An enthusiastic audience crammed into the First Lutheran Church in Kennewick on Jan. 31 to hear the Mid-Columbia Brass Quintet play a joyful recital, 30 years after their first, in the very same venue. Randy Hubbs (trumpet), Don Paul (trumpet) and John Owen (horn) played that concert. Members Bob Swoboda (trombone) joined five years later and Phil Simpson (tuba), joined three years ago.

Like the first concert, they opened with Sonata from the Bankelsangerlieder, (Bench singer's songs) from the late 1600s, at a brisk tempo. Then, a contrast, Exhaltation, by American composer Brian Balmages; tone pyramids against lyrical melodies, passed from horn to horn. A lighter, nostalgic number followed, a Roaring Twenties Medley which brought Ragtime and Dixieland to popular tunes of the era.

Having demonstrated their versatility, they returned to music of the first concert, the March from Arthur Frankenpohl's Brass Quintet, with exposed melodies for each instrument and shifting tonality. Handel's Rejoicing, with guest artist, organist Kim Barney, had Hubbs and Paul playing brilliant C trumpets, the quintet and the organ answering each other. The first half ended with Irving Berlin's classic, Puttin' on the Ritz, which tossed the melody from one instrument to another.

After intermission, the quintet played Don Paul's arrangement: Church Anniversary Medley. Then the concert became a family affair. Jan Paul, Don's wife, sang Don's Broadway Show Medley. Jan masterfully portrayed each song's character, combining her expressive musical line and acting skills. A Scherzo by Ludwig Maurer, was followed by Morton Gould's haunting Pavanne, beginning and ending with muted trumpets.

Carisa Simpson, Phil's wife, brought down the house with Momisms. To the music of the William Tell Overture, the old Lone Ranger theme, arranged by Phil, the song rattles off the advice a mother gives her children, rapid-fire. Carisa's clear, bright soprano led the ensemble, which played a balanced accompaniment. The concert ended in a blaze of speed with Henry Fillmore's The Circus Bee; virtuoso trumpet playing, followed by breakneck trombone-tuba unison.

The players aspire to follow two rules: to make a beautiful sound, and to explore what it means to be a musician. The concert demonstrated not only how successful these music educators have been, but also how lucky the young people of our community are to have mentors like the MCBQ.

*Chuck Eaton plays bass trombone with the Walla Walla Symphony and has played with the Mid-Columbia and Oregon East orchestras, and the Columbia Basin College Jazz Ensemble. He also has played jazz and classical music in other contexts with members of the MCBQ.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Columbia Basin College students in automotive, welding, nursing, and agricultural science collected awards at two state contests recently.

At Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, CBC students took home 15 of the 24 medals awarded at the SkillsUSA Club Winter Conference. The following are the CBC winners:

Mason Ortiz	3rd  Job Demonstration	Automotive
Jeremy Zohn	3rd  Job Demonstration	Welding
Angela Combs	2nd  Job Demonstration	Nursing
Carmen Quinn	3rd  Extemporaneous Speaking	Automotive
Taryn Sanders	2nd  Extemporaneous Speaking	Automotive
Mason Ortiz	1st  Extemporaneous Speaking	Automotive
Bethany Rawls	1st  Extemporaneous Speaking	Automotive
Thomas Verret	3rd  Prepared Speech	Automotive
Robert Garcia	2nd  Prepared Speech	Automotive
Mason Ortiz	1st  Prepare Speech	Automotive
Eduardo Enriquez	2nd  Job Interview	Automotive
Bethany Rawls	2nd  Job Interview	Automotive
Carmen Quinn	3rd  Job Interview	Automotive
A.J. Spaniel	1st  Job Interview	Welding
Taryn Sanders	2nd  Job Interview	Automotive

At Walla Walla Community College, three CBC students qualified for the National Post-Secondary Agricultural Students (PAS) contest. Kinbri Sipes and Emily Tobin qualified in Ornamental Horticulture and Katie Westfall in Equine Science Specialist.

William Chesterfield, 19, operates a vertical milling machine in class at Columbia Basin College. Chesterfield left his home in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in August to attend CBC's machine technology program on a scholarship. He will lean to make tools, computer chips and other items while at CBC. After he completes the two-year program, he'll take those skills back home to work in a power plant. Photo by Richard Dickin of the Tri-City Herald

PASCO -- William Chesterfield watched through his safety goggles as a block of steel moved back and forth in a vertical milling machine, getting a fraction smaller with each pass.

The steel eventually will be transformed into a vice used to hold other material that's being cut. But right then, it just looked like a gray block.

Still, it made Chesterfield smile. The 19-year-old left his home and family and traveled thousands of miles to learn how to operate milling machines, lathes and other equipment in Columbia Basin College's machine technology program.

"Everyone (back home) is proud. I'm proud," Chesterfield said.

The teen is from the U.S. Virgin Islands. He earned a scholarship out of high school that's paying for his two years of CBC training. Once he finishes, he'll have a job waiting at a St. Thomas power and water plant.

Chesterfield said he never imagined going to college before he got the scholarship, and especially never thought he'd end up in such a technical field.

