Prosser Memorial Health is pleased to announce the addition of Taylor Brown, Registered Nurse, to the team at our Dermatology Center in Benton City! Taylor brings both experience and an enthusiastic commitment to dermatology and aesthetics, aiming to further enhance the clinic's offerings in cosmetic dermatology services.

With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washington State University, her professional journey began at Kadlec Regional Medical Center's Birth Center, where she provided exceptional care for antepartum, labor, and postpartum patients. Taylor's expertise expanded further during her tenure at Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic. Here, she honed her skills in administering neurotoxins for aesthetics and Hyperhidrosis, injecting dermal fillers for cheek, chin, and lip augmentation, preparing IV solutions, and performing microneedling with radiofrequency.

At Prosser Memorial Health’s Dermatology Center, Taylor will provide services including Botox, dermal fillers, ThermiSmooth, and chemical peels. She will offer various laser treatments that include laser hair removal, Vbeam, and IPL. With plans to expand the Clinic's cosmetic dermatology offerings soon. 

 Taylor is deeply passionate about helping people regain their confidence and feel better about themselves. A native of Prosser, Taylor is excited to serve a smaller community and join the PMH Dermatology Center team in Benton City. When not busy working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their kids out on the water relaxing with a good book.

Prosser Memorial Health’s Dermatology Center is dedicated to providing exceptional dermatological care, and Taylor's expertise will significantly contribute to the clinic's mission of delivering high-quality, patient-centered services. To schedule an appointment or learn more about services offered at the Dermatology Center, visit prosserhealth.org.                                          

After a comprehensive search, the City of Richland has narrowed its selection for the next Police Chief to three highly qualified finalists: Chris Mills, Buckley, WA; Sean O’Laughlin, Nine Mile Falls, WA; and Martin Pilcher, Oregon City, OR. All three candidates bring extensive experience and a strong commitment to community policing to the position.

Chris Mills serves as a Commander for Kent Police, Kent, WA. He has overseen various units, including Police Investigations, the Special Assault Unit, Special Investigations, the Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Valley Special Weapons and Tactics, and the K9 Unit. Commander Mills is an Iraq War Veteran who served as an Infantry Team Leader and Infantry Scout Sniper in the United States Army. Mills possesses a master's in organizational leadership from California Coast University and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police from the Police Executive Research Forum.

Sean O’Laughlin serves as the Deputy Chief for Eastern Washington University Police in Cheney, WA, managing all field operations, investigations, property and evidence, budget, training, and hiring. He is also the department’s national accreditation manager for the IACLEA accreditation process, resulting in the agency receiving national accreditation. O’Laughlin is an Executive Officer for the United States Coast Guard Reserve responsible for 105 personnel assigned to Port Security Unit 313. He has a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College and a master’s in executive public administration from the University of Washington. O’Laughlin is a graduate of the FBI National Academy – Session 287.

Martin Pilcher serves as the Chief of Police in Woodburn, OR, where he oversees 40 sworn police officers, three Community Service Officers, and 7.5 professional staff members. Prior to becoming Chief in 2021, he was the Deputy Chief since 2018. Pilcher also worked for the Portland Police Bureau as an Internal Affairs Investigator and spent the majority of his career with the Elk Grove Police Department in Elk Grove, CA. Pilcher possesses a master’s in organizational leadership from Norwich University and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police from the Police Executive Research Forum.

“We are impressed with the caliber of these candidates and have no doubt that any one of them could lead our department with distinction and continue our pursuit of excellence,” said Jon Amundson, City Manager. "Each of our finalists offers a distinct blend of professional backgrounds, leadership styles, and innovative approaches to law enforcement, positioning RPD for a dynamic future."

The candidates under consideration will be introduced at a meet-and-greet event on Wednesday, September 4th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Richland City Hall, 625 Swift Blvd. Richland, WA 99352. That evening, members of the public will have an opportunity to meet the finalists and attend a moderated discussion to learn more about their experience, vision for the police department, and approach to community policing. The City is inviting community members to submit questions that may be included during the moderated discussion. Questions can be submitted on the City’s website beginning next week.
Final interviews will be conducted on Thursday, September 5th. Candidates will take part in multiple panel interviews, a police department tour, and a city tour.  

The city engaged Mosaic Public Partners to assist in a nationwide executive recruitment and selection process for its new Police Chief.  
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The city anticipates making its selection shortly after the interview process. The final selection of the next Police Chief will be contingent upon a successful background investigation consistent with RCW 43.101.095.

