On June 6, 2024, the City of Richland will unveil an outdoor Fitness Court® at Howard Amon Park, improving and enhancing the quality of life for WA residents. This capital project is a featured part of the 2024 initiative launched by National Fitness Campaign (NFC), a nationwide wellness consulting firm that partners with municipalities and schools to plan, build and fund Healthy Communities. NFC’s award-winning initiative is now planning its 500th Healthy Community in America and is poised to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs helping to fight the obesity epidemic across the country.

“We are proud to kick off the National Fitness Campaign in Richland,” states City Manager, Jon Amundson. “Howard Amon Park is the perfect setting to encourage users to get outside and focus on their health and wellness. I’m confident this will be an asset to this park and our community.” 

The new Fitness Court® in Richland is the world’s best outdoor gym and allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven stations. Created for adults aged 14 and older, the Fitness Court is adaptable for all fitness levels. Users can also download the free Fitness Court App — a coach-in-your-pocket style platform — that transforms the world’s best outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The Fitness Court App is available for iOS and Android. 

“We are excited to have the City of Richland join us in the journey to a healthy lifestyle as we make a positive impact building Healthy Infrastructure across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, Founder of National Fitness Campaign. 
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Residents are invited to attend an Opening Day Launch Event on Thursday, June 6th at 11:00 a.m. to try the Fitness Court and learn about upcoming community wellness events and programming. For more information, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/projects or www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com.

Many years, and in some cases decades, of leadership and service will be recognized this week at the Blue Mountain Council Court of Honor and Eagle Scout Recognition.

The event, in the Chief Joseph Middle School Auditorium in Richland, Washington, will be held on Friday, May 31, at 6:30 PM.
Kennewick business leader and philanthropist Craig Eerkes, a Kennewick Eagle Scout, the 2014 Tri-Citian of the Year, and the 2007 Kennewick Man of the Year, will deliver a keynote address.

A highlight of the evening will be the recognition of the 28 youth who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Blue Mountain Council in 2023.

Among the awards presented to youth and adults during the evening will be several rare national Scouting awards.

A recognition only presented 2,206 times, including to among other noteworthy Eagle Scouts, Neil Armstrong, Gerald Ford, Steven Spielberg, Sam Walton, Gary Locke, Dan Evans, and Jim Lovell, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award will be presented to Dr. Justin Teeguarden. Dr. Teeguarden is a 1985 Eagle Scout and is a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Lab Fellow and the chief science officer for their Environmental Molecular Sciences Division.

Four Eagle Scouts will receive, for the first time in the Blue Mountain Council, the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award. They are Tri-Cities attorney George Cicotte, retired Hanford engineer Steve Gaines, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Electric Infrastructure Market Sector Manager Carl Imhoff, and General Manager of Perma-Fix Northwest Bryan Blair.

Eagle Scout Emma Miller will receive the National Eagle Scout Association’s Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award for her 2023 Eagle Scout service project.

The Vale la Pena! Service award for the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic/Latino youth will be presented to Gracie Valle-Chimal and Walter Chimal.

Eagle Scout Celeste Blair, who will be receiving the prestigious Congressional Award Gold Medal from the United States Congress in a congressional ceremony in Washington, DC on June 13th, will be recognized at the Court of Honor for receiving the Summit Rank, the highest rank in Venturing. Venturing is an adventure-based program of Scouting America for youth aged 14-20.

Other significant recognitions will include Presidential Service Awards, the Alumnus of the Year, Sea Scout Leadership Awards, and the Silver Beaver Award.

All Eagle Scouts from any year, family members, friends, and those who support Scouting are invited and encouraged to attend.
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More information may be found at https://scoutingevent.com/604-ccoh.

Angela Saraceno-Lyman has joined the Port of Benton as Senior Accountant. Audrey Burney has joined as Real Estate Manager.

Burney formerly worked at Gesa Credit Union as their Commercial Property Administrator where she took on a new role for the company and was able to develop property procedures and functioned as the primary contact for the tenants and external property managers for the leased facilities.

Prior to Burney’s time with Gesa, she gained over 10 years experience working for Port of Pasco, starting as Administrative Assistant and expanding into Property Leasing Associate, assisting the Director of Properties, prioritizing industrial tenants and properties. 

Burney’s responsibilities at the port include performing a variety of administrative, technical and professional work with a primary focus in the port’s real estate portfolio.

Saraceno-Lyman joins the port after years of running her own bookkeeping business, where she worked with a variety of clientele, including municipalities. 

Saraceno-Lyman’s port responsibilities include a vast array of financial tasks, including payroll, financial statements and State Auditors Office audits, grant management, budget preparation and general accounting duties.
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“We are thrilled to welcome Angela and Audrey to the port team,” said Diahann Howard, PPM®, PPX®, port executive director. “Both bring a great amount of experience and knowledge that will benefit the port.”

Pasco, WA)  -- Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Daisy Garcia, a Registered Nurse at Lourdes Health, and the Lourdes Rehab Unit Nurses, have been named as recipients for The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses at Lourdes Health.