"I never thought I'd be an engineer in my entire life. I grew up hating math," he said.

He also never imagined he'd move to Washington. Before Chesterfield enrolled at CBC, he hadn't heard of the Tri-Cities.

He moved here last August -- his first time ever out on his own. As he learns the ins and outs of independent living -- like doing the laundry and cooking dinner -- he's also learning a trade.

In the CBC class, students make models on the computer and then try their hands at the milling machines and lathes. The other day, Chesterfield used one of the machines in the shop to fashion a set of dice out of aluminum.

The 19-year-old has 32 classmates -- a record number for the program.

When instructor Rob Walker took over the program a decade ago, there were nine students. The number eventually settled at between 18 and 20.

Walker said the recent surge likely is connected to the struggling economy. People are looking to gain skills that lead to steady work, and there are jobs in the Tri-Cities area for people with machine skills because of the manufacturers in town.

Plus, "the skill set is portable," Walker said. "You can use it all over the world."

The program accepts students each quarter, so the 30-plus enrolled now won't all graduate at the same time. This quarter, the students come from a variety of backgrounds and are all different ages, Walker said.

There's a father and daughter in the class and also a man from Burma, he said.

Chesterfield said he's enjoying the Tri-Cities and likes machine technology. Both are so new to him, but that's part of the adventure, he said.

In the CBC shop, he watched the mill move slowly back and forth over the steel.

"It's going to take a while," he said.

But he's got the time and desire to learn.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

College students came to Columbia Basin College today to learn more about federal financial aid and scholarship opportunities. 

College Goal Sunday event is held at about 18 different spots around the state and CBC organizers tell us learning about the FAFSA is an important step for students because it’s the gateway for financial aid benefits.

“We’ve been doing it now for three years, and each time we just enjoy helping the families come and help them get their FAFSAs done.  (And then) it gets them started and it makes us feel good,” Ceci Ratliff, CBC Financial Services.

Now the deadline at CBC for paperwork and FASFA forms to be turned in is April 10.  Ratliff says it is better to complete those forms as soon as possible.

Hollywood currently releases 11,000 adult movies per year, more than 20 times the mainstream movie production. Worldwide sex industry sales for 2006 were reported to be $97 billion; in comparison, Microsoft reported sales of $44.8 billion in 2006. A study of exotic dancers found that 100 percent had been physically assaulted in the clubs where they were employed, including attempted vaginal penetration, attempted rape, and rape. Twenty-five to 30 percent of male students surveyed in 1983 admitted there is some likelihood they would rape a woman if they could be assured of getting away with it. This increased to 57 percent after exposure to sexually violent images, particularly sexually violent images depicting women enjoying rape. Is the price of pleasure too high?

The Price of Pleasure is a mature documentary about the rapidly growing pornography industry and its effects on American society. Segments from the film will be shown at 6 p.m. tonight, Monday, February 1 in room L102 of the Columbia Basin College Pasco campus. Following the viewing, an examination of the industry’s racist and sexist practices as well as the changes it is bringing upon American culture will be discussed by one of the film’s academic commentators, Robert Jensen, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Topics to be covered include the effects of pornography on an individual’s ability to have normal relationships, the psychology of addiction, and social issues such as domestic violence, which may be attributed to this growing phenomenon in America. This event is designed to help students think critically about the effects of pornography on our culture and to begin an informed dialogue on the topic with the goal of helping students answer the question: Is the price of pleasure too high?

Due to the mature nature of the film, viewer discretion is advised.

During January in each of the last 3 years, the CBC athletic department has put on a huge banquet.

The goal of those events was to raise money for the department...and they've done a good job, collecting well over $60,000.

Thursday night, it was the 4th annual "Follow Your Dreams" banquet over at CBC.

The Hawks inducted 4 new members into their wall of fame...former coaches Dale Gier, Ed Maxwell, and Jim Rodgers and former baseball star and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ray Washburn.

The special guest speaker was former CBC basketball player and Denver Nuggets star Byron Beck.

And it turns out that some of these greats are a little star struck by one another.

Byron Beck says, "Its fantastic...Ray's sitting at my table here tonight and we've had some great conversations, I just told him how much I was in awe of what he has done, accomplished, pitching in the World Series and what not, and like I said, I always wanted to be a professional baseball player, so, its been really great."

There were a few other notable people at this year's event, including Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, and most of the CBC coaches.

As for money raised at this year's banquet...we haven't heard a dollar amount yet, but organizers seemed happy with the turn-out.

While our local hockey and basketball players are pretty good athletes, they've got a ways to go before they become professionals.

However, its probably safe to say that at least one or two of them will make it to that level.

Some of the Tri-Cities biggest success stories were back in town Thursday night for CBC's 4th annual "Follow Your Dreams" banquet.

One of the school's alums that made it big was former baseball star Ray Washburn.

After leaving CBC, he went on to a 10 year career in the major leagues.

He pitched for both St. Louis and Cincinnati...and he won a World Series ring and threw a no-hitter during his career.

But, even with all that success, he's always been connected to CBC, including some surprising ties with the Hawks athletic director Scott Rogers and their baseball coach Steve Farrington.