​Trinity Hot Yoga, the first full-service, hot yoga studio in West Richland, is excited to announce its grand opening on September 7, 2024. This locally owned boutique studio will offer a wide range of styles and classes, catering to all levels of practitioners. With a team of seven skilled teachers, offerings will include everything from traditional hatha, vinyasa & yin to dynamic high-impact sculpt classes.

Nestled within the vibrant Paradise Parkway Complex, the nearly 2,500-square-foot studio features two specialized rooms: an infrared heated room that reaches 106 degrees and a warm studio maintained at around 80 degrees. Making the whole experience even more convenient & comfortable are two well-appointed locker rooms, complete with shower facilities and dressing rooms. Students will appreciate the added amenities and opportunity to freshen up, especially after working up a sweat in the heated classes.
 
"We are thrilled to bring Trinity Hot Yoga to the Tri-Cities community," said DeAnna Witham, founder of Trinity Hot Yoga. "Our studio is more than just a place to practice yoga; it's a sanctuary for holistic wellness and personal growth. We're committed to providing a welcoming space where individuals can explore the transformative benefits of yoga."
 
Save the date! Join us at Trinity Hot Yoga’s grand opening on September 7th from 1-4 PM. Enjoy delicious catering by Sosbrie Charcuterie, refreshing drinks from Just Juice, and lovely desserts from Sunkissed Lavender Farm. We’ll also be featuring unique designs by Free Expression Studio, a local artist and vendor. Don’t miss out on our hourly drawings for free merchandise, memberships, and more! Come by for a sneak peek of the studio and meet our amazing yoga teachers!
Trinity Hot Yoga is also a proud sponsor of the 2024 Yoga & Wellness Festival in Prosser, taking place on Saturday, June 29th.
For more information on the studio and to stay updated on the grand opening, please visit trinityhotyoga.com.

The HAPO Community Credit Union Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Mitchell as its President and CEO.

Mitchell has been with HAPO for 19 years, serving in various leadership roles, most recently as the Acting President/CEO and prior to that as the Executive Vice President and CFO. His deep understanding of the company’s finances, operations, culture, and strategic vision positions him uniquely to lead the organization into its next chapter of success.

“We have worked with Scott for many years and have always been impressed with his communication skills and financial knowledge, but more importantly, his commitment to our members and the communities HAPO serves. The Board of Directors is confident Scott will lead HAPO with dedication and ensure our goals of sustainable growth and member service are met.

Scott Mitchell is the right person to create a viable financial plan that will carry the credit union through future growth stages,” said Ken Hohenberg, HAPO Board Chairman.

During his tenure, Mitchell’s leadership and strategic insight has been crucial in shaping the company’s direction and achieving key milestones.

"It is a tremendous honor to lead the HAPO team. I am very appreciative of the Board’s confidence in me. I'm excited to step into this new role and will work to further strengthen our credit union and provide additional value to our members,” said Mitchell.

The Tri-Cities HOME Consortium has funding available to help create affordable rental housing within the Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.

Projects for this funding, carry significant project requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in the need to repay all HOME-ARP funds.

The HOME-ARP Affordable Rental Housing Program is designed to help qualifying individuals and families obtain and maintain permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
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The objectives of to:

1. Help qualifying, vulnerable individuals regain stability quickly by providing them with permanent housing
2. Reduce the length of time participants experience homelessness, and
3. Help participants maintain permanent housing
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For more information or to apply, please review the qualification information and complete the pre-application at www.ci.richland.wa.us/ARP. The deadline is September 30, 2024.

Regional employers with open positions to fill are invited to attend the WSU Tri-Cities Career and Internship Fair. The event will be held on the WSU Tri-Cities campus in the Consolidated Information Center and the Student Union Building on Oct. 22. Registration for employers is now open. 

Employers will have the opportunity to meet with students from all majors and all class standings as well as community members from the greater Tri-Cities who are seeking job opportunities.

Standard registration is $300 and Private Non-Profit/Small-Business (50 or less employees) registration is $200. Registration includes four hours of recruitment access, a table and two chairs, space for interviewing potential candidates, an employer lounge with food and refreshments, free parking and wireless internet.

“This career and internship fair has been very popular the last few years with employers and students,” said Laura Sanchez, director of student services. “It’s just a great opportunity for local and regional organizations to connect with talented students and network with community members interested in new prospects.”

