In response to the coronavirus pandemic and its continued impact on the most vulnerable in our communities, Baker Boyer chose to direct $32,500 in funding from its Legacy Giving Grant Program to be distributed to non-profits and organizations in Walla Walla, Milton-Freewater, Tri-Cities, and Yakima. Many are still facing increased demand for support brought on by the pandemic. These donations focus on food insecurity, providing support to low income individuals facing challenges of homelessness, access to healthcare, and those seeking refuge from domestic violence.
“Covid-19 has been particularly challenging for some of the most vulnerable in the communities we serve,” said Mark Kajita, Baker Boyer President and CEO. “We are all in this together. Baker Boyer cares deeply about our communities and want to do our part in helping everyone get through this unfortunate pandemic.” Baker Boyer also provided support to vaccine clinics by buying lunches from local restaurants for volunteers in Walla Walla and Yakima. In addition, the bank bought EpiPens to have on site at the Walla Walla vaccine clinic to increase safety protocols. This need was identified by vaccine clinic volunteer and Baker Boyer VP Anne Sumner, who is a former nurse. This brings the total of additional contributions made to support those impacted by the pandemic from Baker Boyer to more than $142,000 since it started. Here are the recipients of contributions made in 2021: In Tri-Cities:
impacts of the pandemic.
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On March 25th, the Port of Pasco Board of Commissioners passed the attached Resolution opposing the Scout Energy Horse Heaven Wind Farm Project, urging the application review to be moved from Olympia to Benton County. The Resolution listed multiple reasons for opposing the project, including:
Lourdes Health announced today that Joan White-Wagoner has been named chief executive officer (CEO), effective May 3. A veteran healthcare leader, White-Wagoner replaces Chad Pew, who has been serving as interim CEO since September 2020.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joan to Lourdes Health,” said Sandy Podley, president of LifePoint Health’s Western Division, of which Lourdes Health is a part. “Joan is a seasoned leader who is deeply committed to our mission of Making Communities Healthier. I am confident that her passion for quality care, her operational expertise and her strong track record for organizational growth will be a tremendous benefit to Lourdes. We look forward to the many ways her leadership will help further improve the health and well-being of the community in the years to come.” A dynamic leader with extensive healthcare management experience, White-Wagoner most recently served as senior managing director at MRN Healthcare Management in Washington, North Carolina. Before MRN, White-Wagoner held leadership positions at several healthcare organizations across the country. She was the chief executive officer at Martin General Health System in Williamston, North Carolina; system vice president and medical center chief executive officer for Baptist Health Medical Center in Conway, Arkansas; and system chief operating officer for Texas General Hospital System in Grand Prairie, Texas. “Joan’s extensive knowledge and leadership experience in managing many types of hospitals will be a tremendous asset to our organization,” said Julie Killian, chair of the Lourdes Health Board of Trustees. “We are honored to name her CEO, and we look forward to working alongside her in our dedicated effort to making communities healthier.” White-Wagoner earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University and both a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). “Lourdes has been positioned in this community as a trusted, quality healthcare provider for more than 100 years,” said White Wagoner. “It’s the people of Lourdes making that difference. There is a sense of pride and culture that you can feel as soon as you walk through the doors. I am excited to begin working collaboratively with the staff, physicians, community leaders, and the board as we continue to fulfill our mission of making communities healthier.” ![]() To better serve our patients and community, Prosser Memorial Health now has laboratory facilities and services in each of its primary care clinics located in Benton City, Prosser, and Grandview. Lab services are also scheduled to be offered at the Prosser Women’s Health Center starting in May. By offering lab services at each clinic, PMH can provide an added level of convenience for our patients. One of our new lab services is automated semen sample analysis. Prosser Memorial Health is currently the only provider to offer this service locally. This testing process allows for faster turnaround times, with results often in as little as fifteen minutes. Automated semen analysis testing results are also highly accurate. Semen analysis plays a key role in infertility evaluation and in guiding our providers as they create an infertility treatment plan. For questions about laboratory services, including semen analysis at Prosser Memorial Health, call our Laboratory Department at 509.786.6636. For questions or more information on infertility treatment services, please call the Prosser Women’s Health Center at 509.786.0031 or visit prosserhealth.org. BrandCraft®, eastern Washington’s premier growth marketing agency, announced today the opening of a second office located in downtown Spokane, WA. Building on its success in the Tri-Cities, BrandCraft’s Spokane office will offer clients integrated marketing and design services to help them achieve their growth goals.