Washburn says, "When I was coaching baseball at Bellevue, Scott was my 1st baseman, so, it kind of, we kind of come around, and I played, coached against Steve Farrington, he was at Lower Columbia at the time, so we always have a lot of head battles, so it was good to see Steve too."

Washburn wasn't the only baseball star at Thursday night's event.

Pasco-native and Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman was also in the crowd.

And all of those stars helped raise $25,000 for the CBC athletic department.

PASCO, Wash. - Nearly 500 people from around the area attended College Night 2010. The annual event is hosted by Columbia Basin College and focuses on helping high school seniors learn about higher education.

Wednesday night they learned about CBC, its academic and program offerings and financial aide and scholarship opportunities. Diversity and Outreach Vice President, Martin Valedez, says last year they gave away $274,000 in scholarships and next year they hope to give more. "We offer all types of help. We have our financial aide office here with information about financial aide, about loans and about all types of scholarships. So there should be some sort of financing for all students," said Valedez.

CBC will also offer College Goal Sunday.  The event will help students and parents by answering financial aid questions and helping them fill out financial aid forms. The event takes place this Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the CBC campus.

For the Mid-Columbia Brass Quintet, playing music always has been a serious mission. But at the same time, they want it to be as fun as the fire bell polka.

Here are five guys, three of them charter members, playing with brass -- on just about anything an audience might want to hear from a tuba, trumpets, a trombone and a French horn.

You can sample the quintet's savvy sound at a concert celebrating its 30 years at 4 p.m. Jan. 31.

Don Paul, John Owen and Randy Hubbs are the diehard 30-year veterans of the group. The other original members were trombonist George Konopek and tuba player Warren Hopkins, who eventually moved from the Tri-Cities. Several others have filled in over the years.

Bob Swoboda settled in back in 1985, and Phillip Simpson joined in 2007.

Hubbs, who was the baby of the group in 1980 as its 23-year-old trumpet player, remembers those early years.

"I had just started my first teaching job at Pasco High School when the quintet formed 30 years ago," he said. "I didn't want to pass up the chance to play with Don and John because they were experienced band directors I could learn something from, and I know for a fact playing with them all these years has made me a better teacher."

Hubbs moved from Pasco High's music department to become a music director at Columbia Basin College, where both Paul and Owen already were instructors.

Besides finding time to play a quintet gig at least once a week, Hubbs and Owen collaborated on organizing the annual Cavalcade of Bands, now in its 29th year.

Paul, a professor emeritus from CBC, also was key in organizing CBC's annual Jazz Unlimited music competition, now in its 39th year.

Owen, who plays French horn, is an instrumental music teacher in the Pasco School District. He's been involved with several music groups since moving to the Tri-Cities in 1975 and was conductor of the now defunct Mid-Columbia Youth Symphony and founder/conductor of the wind chamber group Harmonie Columbia.

Swoboda, on trombone, has a master's in trombone performance and is an instructor in the Kennewick School District. Simpson, the band director at Southridge High School in Kennewick, is a composer as well as performer who has directed several instrumental and vocal groups.

All five also are members of or have been members of the Mid-Columbia Symphony.

"I have always enjoyed participating in groups of musicians, whether it's a Dixieland band or a symphony orchestra," Paul said. "Small groups have had a special appeal because of the musical interactions, the personal relationships and the fact they can perform in a lot more venues."

The variety of music the quintet can play also makes performing a lot more fun, he added.

"We have a large library, some of which I have been fortunate to have written or arranged," Paul said.

For Owen, being a part of the quintet is much more than just a chance to play with four other fabulous musicians.

"We've been together so long we're even more than friends, we're brothers," Owen said. "And one of our missions has been music education, and it feels good that we've been able to help hundreds of kids during the last 30 years become more acquainted with music."

The guys also plan to spice up Sunday's concert with a few female vocalists.

Soprano Jan Paul, Don's wife, will belt out a medley of Broadway show tunes while Simpson's wife, soprano Carissa Simpson, will tackle a rendition of the hilarious Mom's Song, sung to the music of William Tell Overture. And organist Kim Barney will assist the quintet with a classical piece by Handel.

"There are many great brass quintets in the world today that have set examples for us to try and live up to," Paul said.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

About NELA
Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA) is a not-for-profit guaranty agency that works in partnership with schools, banks and other lending institutions to help students continue their education. NELA administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and guarantees the loans against default. This guarantee allows commercial lenders to make loans to students, who often have no collateral or credit history.

About Lumina Foundation for Education
Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and success in education beyond high school.

Two events aimed at helping Tri-City area students get a jump start on higher education are planned in the next few days at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

The first event, called College Night, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Gjerde Center. Nearly 3,000 area high school seniors and their parents have been invited to learn about CBC's programs, get information on financial aid, meet instructors and hear from students.

Seniors who attend also will be able to apply for $1,000 College Night scholarships. At least two scholarships will be awarded; students must turn in their applications at College Night to be eligible.

The event is put on annually but typically is aimed at under-represented students, such as those from low-income families. However, this year college officials have broadened their target demographic to include all students.

