Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The Ben Franklin Transit company indicates that the Tri Cities will be getting some new routes in the next few months. During the work week riders will see some routes merged, and that can mean longer wait times and rides.  Public meetings will be held on on Monday March 8th, at 10 am and 5 pm, so that residents can hear the proposed changes. The meetings will be held at the transit office across from the Benton County Justice Center.

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.