OLYMPIA -- Tax increases probably can't be avoided as the state tries to patch a budget deficit that's ballooned another $760 million to about $2.6 billion, top Democratic lawmakers said Thursday.

Leading options include closing tax loopholes and raising "sin" taxes, typically levied on indulgences like tobacco and alcohol. Broad-based tax increases, such as larger levies on sales and business revenue, probably are a last resort because of the fragile economic recovery, Democrats said.

Further spending cuts also are on the table, even though the Legislature already whacked billions from state programs earlier this year to help match recession-hammered revenue collections.

"There's no way you get to $2.6 billion without looking at absolutely everything that's left," said Senate Ways and Means Committee Vice Chairman Rodney Tom, D-Medina.

Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland, said because of limitations on what can be cut, he fears that higher education and K-12 programs not protected by the state constitution -- such as levy equalization -- will be on the chopping block.

"I think attacking education is not the right manner," Haler said. "I think there is overspending in the Department of Ecology. There are far too many employees there. We need to look at (the Department of Social and Human Services) and figure out what are the priorities of DSHS and what could be removed for at least a few years."

Because higher education lacks constitutional protections, Columbia Basin College President Rich Cummins said he's reconvening a budget cutting committee and asking it to prepare scenarios for how the college could slash up to 6 percent of its costs.

He won't know just how much to cut until the Legislature adopts a supplemental budget. But what Cummins does know is that CBC will have to bear the brunt of cuts in the first six months of 2011 because of an edict from the state's Office of Financial Management to hold the line on cuts in 2010 or the state would risk losing some of its federal stimulus funding.

Some stimulus money came with the requirement that it had to be used to "supplement, not supplant" state budgets. That was to prevent states from using the federal money to balance their budgets rather than creating jobs, according to the federal Department of Education website.

The effect on institutions like CBC is to create a bow wave in which deep cuts must be made in 2011 rather than spreading them out over the biennium, Cummins said.

Thursday's comments by majority Demo-crats -- the clearest signal yet that tax increases are in Washington's future -- came after the state's economic forecasters predicted further drop-offs in state tax collections.

Through mid-2011, when the current state budget expires, the treasury will collect about $760 million less than previously expected. One major factor is a lack of consumer confidence, which depresses spending in Washington's sales-driven revenue structure, chief economist Arun Raha said.

"To me, it seems like the consumer's mindset is stuck within a band of pessimism at recessionary levels," he said.

Consumers are likely to come off the sidelines and resume spending only when they feel more secure about the employment picture, which continues to look dark, Raha said.

Hiring typically lags behind an economic recovery, and Washington's 9.3 percent unemployment rate is expected to peak at about 9.8 percent next spring.

Republican lawmakers said the fragile recovery and sour job market are precisely the reasons Democrats should avoid tax increases when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Instead, lawmakers should start work immediately on a package of reforms that fundamentally alter the way government services are delivered, seeking out every cent of savings before considering new revenue, said Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.

"We cannot afford to raise taxes on working families or on businesses that are already struggling," Orcutt said. "We have to be careful that we don't worry so much about our budget problem that we forget about the problems of everyday people out there."

One Republican broke from the pack by showing a bit of optimism in the face of the budget shortfall. Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, said the additional $760 million revenue drop represents only 0.004 percent of the state's total revenues, and he remains confident Washington can emerge from the recession stronger.

"We are in a better position than other states," Chandler said. "Because of our diverse economy, our global trade and our talented work force, we have the opportunity to be a leading economy among Western states and into the next decade. Central Washington is an important part of the solution, with our large agriculture industry as well as our high-value manufacturing."

Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, will get the first crack at balancing the state's budget when she releases a supplemental spending plan next month.

By law, the governor must propose a budget that balances the books within existing revenues. But that probably won't be the last word from Gregoire, who has said repeatedly that she's considering tax increases to help bridge the gap.

Raising taxes would require suspension of Initiative 960, which voters approved in 2007. It requires any tax increases to get either a public vote, or a nearly impossible two-thirds approval from the Legislature.

The Legislature, however, may amend initiatives after two years, and majority Democrats have enough votes to do so.

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

PASCO, Wash.-- Class is in session at the auto body program at Columbia Basin College. But come next spring, the program is no more-- cut because the college is coping with smaller budgets, leaving teachers without their students.

"It's gonna be hard for me personally, this is my 28th year being here," says assistant professor Rhody Hayes. "It's nice to be able to walk into any shop in the Tri City area and see these faces that were young at one time and now are a little older now."

The program was cut even before today's low state revenue forecast. Now the college says they need to trim an extra million dollars next year, meaning more cuts, more layoffs and more headaches.