Daisy and the nurses on the second floor rehab unit at Lourdes Health, were nominated by a patient, for providing compassionate care. The patient shared, “I’m a disabled Veteran with injuries of past deployment. I’ve been in many hospitals, rehab facilities across the world. The nurses here are top of the class. I’m choked up with the care and devotion. I never seen so much care and devotion in my life. Daisy is clearly devoted to the patients and her work. Thank you for the help and devotion and thank you for considering her for the Daisy Award.”

“Daisy and the nurses on the rehab unit are well deserving of this honor,” said Kena Chase, Lourdes Chief Nursing Officer. “Our nurses strive to treat their patients and their families with respect, dignity and kindness.”

The patient also shared, “I've never seen so many people dedicated to their jobs. While I was there, I could easily see how much they really love, care, and are compassionate for the people they are helping; and maybe to some that would be enough. No, not them, not this unit, not even close... Their knowledge, commitment, humility, and ethical behavior outshines everyone in any place I've ever been, and I've been in a few, and not few enough. I don't have the words to tell you how very thankful I am for them, (it will never be enough).”

The DAISY Award® is an international program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, whose family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award® to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families, and staff to thank and honor their special nurses.
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To nominate a nurse or to learn more about The DAISY Award®, visit YourLourdes.com/Daisy.

(Kennewick, WA)  -- Trios Health is pleased to announce that Alma Salgado, a Registered Nurse, has been named as a recipient for The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses by Trios Health.

Alma has been an RN at Trios Health since 2014. She has always worked in the ICU department and started her career as a unit secretary, transitioned to NAC and then to RN.

“Alma is an advocate for patients and staff,” said Lori Katterhagen, Trios Chief Nursing Officer. “She is an exemplary nurse who demonstrates compassion to all.”

Alma was nominated by the daughter of a patient, who shared, “While my dad has been in the ICU, his nurse Alma has been outstanding! She is so compassionate with the care she is providing to my dad, always talking to him, and talking through was she is going to be doing even though he is in a coma and intubated due to COVID and Pneumonia.

She is always the first person in the room with him, and the last to leave the room while the team is taking care of him. She is so incredibly attentive to him and his needs, checking on him all the time and making sure he is receiving the utmost best care.

She always takes the time to make sure that I know what’s going on, how my dad is doing, and not only what treatments are being provided, but also taking the time to explain the details of his treatments, medication, and any changes in his condition. No matter how big or small, good, or bad. She is phenomenal and her cheerful caring demeanor shines through in all that she does”.

The DAISY Award® is an international program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, whose family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award® to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families, and staff to thank and honor their special nurses.
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To nominate a nurse or to learn more about The DAISY Award®, visit TriosHealth.org/Daisy.

Gesa Credit Union, a community-focused credit union headquartered in Richland, Washington, and Security State Corporation, the bank holding company of Security State Bank, headquartered in Centralia, Washington, jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Gesa Credit Union will acquire and assume substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Security State Bank. The pending transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in 2025.

“Security State Bank has been a steadfast supporter of the communities that we serve for more than 120 years now, and we have earned the trust of both our customers and our employees during this long time,” said Dwayne Aberle, President of the Bank, further stating that, “In today’s ever-increasingly competitive banking environment, we feel that this transaction will provide uncountable benefits to these same communities, customers, and employees that we have dedicated our long tenure to, and we thank them all for that trust that they have placed in us over all these years. We are excited to partner with Gesa Credit Union in this transaction, with the expanded products, services, locations, and offerings that they will bring to our customers and employees.” In identifying Gesa as a good fit for the bank’s future, Mr. Aberle emphasized that both institutions “share common core values, with the utmost focus placed on the wellbeing of their customers, communities, and employees, throughout each institutions’ long histories.”

Following completion of the transaction, all of Security State Bank’s 12 branches located in Lewis, Thurston, Pacific, and Grays Harbor counties will be transferred to Gesa and become part of its extensive member and branch service system.

"Both Gesa and Security State Bank have shared the same values for over 70 years, with an unwavering dedication to the communities we serve," said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union. "This shared commitment has brought us together and fueled our decision to enter this agreement, acting as a catalyst for Gesa to continue to expand our footprint and service in the Pacific Northwest. We are truly excited about the prospect of empowering new communities and assisting more people on their financial journeys."

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions.  Consummation of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and approval by the shareholders of Security State Corporation. Following completion of the transaction, Security State Corporation and Security State Bank will each dissolve, and the Corporation will thereafter distribute its remaining assets to its shareholders.

Security State Bank customers and Gesa Credit Union members should continue to conduct their business as usual.​

Security State Corporation was advised in the transaction by Commerce Street Capital, LLC, as exclusive financial advisor, and Paine Hamblen LLP as legal counsel. Commerce Street Capital, LLC provided a fairness opinion to Security State. Gesa Credit Union was advised by McQueen Financial Advisors, as exclusive financial advisor, and Luse Gorman, PC as legal counsel.