Because of the slumping economy, "we figure more and more students are going to need to have some other options" when it comes to higher education, said Roy Garcia, CBC's director of outreach. "What better place than your own backyard?"

CBC also is playing host to a College Goal Sunday event from 2-4 p.m. Jan. 31 in the Thornton Center. Volunteers will be on hand to help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

The College Goal Sunday at CBC is one of several being put on throughout the state.

Applying for financial aid "can be an overwhelming thing. We want to help as many people as we can get their FAFSA in," said Andrew Crawmer, CBC's assistant director of outreach.

Students who attend also will be eligible to apply for two $500 scholarships. The scholarships don't have to be used at CBC.

The College Goal Sunday event is for all students, not just those planning to attend the Pasco community college.

Students should bring their tax information. Students who are under 24 and are considered dependents should bring their parents' tax information.

For more information, call 542-4423.

Deadline nears
The deadline to apply for Columbia Basin College Foundation scholarships is Feb. 21. For details, go to columbiabasin.edu/foundation

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Innovation is part of Washington’s DNA,” says Larry Williams, director of international trade and economic development for the Washington Department of Commerce. He adds that the Evergreen State has an established reputation for “the convergence of innovation to implementation” and touts homegrown success stories such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Starbucks. While the recession has impacted all states’ revenues, Williams says, “diversity helps us weather this and will bring us out of it quicker.” A new forecast from Moody’s Economy.com predicts that Washington will be among the first five states to recover job growth, with recovery beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009.

This year, Forbes ranked Washington as the second-best state to do business and fifth-best regulatory climate. With no personal state income tax, Washington was also placed as the ninth-best tax climate in the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation’s 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index. “Having no state income tax is important to employers,” says Williams.

Future growth is focused on clean energy, such as solar and wind, and on smart-grid companies that manage existing energy options. Aerospace, a more traditional industry for Washington, is taking off into new directions such as commercial aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Other prospective growth industries include information and communications technologies, software development, and digital media and gaming.

France-based fuel manufacturer AREVA’s consolidation and expansion plans will add approximately 50 jobs to its Richland facility. With a 40-year history in Richland, AREVA was aware of “the available, well-educated and highly skilled work force, excellent support from the local community, and well-maintained, reliable, and available state and local infrastructures,” says Chuck Perkins, Richland Site Manager at AREVA. “A significant factor particularly considering the age of the work force, is that the industry in the area has been working with Columbia Basin College (CBC) to implement a training program for the next generation of workers, an example of the type of local interaction and co-operation we appreciate.”

In the global health industry, pacesetters such as The Gates Foundation and PATH, an international nonprofit global health organization, attract new companies that generate products and ideas for worldwide healthcare improvement. In September, Albany Molecular Research Institute (AMRI) dedicated its new Bothell Research Center, focused on early phases of drug discovery. Ronald J. O’Brien, AMRI’s director of global communications, says that other states were considered, including New York, the site of the firm’s headquarters, but “the cost differential in real and intangible costs was significantly higher anywhere else but in Washington State. 

Strategic location was a deciding factor for juvenile furniture manufacturer Stork Craft Manufacturing, Inc. This past August, a year after locating its distribution center in Bellingham, the firm relocated its U.S. administrative offices from Nevada to Bellingham. Jim Moore, president and CEO of Stork Craft, says the company sought its U.S. location near the Canadian border. “Our world HQ is situated in Richmond, B.C., 20 minutes from the Pacific truck crossing. Most of our executive staff is located in Richmond, and Bellingham is an easy drive for training of personnel and the setup of this entity.”

Additional money available – The annual Foundation Scholarships are currently being accepted for the 2010-11 academic year.  Applications can be downloaded at www.columbiabasin.edu/foundation and are due February 22, 2010.  Last year, more than 200 students were awarded $274,000 in scholarships.

PASCO -- The Tri-Cities chapter of a veterans group has donated $15,000 to help combat veterans or their children with expenses at Columbia Basin College.

Combat Veterans International, Chapter 3, raised the money by raffling off a Victory Kingpin motorcycle.

Members announced the scholarships Friday during a news conference at the Pasco college.

"When we came home (from war), we had little help," said J.D. Howard of Benton City, a Vietnam veteran and chapter member. "What we're trying to do is make it easier for these (younger vets) to transition" back into civilian life.

Two scholarships will be awarded every quarter. Because most veterans qualify for government help with tuition, the scholarships will be used for expenses such as books, materials and fees, according to CBC.

The scholarships will go first to combat veterans or their children, and then will be opened up to all veterans if there aren't enough applicants.

More than 400 veterans are enrolled at CBC, said college President Rich Cummins.

"We know there will be quite a number of new veterans coming into the community (in the next few years)," and CBC is committed to helping them, he said.

Members of the Tri-Cities Combat Veterans International chapter sold tickets for months to raise money for the scholarships.

The Victory Kingpin they gave away came from John and Jean Richardson's Thunder Alley Victory motorcycle store in Kennewick.

The Richardsons paid for the bike's custom paint job -- honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action -- out of their own pockets, said Gene Lamm, president of the chapter.