"It is frustrating to us because the demand for community college education skyrockets in times of economic crisis," says CBC spokesperson, Frank Murray. "So we like to say don't starve the solution."

And it's also a problem for WSU Tri Cities, already operating with a budget around three quarters of what they say they need. More belt tightening is possible, which could mean they have to turn students away.

"It may mean larger classes it may mean cancellation of some classes," says vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at WSU Tri-Cities, Dick Pratt. "It may mean some students can't be accepted because we just don't have the budget to actually teach them."

But for now the cuts are leaving CBC without valuable programs, and Rhody Hayes might be out of a job.

"Hopefully I'll be able to keep here but with another budget cut of a million dollars it may not be," Hayes says.

Hayes has been trying to get donations to keep the auto body program alive, but he needs to raise 75 thousand dollars. Both CBC and WSU Tri Cities will finalize the cuts they may need to make sometime in the new year.

Nominations for the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award are due by Dec. 11.

They should include a brief description of the nominee and how he or she has contributed to positive social change in the spirit of King, a Columbia Basin College news release said.

The award will be presented at the 19th annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony on Jan. 18 at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

Nominations can be e-mailed to andrew.crawmer@columbiabasin.edu or sent to Andrew Crawmer at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, 99301.

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

By KNDU TV

PASCO, Wash.-- Pasco Auto Wrecking donated a clunker to CBC for their auto body program. Now students are learning how to tear apart the car; but it's also for a cause.

The car is being resized for Kadlec, where they'll use it to help rehab patients re-learn how to get into and out of cars, and operate windows.

Students are getting hands on training, but also get the satisfaction their work has another use.

17 students helped to modify the SUV. Kadlec will get the car sometime soon. Other clunkers are being put to good use; several local fire departments have them for different types of training.

Governor Chris Gregoire has appointed Sherry Armijo of Pasco as the newest member of the Columbia Basin College Board of Trustees.

Armijo is a 1986 graduate of Eastern Washington University and has worked at Abadan Copiers for 23 years. She is currently Vice President of Sales at Abadan. Armijo is a founding member of the Hispanic Academic Achievers Program (HAAP), a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities, and board member and former president of the Eastern Washington Chapter of the March of Dimes.

The appointment takes effect immediately. Armijo replaces Gary Culbert who has been a trustee since 2003 and is retiring from the board.

Her appointment is effective immediately.

She fills Gary Culbert's vacated position, which opened in September after Culbert decided not to seek reappointment. Culbert had continued to attend board meetings until just recently.

CBC President Richard Cummins said Tuesday that he's excited to see someone with Armijo's "community mindedness" join the college's board of trustees.

"I'm really pleased," Cummins said.

According to an e-mail from CBC, Armijo has worked at Abadan in Richland after graduating from Eastern Washington University in 1986. Cummins said Armijo is a former CBC student as well.

The e-mail also said Armijo is a founding member of the Hispanic Academic Achievers Program, a March of Dimes Eastern Washington chapter board member and was its board president from 1989-93.

Kim Tanaka, executive analyst for boards and commissions in the Governor's Office, said the state approached Armijo to fill the five-year board position.

"With Sherry, we liked her qualifications," Tanaka said. "Obviously, she's very involved in the community."

Armijo was chosen from three applicants.

Frank Armijo, Sherry's husband, is a previous CBC Board of Trustees member.

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

They learned about different career opportunities in the industry, and got some hands-on experience from upcoming professionals.

"I just wanna change people's lives. Like if somebody couldn't walk, I'd really love to just be there at a rehabilitation center, and that would be amazing to help somebody walk again" said Taylie Chaffin, 11th grader.

More than 20 health care workers from local hospitals, clinics and emergency service agencies attended the event.

They say there's always a need for new employees in the health industry, and the growing Tri-Cities is a strong place to start their professional lives.

"This is a terrific community for these young kids to explore those career paths" said John Boardman, Richland Fire Dept.

Students know the road to reaching their career goals will be long and expensive, but they say it will be all worth it when they're improving the health of the community.

"Even though the economy is getting bad, I'm still gonna push myself to help them out and do what I can do best for them. Because the children are our future and I wanna help them more" Yumi Henchi, 11th grader.

RICHLAND, Wash. - In a tight job market, careers in the health profession are drawing more interest.

More than 300 high school students interested in the health care field got some hands-on experience today in the laboratories at Columbia Basin College's Health Science Center.

Dean Curt Freed says health career opportunities continue to grow nationwide. "The recession has drawn a little bit of a drawback, but the Tri Cities seems to have been immune from that, and we continue to go gang busters and every one of our students usually go out and get excellent job opportunities most of the time prior to graduation."

CBC has one and two-year programs for many middle skill jobs in the health care field.

Several professionals attending today's career day received their education at CBC.

