Holiday Bingo on Saturday, December 16, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and enjoy hot cocoa and popcorn while you play. For more information, follow Richland Parks and Recreation on Facebook or visit www.richlandparksandrec.com/winterwonderland. |
Have News?Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Marketing & Communications Director. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above. Archives
July 2024
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