The raffle was held over Veterans Day 2008; nearly 8,000 tickets were sold and $25,000 was raised.

Money from the fundraiser also has been used to help struggling veterans with expenses such as groceries and pay for six college scholarships for veterans' children. Those scholarships were awarded last summer.

"We take great pride in giving back to the community that's given so much to us," Lamm said.

Howard, who's taken several classes at CBC since the 1970s, said his group chose CBC because it's a local institution that goes above and beyond for its students.

The group will continue to raise money and find ways to help veterans returning from combat, members said.

"The (veterans of) World War II, Korea stretched out their hands to us," Howard said. "Now we're doing the same."

The chapter also is working with the Yakama Indian Nation on a scholarship fund for Native American veterans.

For more information or to contribute, call 509-308-2482.

-- On the net: www.combatveterans.com

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

PASCO -- Anyone that knows Mark Wilson won't say a word about him without quickly mentioning his work ethic.

Mark Wilson (12) comes from a small school -- Liberty Christian in Richland -- but he has made a big difference at CBC. Photo by Richard Dickin of the Tri-City Herald

"He's just works hard," said one former coach. "That's just what he does."

Wilson takes pride in his work ethic because of his constant drive to succeed. To put it simply, he wants to be the best at work, in the classroom and especially on the basketball court.

He also trusts all of his hard work. It's that trust that landed him a starting job on the Columbia Basin College men's basketball team.

Prior to committing to play for the Hawks, Wilson -- a former Liberty Christian standout -- had never seen an NWAACC basketball game.

But again, he trusted his work ethic and believed he could play at the college level.

Immediately, he has shown that he belongs on the court. His slashing style of drives, accompanied with a solid long-range jump shot provides him the versatility to score from just about any spot on the court and has created matchup problems for opponents.

He earned a starting spot during the summer and fall and is the Hawks' second leading scorer at more than 13 points per game.

Whether Wilson believed he would achieve instant success, that's a hard question to answer for the soft-spoken 6-foot-3 guard.

But his early success has come as no surprise to others.

"Absolutely not," said Terry Watson, his coach for three seasons at Liberty Christian. "He is the hardest working kid I have ever coached."

It goes back to that work ethic. When Wilson committed last spring to play at CBC, he had his reservations as did CBC coach Lane Schumacher about what he could do.

Wilson was one of the top scorers in the state as a senior at Liberty Christian, averaging more than 23 points per game, including a season-high 39 against DeSales.

But for as good as those numbers were, it was against B-level competition where he was easily the best player on the court nearly every night.

Schumacher liked what he saw, but still wasn't convinced, and knew he was taking a little bit of a risk signing Wilson.

"You always have your concerns," Schumacher said. "A kid comes from a small school and you wonder if it's going to be a total shock for them at the next level."

But that that sometimes rocky transition from a small high school to the college level has been a road without too many potholes.

Wilson admits it has taken him a while to get use to the faster-paced game and has had to make a few adjustments -- mainly speeding up the release of his jump shot. But after 16 games, things have started to slow down and Wilson says he has found his comfort zone.

"After about a month, I started to get a lot more confidence," Wilson said. "I just try to go out and play."

As Wilson has started to find his game, so have the rest of his teammates.

With only one sophomore on the roster, the Hawks appear to have righted the ship after a 3-11 start.

CBC (5-11, 2-2) has won two straight East Region games, heading into a key game today against Yakima Valley (8-8, 2-2).

The Hawks are coming off an impressive 84-63 road win over Wenatchee in which they shot 10-of-17 from behind the 3-point line in the first half.

"I think things are starting to come together," Wilson said. "We started playing good defense, and I think that's what we need to keep doing."

In other words, Wilson and Hawks are working a little harder.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

PASCO -- Combat Veterans International helped CBC student veterans keep their college dreams alive Friday. The group donated $15,000 to the college for a scholarship that will pay for student supplies the GI Bill doesn't cover.

GI Bills cover tuition costs but don't always pay for books, fees or supplies.

"I just have some miscellaneous study guide books," Amy Bruchman said as she stacked her books one on top of the other."How much did those books cost you?" Action News asked. "About $410."

Amy Bruchman is a second-year student at CBC and in the US Army Reserves. Her tuition is paid for by the Montgomery GI Bill - for selected Reservists - but clearly, she pays a pretty penny for her books. And that's just for one quarter.

"It's pretty limited on the funding," she said. "It doesn't cover any of the books, it doesn't cover any of the school expenses," she said.

Bruchman's one of 200 military students at CBC receiving benefits, but who often foot the bill for the basics.

"Because of the way GI Bill works, sometimes it takes a long time before students see monies," Jennifer Bateman said, Program Coordinator in the Financial Services

The Post-911 GI Bill is the only one that pays for a book allowance and even then, students don't get the cash upfront. Veterans receiving benefits before 2001 don't get book money at all.

"They raised a lot of money and they delivered on that promise," CBC President Rich Cummins said during his speech to the group.