Amy Henderson wants to become an electrical engineer.

BetsyAnn Pittman plans to be a psychologist.

Brad Bradley is working on a computer science degree.

All three are part of a growing number of local veterans using GI benefits to pay for college.

Henderson and Bradley take classes at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, while Pittman attends Washington State University Tri-Cities. Both schools staged ceremonies Tuesday honoring veterans.

The number of people coming to the WSU Tri-Cities Office of Veterans Affairs to ask questions and apply for benefits has grown, said Pittman, a junior who works in the office. Already 75 veterans are enrolled at the branch campus in Richland.

Pittman served in the Air Force from 2006 to May 2009. She was stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, and deployed to Iraq for 6 1/2 months.

She joined the military because she felt it was her duty as a citizen, as well as wanting to expand her experiences and earn benefits including helping pay for her education.

CBC also has seen an increase veterans. The college has about 300 students who served in the military.

To help those students feel more welcome, the college formed the Columbia Basin College Veterans Alliance, a group of staff and students, said Peggy Buchmiller, CBC assistant dean for student services.

In addition to on-campus programs, veterans also can look to the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition, a local organization that provides consolidated assistance for veterans, including counseling, mentoring and help with Veterans Affairs benefits.

The coalition helps all veterans, whether they served in Iraq, Afghanistan or World War II, said Skip Novakovich, coalition chairman and retired Army lieutenant colonel.

They want to help veterans adjust to civilian life and receive the services they need, he said.

The coalition has helped about 1,200 veterans in the last 1 1/2 years, he said.

Bobby Dale Albers, coalition director of veterans community aid, who served three tours in Vietnam in the Army, said the difficult part is reaching out to area veterans and finding those who need help.

At Tuesday's event, Henderson said she hoped to discover what resources the coalition offers.

For her 22 months of service, Henderson will receive 22 months of college covered by the government. She broke her hip at the end of training and received a medical discharge in March 2005. She entered the military for the job security and benefits.

Henderson has two more classes to finish at CBC before transferring to WSU, where she plans to finish an electrical engineering degree.

Bradley, who served in the Army for a year, said he decided to attend the CBC event to find out more about available services.

He received a medical discharge in September 2001 after breaking both hips during training.

Overall, he said the college does a good job working with veterans. He is using his vocational rehabilitation benefits to pay for school.

Pittman encourages people to show veterans and their families appreciation for their service and sacrifices.

The Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition can be reached at 545-6558 or by going to www.veterancoalition-cb.org.

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

High school students will receive information and hands-on experience at the second Columbia Basin College Connect to Your Future in Health Careers Day, Friday, November 13 at the Health Science Center in Richland.

Approximately 300 high school students are expected to take part in the event which includes a professional panel from the medical community, hands-on lab activities led by CBC Health Science faculty, and interaction with industry exhibitors.

Sessions will run Friday from 8:30-10 a.m., 9:30-11:30 a.m., and 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Some 20 exhibitors from hospitals, clinics, healthcare centers, local emergency services agencies, and colleges and universities will be on hand to visit with students. For more information, call 542-4559.

The quarterly class schedule has been a part of Columbia Basin College for as long as the College has existed, since 1955. It will continue to be a part of CBC, however, starting winter quarter 2010, the class schedule will be available online only.

Several reasons signal the end of the printed schedule; the first is economics. The economy and reductions in the CBC state operating budget require the College to make significant cuts. The elimination of the printed schedule will save the school about $12,000 annually.

The most significant reason, however, is that fewer people are using the printed schedule, and instead refer to the online version on our website at www.columbiabasin.edu/schedule.

In 2001, CBC printed 104,000 schedules per quarter. Today, we produce 55,000 per year. The usage of the printed schedule has fallen so much that during fall quarter 2008, 7,000 of the 20,000 schedules printed had to be recycled because they were not needed.

In addition, eliminating the printed schedule will help decrease CBC’s carbon footprint and further the College in its goal to achieve sustainability by reducing the number of trees used for paper and oil used for ink, as well as lessen the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the transportation and delivery of the schedules.

For those not used to the online version, the Quarterly Registration webpage walks students through the steps for registering online. Free online access to the schedule is available at CBC, both on terminals in the Student Services building and wirelessly. Public libraries are also an option for those without Internet access at home.

Pasco, WA- More than 200 teenagers in the Tri-Cities today went before the judge--and other professionals in the legal system.

The seventh annual Youth and Justice Forum at Columbia Basin College gives middle and high school students a chance to learn about potential careers in the legal system.

Among the games, mock trials and skits, the professionals' message is to stay in school, and keep out of trouble.

Retired Superior Court Judge Dennis Yule says he hopes students will leave this forum having made contact with someone in the justice system. "We have found that that kind of relationship that develops between a kid and a police officer or attorney or judge can really be a life changing experience for them."