The expansion also brings the addition of two new team members. Spokane locals Mark Sandall and Kayla Rott recently joined BrandCraft’s creative and digital marketing divisions, rounding out a team of experts in web design and digital marketing. “BrandCraft is at the very beginning of a targeted growth phase. We believe strongly that the economy has pent up demand for many products and services that struggled during the pandemic. Despite the impacts of COVID-19, in 2020 we invested in people, in processes, and in greater capability. We are bullish on our prospects moving into 2021 and currently eyeing new physical locations in Boise, ID, and Phoenix, AZ.” —Torey Azure, CEO, BrandCraft The next seminar in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Special Edition Community Science and Technology Seminar Series, “Model Me This: COVID-19 Scientific Predictions and Where We Go from Here,” presented by Tim Scheibe, lead scientist for PNNL’s River Corridor Scientific Focus Area project, will take place on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5pm via Zoom.
Data, data everywhere, put it in a model to see how we might fare. No need for magic when we have robust scientific tools at our fingertips. Using mathematical representations of disease patterns, scientists are beginning to learn how COVID-19 swept the globe across diverse human populations. These epidemiological models are being used to help guide policy decisions and inform public health guidelines. Join this talk to learn what types of models exist, how they’re developed, how they’re used, and how they might predict our future. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series was launched to help the general public better understand and explore how science transforms our world. Those who are interested can register here. Benton PUD has earned a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3)® Diamond designation from the American Public Power Association for the third time, the highest level awarded, for safely providing reliable electric service.
The RP3 designation, which lasts for three years, recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria include sound business practices and a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. Benton PUD joins more than 275 public power utilities of 2,000 nationwide that hold the RP3 designation. “I think over the last year or so, we’ve seen the vital importance of running a reliable and safe utility,” says Aaron Haderle, Chair of APPA’s RP3 Review Panel and Manager of Transmission and Distribution Operations at Kissimmee Utility Authority, Florida. “The utilities receiving the RP3 designation have proven that they are committed to running a top-notch public power utility by implementing industry best practices.” “This designation is a testament to the long-standing tradition our employees have to helping preserve the health, safety, and well-being of our customers and the communities we serve” said Rick Dunn, General Manager of Benton PUD. “We remain focused on continuously improving the redundancy and resiliency of our delivery systems to meet the “always on” expectations our customers have for their electric and broadband services.” Last year was the worst year on record for wildland fires in the United States many of which were in the Northwest. The Congressional Research Service reports that more than 58,250 wildfires burned 10.3 million acres, the most acreage impacted in a year.
Many wildland fires are started accidentally when property owners burn debris from yard waste and it gets out of control. Benton County Fire District 4 has responded to several vegetation fires so far this year. Chief Paul Carlyle says that this is a good reminder for homeowners to prepare for wildland fire season early. Rain and snow allow brush to grow and die off quickly in the spring, which provides fuel for wildland fires in the summer and fall months. “All indicators point to the fact that this is going to be a challenging fire season,” said Chief Carlyle. “Our ability to protect a property is directly linked to what homeowners do to prepare now for this type of emergency.” It’s important to see if and when you can burn to avoid fines. Information can be found through the Benton Clean Air Agency: bentoncleanair.org/burning/burndecision/. These regulations are in place to limit the impact of smoke to the region and ensure there is an adequate emergency response if a fire needs controlling. A few steps can also reduce the risk of wildland fire to your home or property. To begin with, firefighters need to be able to locate you in case of a 911 call. Have your address posted on your driveway entrance as well as your house. Be sure to provide good access to your home and/or shop that allows firefighting apparatus the ability to access, turn around and leave your property. What a homeowner may regard as just an overgrown bush near their garage (or long grass in the yard) is actually a quick burning fuel source. For firefighters, this could mean a long fight to save the home if this fuel source should ignite. Creating a “fire barrier” to homes and outbuildings is critical. Some simple tips to protect structures are as follows:
More information can be found on Benton County Fire District 4’s website at www.bcfd4.org. Other resources for property owners are available through the National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) and Ready.gov (www.ready.gov/wildfires). Restaurants can open to 50 percent indoor dining capacity March 22 (which is great news!), but restaurant workers still don’t know when they’ll get access to the vaccine. Today, more than 3,500 restaurant and hospitality workers and their supporters are sending a petition to Gov. Jay Inslee to ask to be included in the next phase alongside other essential workers so they can get the vaccine this week.