Combat Veterans International is helping close the cash gap with a $15,000 scholarship. Various combat veterans and children of combat vets will be awarded $500 a quarter to pay for books, materials and fees. Members of CVI told Action News that it was a way to give back to their comrades after their own experiences at the college.

"When we had this opportunity to come back to the college and to the combat veterans, we're killing two birds with one stone and i mean it was a win-win situation, you can't lose."

"oh, I think it's a huge blessing," Bruchman said. "You know, even if you don't qualify for it it's nice that people are recognizing the need and reaching out to veterans."

Although Bruchman hasn't seen combat yet, she still plans to apply and maybe put a dent in the bill for books.

Student vets have until February 22 to apply. The scholarship will focus on combat vets, picking two new ones every quarter, but non-combat vets can still apply.

The local vets' chapter raised the money by raffling off a motorcycle from Thunder Ally Victory Motorcycles in Kennewick. The group managed to sell enough tickets to pay for the bike in three months.

To find out how to apply, check out Columbia Basin College's website.

Dr. J. Dale Gier, Ray Washburn, Ed Maxwell and Jim Rodgers were inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in front of a crowd estimated at 275.

Some interesting tidbits came about throughout the night.

-- Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, a Pasco native, was in attendance and said he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to go this season after recovering from thoracic surgery. ... CBC athletic director Scott Rogers acknowledged all of his coaches during his speech, including volleyball coach John Patrick, who resigned after 22 years at his position. The crowd burst into applause when he was mentioned. ... Steve Farrington, CBC’s baseball coach, said the Hawks sent 23 players on to four-year schools last year. This year’s team should be loaded again. Kevin Komstadius, the East Valley of Yakima slugger, has transferred from the University of Washington to CBC. Meanwhile, Richland’s Cody Shepherd -- who was headed to Washington as a walk-on with the chance to earn a scholarship after one year -- has decided to play for CBC. Farrington said his plan is to play one season for the Hawks, then go on a Mormon mission before coming back to resume playing. ... Former CBC basketball great Byron Beck, the night’s featured speaker who played in the ABA and NBA, revealed that he had wanted to always be a pro baseball player. ... Ex-CBC men’s basketball coach Jim Rodgers, whose teams won five consecutive NWAACC titles in the 1960s, said Ray Washburn — the Burbank native who pitched in the major leagues and was also inducted into the CBC Hall of Fame on Thursday — was “a really good basketball player. He would come back to visit, and we’d play in pickup games.” Rodgers, 75, praised Jack Cooney as the driving force behind getting CBC started. “He took on the Pasco School District to start this school.”

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

For nearly 2 1/2 hours Thursday night, more than 275 people at Columbia Basin College's Follow Your Dreams banquet were in a time warp.

Former coaches and players returned to the Pasco campus to share their stories and talk about the importance CBC athletics played in their lives at the annual event that has become a hugely successful fundraiser for the Hawks athletic department.

The banquet, now in its fourth year, raised more than $25,000, with the money going toward facility upgrades and scholarships. The event has generated nearly $100,000 since it was started in 2007 by associate athletic director and assistant baseball coach Jeremy Beard.

"I think it went really well," Beard said. "The people have been really generous with their donations."

CBC athletic director Scott Rogers estimates the money raised from the banquet provides 25 scholarships per year to student-athletes.

The event has also been instrumental in the construction of the new multipurpose facility between the soccer, baseball and softball fields. The building, which is expected to be completed in April, will house locker rooms, coaches offices, a concession stand and restrooms.

"Did I mention it was going to have restrooms?" Rogers joked. Restrooms have been nonexistent on the outdoor playing fields.

The night belonged to guest speaker Byron Beck and the four newest members of CBC's Wall of Fame: Dr. Dale Gier, Ray Washburn, Ed Maxwell and Jim Rodgers.

Each one took their turn recalling their time at CBC and their fondest memories of the college.

"It was a stepping stone for fulfilling my dreams," said Beck, who went on to play in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the NBA.

Rogers also narrated a slide show, showing some of the success of the athletic program over the past 10 years, listing the 69 different four-year schools that CBC athletes have continued their playing careers at during that time.

A lot of that success stems from the groundwork put forth by the four inductees into this year's Wall of Fame.

"It's great to hear their stories," Beard said. "They mean so much to CBC and its success."

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Combat Veterans International, Chapter 3, is donating $15,000 it raised to support scholarships at Columbia Basin College for combat veterans.

The local vets' chapter sold raffle tickets for a motorcycle they purchased at Thunder Ally Victory Motorcycles in Kennewick. In three months, the veterans' organization sold enough tickets to pay for the cost of the bike. They went on to raise another $25,000 through the raffle ticket sale. Since most veterans receive payment for some, if not all tuition, the scholarship money will pay for their books, materials, and fees.

In addition to the scholarship funding, Chapter 3 uses part of the money raised to pay for special needs like food for combat veterans. The criteria for the Combat Veterans scholarships require the recipient to either be a combat veteran or child of a combat vet. Two scholarships will be given per quarter.

Chapter 3 is also exploring a funding project with the Yakama Indian Nation to fund scholarships for Native American veterans. For further information or to contribute to the scholarship fund, contact Gene Lamm at 509.308.2482.