Trios Health recently announced that Charelle Woods has been recognized as the facility’s 2024 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Established in 2001, the Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

“At Trios Health, we are committed to advancing Lifepoint’s mission of making communities healthier, and our devoted team members are critical to this work – especially Charelle,” said David Elgarico, CEO & Market President of Trios Health. “We are so proud to recognize her positive contributions to improving the overall health of our patients, supporting their families, and serving our community. Charelle always goes the extra mile to meet any need that may arise and is a true champion of our caring culture at Trios Health.”

Charelle has been the ICU’s secretary for the past 5 years and her smiling face is often the first thing patients see when entering the unit.  She is being recognized not only for the compassionate care she provides, but for her contributions in our community.
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As Charelle greets people, you can instantly feel her positive energy. Ms. Charelle has an incredible voice, and she has offered comfort to many patients and their families through her singing. During a dark time in health care, she brought some light and fun as she rallied staff and made “PSA Reels” to promote social distancing and good hand hygiene. She even made the local news!

Charelle exemplifies one of LifePoint’s core values, “Embrace Individuality”. She has founded a public charitable non-profit organization called “Lovin Me 911” which promotes self-love, body positivity, and interpretation of art through clothing. Lovin Me 911’s body positivity fashion show, “Loving The Skin I’m In", has become a successful event in the community and has allowed her organization to donate over $5,000 to other organizations that serve our community including $2,500 to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center foundation in 2023.

Charelle’s organization has worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties to run a positivity workshop for middle schoolers aimed at developing their confidence, self-love, and body positivity.

Charelle and her team also organized a “Coat & Food Drive” in December with all items donated going to the local Boys and Girls Club. Charelle is continually donating her time and talents to other local organizations that benefit our community.
Each facility winner, including Charelle, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2024 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.

​Lourdes Health recently announced that Emily Dirkes has been recognized as the facility’s 2024 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Established in 2001, the Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

“At Lourdes Health, we are committed to advancing Lifepoint’s mission of making communities healthier, and our devoted team members are critical to this work – especially Emily,” said Mark Holyoak, CEO of Lourdes Health. “We are so proud to recognize her positive contributions to improving the overall health of our patients, supporting their families, and serving our community. Emily always goes the extra mile to meet any need that may arise and is a true champion of our caring culture at Lourdes Health.”

Emily has been a valued employee at Lourdes Health for 13 years. She is known amongst her peers for fostering an environment of teamwork and actively listens to understand and act on the unique needs of others. Her commitment to our mission, compassion in patient care, and mindset of thinking “we” before “me” has significantly impacted our patients and organization.

Emily is known for jumping in and helping wherever she is needed. She has worked as an inpatient aide, outpatient aide, receptionist, insurance specialist and now manages three outpatient clinics and helps support our Acute Care therapists.

Emily consistently demonstrates strong leadership qualities that inspire and motivate her colleagues. She is known for her mentorship, problem solving skills and optimism, which foster a positive and productive work environment. She is also heavily involved with her volunteer work in our community, including Second Harvest and the Arc of Tri-Cities.

Emily champions our core values within and outside of the workplace, as demonstrated by the many organizations she serves within our community.
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Each facility winner, including Emily, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2024 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.

Prosser Memorial Health is excited to announce that our Wound Care Center has again been awarded the Healogics CHR Champion Belt, marking a significant achievement as the leading wound care facility in our region for the first quarter of 2024. This accolade reflects an impressive 8% improvement in healing rates compared to the previous year, outperforming other centers in the region. Prosser Memorial Health’s Wound Care Center was also awarded the CHR Champion Belt for quarter four of 2023.

At Prosser Memorial Health, we understand that chronic wounds significantly impact health and quality of life, requiring specialized care to facilitate healing. Our outpatient Wound Care Center is equipped with patient-friendly facilities and a compassionate, skilled team. Our comprehensive approach includes advanced treatments such as wound dressing changes, negative wound pressure therapy, surgical debridement, contact casting, and specialty wound dressings.

Our team at Prosser Memorial Health is dedicated to offering the highest standard of wound care. We pride ourselves on personal touches like graduation bags given to patients upon completing their treatment, emphasizing our commitment to patient-centered care. If you have a wound that isn’t healing, do not hesitate to contact us. To make an appointment, please call 509.786.6639, or to learn more about wound care services at Prosser Memorial Health, visit prosserhealth.org.

The Tri-City Water Follies will host Spring Testing all day in Columbia Park on Friday May 31 from 9am to 5pm presented by Apollo Mechanical and Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex.
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Teams scheduled to test include:
H1 UNLIMITED
U-1 Beacon Electric
U-9 Beacon Plumbing
U-11 Unlimited Racing Group
U-12 Graham Trucking
U-40 BLR/Flav-R-Pac
U-21 Miss Goodman Real Estate
 
GRAND PRIX AMERICA
GP-10 Richards Racing
GP-17 Richards Racing
GP-20 Blown Income Racing
 
VINTAGE UNLIMITED
 
Miss Thriftway
 
Admission is free. There will be a $5.00 close-by event parking fee. Outlying parking is free.
There will be food vendors and a beer garden.
 
Popular Dance band Voodoo Alley will perform starting at 6:30 at the Columbia Park Bandshell behind the Neil F. Lampson pits.