Sanchez said the event typically draws approximately 60 employers and more than 190 students. 
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Businesses that wish to have a booth at the event must register by Oct. 1. For information regarding the event and registration for both students and employers, visit tricities.wsu.edu/event/fall-2024-career-internship-fair/

The City of Richland invites all citizens to attend the annual National Night Out and City Fair event on Tuesday, August 6, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is in Howard Amon Park, 500 Amon Park Drive, near the Fingernail Stage. The first 300 will receive a free shaved ice treat compliments of the Richland Police Foundation. There will be 5 food/beverage vendors and lots of give-aways. 

National Night Out is a national community-building campaign to bring neighbors and law enforcement together to focus on community safety and strengthen relationships between the public and emergency services. In addition to public safety personnel, citizens will also have the opportunity to visit with other city department representatives and learn more about all City services and resources. Attendees will enjoy fun activities, learn more about City services, and participate in department demonstrations.

The opening ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. on the Fingernail Stage. After the ceremony, kids twelve and under are encouraged to complete a City Pass to be eligible to win one of 28 new bicycles! (20 were donated by Hayden Homes.) Entertainment is provided by the Knutzen Brothers. 

Richland Fire & Emergency Services will present HeartSafe Richland / Hands-Only CPR Training where kids and adults can easily learn this life-saving skill. The free demonstration will take place at the Fingernail Stage at 6:00 p.m. 

Lee Boulevard at Amon Park Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic. 

Take the free shuttle from City Hall to the park, a limited number of parking spots are also available near the Richland Community Center and along the park. Foot and bicycle transportation is encouraged.
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The food vendors and park concessionaire items are available for purchase.  

This year’s Microsurfacing pavement preservation road preparation begins on Wednesday, August 7 in Central Richland. Residents will be given notices by the contractor, Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc. prior to work being done on their street. Additionally, no parking signs will be in place a few days before, warning about parking on the streets. 

Microsurfacing is a mixture of fine aggregate, emulsified asphalt, and chemical additives that is applied to City roads. This preventive maintenance extends the life of existing asphalt while sealing it from the harmful effects of water penetration and sun.

During street preparation, commuters can expect temporary or partial traffic impacts before the sealant application closes down the road for part of a day. When applied, the material is brown and sticky. Cars, bicycles, people and pets must be kept off the surface until it is cured and the street has reopened. After a couple of weeks of cure time, crews will return to apply permanent striping. 
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For more information, including a detailed map, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/ppp.

As announced last week, the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2) project received Phase 1 award status from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to begin initial planning, permitting and analysis activities.  Washington State University Tri-Cities will play a key role in this venture.  Part of the award will be used to benefit local communities in Washington, Oregon, and Montana and address environmental justice issues. 

Kate McAteer, vice chancellor of academic and student affairs at WSU Tri-Cities is leading Phase 1 planning of the Community Benefits Plan (CBP) portion of the project with support from the Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE) based out of WSU Everett, and the Office of Tribal Relations at WSU Pullman. 

“WSU Tri-Cities is located in the heart of clean energy efforts in the state. As a campus that serves a significant population of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, we are ready and I, personally, am thrilled to lead the PNWH2 Hub’s effort to advance job equity and energy justice not only locally, but throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said McAteer.

The CBP will be informed and developed in consultation with local communities and tribes, with the goal of reducing potential impacts of the Hub’s efforts and maximizing local community benefits. The CBP aligns with the Federal Justice 40 goals, an initiative to deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. 

The PNWH2 Hub has eight “nodes”, or project sites, across three states, including one in Richland, Washington led by Atlas Agro and several proposed projects in eastern Oregon. 

The PNWH2 Hub project aims to establish the Pacific Northwest as a national benchmark for successful low-carbon intensity and economically viable green hydrogen production. As part of this project, the CBP will engage with communities to define and quantify benefits, avoid disproportionate burdens and closely track and ensure that benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. These benefits could include, but are not limited to, the creation of more than 10,000 quality jobs, reduced emissions and the development of STEM-based education and training programs from K-12 through college to ensure a pipeline of trained and qualified workers to build, then operate and maintain the Hub’s hydrogen projects.

The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, a multi-state nonprofit organization focused on creating a robust network of clean hydrogen suppliers and end-users in the Pacific Northwest is sponsoring the project.
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For more information about the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub project visit: pnwh2.com