“If we want vaccine access to be equitable, we must include restaurant and hospitality workers alongside other essential workers. Forty percent of our team members across the state are people of color who have been reporting for work throughout a deadly pandemic,” said Trey Lamont, who owns Jerk Shack in Seattle and is a member of the Seattle Restaurant Alliance Board. “Restaurant and hospitality workers have been absolutely essential throughout the pandemic, yet they cannot get access to the vaccine alongside other essential workers. We have been working for months to ensure our team members can have access to the vaccine, and now we’re asking for the public’s help,” said Anthony Anton, President and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association. “You can support your favorite restaurant by signing the petition, wearing your mask, practicing physical distancing, and dining indoor, outdoor, or ordering takeout." The petition, organized by the Seattle Restaurant Alliance and Washington Hospitality Association, asks Gov. Jay Inslee to include food and hospitality workers with other essential workers, including those who work in grocery stores, food manufacturing, and processing. These groups will be eligible for the vaccine this week. Paul Osher with Porkchop and Co. in Ballard and Seattle Restaurant Alliance Board member said separating restaurant and hospitality workers out of the essential workers phase is inconsistent. “We’ve been classified as essential throughout the pandemic — except when it comes to vaccine access. As we expand indoor dining, we must expand vaccine access to keep our team members safe.” You can find, sign, and share the petition here: https://p2a.co/xLG1QeM As part of an ongoing effort to support community recovery, STCU this month purchased $30,000 in gift cards from locally owned restaurants, donating them primarily to organizations serving women in Eastern Washington, Tri-Cities, and North Idaho.
“Restaurants and restaurant workers have been hard hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, and women have suffered the greatest financial losses of all,” said Ezra Eckhardt, STCU president and CEO. “These cards are a small piece of a much larger effort to help sustain and strengthen communities.” In the year since the pandemic started, STCU has provided substantial support to businesses, schools, families, and community groups. Whenever possible, those efforts have included elements of surprise and creativity. They have included doubling its dues to 16 chambers of commerce on National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day; sending care packages to STCU members in the fire-ravished town of Malden; surprising 23 nonprofit groups with checks of $10,000 to $32,000; and randomly handing out gift cards to clients at Columbia Basin food banks. The credit union also processed more than 1,700 forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans to help businesses stay open and preserve jobs. It has helped thousands of STCU members by restructuring loans or allowing them to skip payments. STCU’s purchase of 600 $50 restaurant gift cards coincides with the Great Dine Out, a collaboration between the Inlander, STCU and 13 other banks and credit unions to help restaurants in Spokane and Kootenai counties. It is one of several business-boosting media efforts that have had substantial STCU support. The restaurant gift cards went to 22 non-profits groups, to be gifted to clients who may be in need of additional food assistance, including YWCA Spokane, Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, Transitions, Safe Passage in Coeur d’Alene, and Domestic Violence Services of Benton-Franklin County. STCU is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting past, present and future female leaders. Nine women and one man signed STCU’s Articles of Incorporation in 1934. Today, women represent 72% of STCU staff and 64% of its leadership. |
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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