Columbia Basin College's annual Follow Your Dreams banquet returns to the Pasco campus tonight.

The fourth annual event has turned into a staple in the college's athletic department, and in three years it has raised nearly $70,000 for scholarships and facility upgrades.

Associate athletic director and banquet coordinator Jeremy Beard, who started the event in 2007, expects another strong turnout this evening, hoping to match the success of the first three events.

The event will be headlined by former CBC basketball standout Byron Beck.

Beck played in all nine American Basketball Association seasons (ABA) and made two All-Star Game appearances. In 1977, Beck became the first player in Denver Nuggets franchise history to have his number retired.

Along with Beck, the athletic department will induct four new members into its Wall of Fame.

Among those include: J. Dale Gier, a former CBC coach and longtime administrator; Ray Washburn, a former CBC baseball standout and former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher; Edward Maxwell, a former baseball coach and pioneer in helping expand CBC's athletic department; and Jim Rodgers, a former CBC basketball coach who won an unprecedented three straight NWAACC championships.

The money raised at tonight's event will partially be used to help finish the new building between the soccer, baseball and softball fields. The multipurpose building, which Beard said he hopes to have open in April, will serve as a concession stand, locker room and coaches' offices.

Last year, through a silent auction and donations, the event raised about $22,000.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

VIDEO: 19th Annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony

VIDEO: On the street at the 19th Annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony

Photo Gallery: MLK Bell-Ringing 2010

PASCO -- The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was marked Monday in the Tri-Cities with reminders that much more needs to be done to bring civil rights to all.

After little golden bells rang across the still Columbia Basin College campus, brothers Corey, 9, and Marcell Brown, 10, of Pasco, placed two colorful bouquets of flowers at the foot of the King statue on the campus. King is depicted standing with his left hand on the shoulder of a boy who could be Corey or Marcell's age.

Bobby Sparks of Kennewick shows a bell to his great-nephew Corey Brown, 9, of Pasco, on Monday during the 19th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. bell-ringing ceremony at Columbia Basin College. Sparks brings a bell each year from the collection of his late mother, Annie Sparks. About 20 of Annie's descendants were among the roughly 400 at the ceremony. Corey and his brother Marcell performed the flower presentation. Photo by Kai-Huei of the Tri-City Herald

About 400 people attended the 19th annual bell-ringing ceremony in remembrance of King.

Kimberly Camp, Hanford Reach Interpretive Center CEO and the event's keynote speaker, said for her, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day to roll up the sleeves, put on jeans and volunteer in the community.

It wasn't until 1994 -- 26 years after King's death -- that he was recognized with a national holiday, she said. King and many others fought the racism that literally was killing black people, but more needs to be done, Camp said.

Camp said, "Civil rights are different than constitutional rights." The Constitution might give citizens rights, but that doesn't mean they are followed, whether due to racism or sexism, she said.

"There have been accomplishments, but the work is not done," she said.

David Arnold, CBC associate professor of intercultural studies, reminded the crowd that every time the U.S. has crossed a racial barrier there has been more work to do. When slavery was abolished in 1865 with the 13th Amendment, abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass recognized that the movement's work was just beginning.

And even after the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments in 1866 and 1870, which provided for equal protection under the law and voting rights for men of color, Jim Crow laws were passed in Southern states that enacted segregation in schools and other public places, he said.

Rufus M. Friday, Tri-City Herald publisher, was recognized for his accomplishments with the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award.

CBC President Richard Cummins said Friday has used the Herald's editorial pages as a true community forum, and has taken on issues important to the community regardless of their popularity.

Friday credited God, his parents, his wife and daughter and the Herald staff after receiving the award.

One of King's legacies is that of dreaming big, Friday said, and it's something his parents taught him.

He also asked those present to remember that the best exercise they could get was to bend over and lift up someone else.

Manny Hunt, 16, a Kamiakin High School student attending the event, said although racism may never be completely gone, people can strive to extinguish it.

The election of President Obama was a sign of change, he said. But there still are many things that need to be changed, he said.

"It doesn't matter what color you are if you have the same content in your heart," Hunt said.

Vanis Daniels of Pasco, who also attended the ceremony, said the U.S. justice system is one of those things that still needs change. The justice system lacks consistency, he said, and the weight given to certain crimes, such as drug-related ones, is unbalanced.

The courts need to remember that they work for the people and not the other way around, Daniels said.

Daniels grew up in the Tri-Cities, and said he remembers as a child, before the blue bridge was finished in 1954, how a Kennewick police officer would be stationed at the old green bridge between Pasco to Kennewick to send back any black people as the sun set.

"It's just good to see the progress that has come about," Daniels said.

Camp encouraged people to question the rhetoric they hear and to form their own opinions. It's up to individual citizens whether the nation lives up to King's expectations, she said.

"We are all in this together," she said.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

Upon receiving the news he'd been named 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award winner, Herald Publisher Rufus Friday said he realized how President Obama must have felt when told he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Are you sure?" Friday said he told the caller on the other end of the line. "There's so much more to be done."

Friday will receive the 21st installment of the award during a noon bell-ringing ceremony Monday at Columbia Basin College in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

CBC President Rich Cummins said Friday's community involvement and ability to foster discussion through the Herald's editorial board led to his selection.

"I think he has vision, I think he's a courageous man," Cummins said of Friday.

Friday, 48, credited his parents for his success. His mother and father, who each had a middle school-level education and raised him in a 12-person house -- two parents, nine children and a blind uncle -- considered education to be the great equalizer.

"It comes back to what my parents taught me," Friday said, "and that is wherever you go, make a positive difference in someone's life."

Friday, who became the Herald's publisher in 2005, sits on numerous boards, including United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, the Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Council and the Tri-City Development Council executive committee.

He's also co-chairman of a group raising money for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center.

"I look back at what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was, and it was all about making positive social change in your community and country," Friday said.

He believes much of King's dream -- social change, equality, respect -- has been realized. Still, he said there's work to be done.

"We can't forget where we came from, but we have to celebrate the accomplishments we've made," he said.

Friday both remembers where he came from -- Gastonia, N.C. -- and relishes his accomplishments, which he said pale in comparison to previous award winners.

Still, he said the recognition is the result of his upbringing and praised his parents' sacrifices, work ethic, optimism and constant support.

Friday said he looks forward to continuing his work in the community and at the newspaper.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

KENNEWICK -- Nearly 400 people came to the Three Rivers Convention Center on Friday to celebrate the successes in promoting equality and diversity in commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

But they left with a different feeling: knowing that the struggle must continue.

"Civil rights means nothing without civil engagement and responsibility. It is the hard work we have to do in society to ensure there is equality," said Kimberly Camp, chief executive officer for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center.

Camp was one of six panelists who shared their views about Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is being observed Monday.

"To me, it's a day to stand up for others," said Paul Strand, an associate professor of psychology at Washington State University Tri-Cities, who was moderator.

"It's about love, truth and equality and the right for everyone to have equality under the law," said Martin Valadez, Columbia Basin College vice president for diversity and outreach.

The third annual community conversation was sponsored by WSU Tri-Cities Multicultural Club with support from the African American Community Cultural and Education Society, the Engineering Club, Business Club, Northwest Collegiate Ministries and Associated Students of WSU Tri-Cities.

As a panelist, Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg said he appreciates the progress the nation and the community have made in fostering equality and diversity, but there is "a long ways to go."

He said there are effective ways to help young minorities not end up in the criminal justice system, but it requires community service and citizen volunteers who will intervene to make a difference in the youths' lives.

Mark Nathan Lee, a panelist who is director of the Vista Youth Center in Kennewick which works with youth on lesbian, gay and bisexual topics, said more needs to be done to achieve acceptance on sexual diversity too.

"I meet youth who feel unsafe in their schools. We need a safe space at our schools with an advocate who they can talk to, independent of the school system," Lee said.

Panelist Norma Rodriguez, an attorney in Kennewick, said her family struggled but worked hard to attain the dream.

"Martin Luther King Jr. provided opportunities to help us fulfill our potentials and reach goals. My parents were migrants. They had dreams they couldn't fulfill, but their children did," she said. "We all have to do our own part."

The event included a buffet dinner and live music afterward.

There also were awards recognizing individuals for their efforts in promoting diversity and equality in the past year at WSU Tri-Cities. They included university teachers Dee Posey, Robert Bauman, Stephanie Bauman, Susan Pramschufer, and Rachael Tengbom, who founded Voices of Hope to help Maasai women in Kenya.

Also honored were Harvey Gover, adviser to the university's Multicultural Club, and representatives of the African American Community Cultural and Education Society.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

From interracial friendships and integrated schools and neighborhoods to the present occupants of the White House, this country is far, far better off today than it was April 4, 1968.

That was the day, of course, when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.

Dr. King is widely regarded as the best orator of his time, perhaps in American history.

But his oratory was in second place to his heart. He was an earnest believer in his faith, in volunteerism and in the rights of man.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in 1986.

Today at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, there will be the annual bell ringing at the King statue on campus, plus the awarding of the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award, as has become a tradition.

Unlike Presidents Day and some other holidays, most people need no reminding what this day is about. It's not just another day off from work but a day to remember a great leader for America and, incidentally, the youngest person, at 35, ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

King had traveled to Memphis and arrived late to give one of the addresses for which he was in constant demand.

His plane was delayed by a bomb threat.

When he arrived, he gave what was to be his last speech.

It was, of course, the speech that became even more famous as his "Mountaintop" speech.

We reprint part of it here that addressed the spirit that had brought about the bomb threat:

"And then I got to Memphis," he concluded after mentioning the delay.

"And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead.

"But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will.

"And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Accolades continued to be showered on King after his death.

His principles of peaceful protest continued to be challenged for awhile by white supremacists here and there.

But we have now reached a point that is a long way short of perfection, but it is so much better than the day he was taken from us.

He made as big a difference in this country as any man since Abraham Lincoln.

And remember that King, unlike Lincoln, did not have an army at his back.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.