Along with Yule and other judges, about 70 professionals volunteered for the forum, including attorneys, law enforcement officers, and court interpreters.

PASCO -- Riley Hughes is determined to one day don a black robe and sit on the nation's high court as a Supreme Court justice.

The 15-year-old Asotin High School freshman realizes he's got a lot of work ahead to reach that goal.

So Friday, Hughes and about 200 other students from throughout Southeast Washington gathered in Pasco to learn that what they do now can affect their futures in the public safety and legal professions and the importance of creating mentorships.

Students in grades eight through 12 from across the Educational Service District 123 region applied for the seventh annual Youth and Justice Forum at Columbia Basin College's Byron Gjerde Center.

Organizers try to target minorities and impoverished kids who are underrepresented in the work force, particularly in the justice system.

Hughes -- who got up very early to make the trip from Asotin with his classmates -- wasn't shy about introducing himself to retired judge Dennis Yule of the Benton-Franklin Superior Court.

Hughes said he wants to start out as a lawyer and judge, then become a politician and ultimately seek appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. He set his career path in his seventh-grade history class when he decided being a justice would be "kind of cool."

"It's just a really good, solid career choice," Hughes said. Friday, he hoped to get more information on the different careers, the "downsides and upsides" and tips for getting through school.

Yule gave his business card to Hughes and offered to set him up with an Asotin County judge.

Organizer Sal Mendoza Jr. said that is one reason the program has been a success -- it gives students one-on-one contact with professionals.

"Kids don't generally have this opportunity, and I think it's a great time for them to meet judges, officers and lawyers and interact with them," the Kennewick lawyer said.

The forum was also sponsored by the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, CBC's Office of Diversity, the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the law schools at Gonzaga University and the University of Washington.

The event had about 70 professional volunteers, from judges, police and attorneys to corrections and probation officers and a court interpreter.

Mendoza said given the tough economic times, the ESD's money for next year has completely dried up and the program is in jeopardy of being canceled.

"There are people who have worked tirelessly to get this program developed ... and it's going to be sad when the funding has ended," he said. "It's really inspiring to see all these kids here."

Organizers will be seeking financial support, and Mendoza encouraged anyone who can help to call his office at 509-374-1554.

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

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit Award. The 19th Annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony will be held Monday, January 18, 2010, at Columbia Basin College. The MLK Spirit Award will be presented at the ceremony.

The nominations should include a brief description of the nominee and his or her contributions to positive, social change in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nominations are due December 11.

Nominations should be mailed to:
Andrew Crawmer
Columbia Basin College
2600 N. 20th Avenue
Pasco, WA  99301

Or email to:  acrawmer@columbiabasin.edu

A youth and justice forum for students in eighth grade through high school is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

More than 100 students from area schools will learn about the justice system from judges, attorneys, police officers and other professionals, a news release said.

The event is being put on by Educational Service District 123, the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Columbia Basin College's office of diversity, Gonzaga University School of Law, Seattle University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law.

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

Push, a play that offers vignettes of people being pushed in different directions in life, is Columbia Basin College's first play of the season.

The CBC presentation is only the second production of the play in the country, said director Ginny Quinley. The play premiered at Penn State University last year.

The play focuses on one character, Aaron, played by James Callaghan, an out-of-work writer whose wife has just left him. Aaron is pushed along by events as his life unravels in a series of scenes involving 16 other characters. All of them finally meet up by the play's end.

"I love the bottom line idea or theme in this play -- that the universe will work things out for us if we just let it," Quinley said.

The playwright, Robert Caisley, built some subtle messages into the play.

"There are some cool quotes in the script," Quinley said. "I also like the message that we're all in each other's lives for a reason, and perhaps we should look to learn from one another rather than being so quick to be negative or to judge others just because they're different from ourselves."

Push is rated R for strong language and is not recommended for children.

Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens.

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

November 9, 2009, 4PM
CBC Board Room

A middle and high school dropout and a former non-English speaking immigrant will be honored during the Columbia Basin College Board of Trustees meeting at 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 9, in the Board Room.

Angel Venegas, Phonesavanh Syanouthai, and Rebecca Guizar, now CBC alumni, are being recognized for their diligence and successes stemming from their return to school. 

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 42 percent of adults (ages 25-64) in the U.S. have no more than a high school education.  Yet, here in Benton-Franklin counties, almost three in four Hispanic adults have less than a ninth grade education; one in four for non-Hispanics.  Unfortunately, however, most new jobs and the vast majority of jobs that pay a family wage require at least some education beyond high school. 

Lack of basic skills, including English and math, translate into low wage job opportunities for adults and a weakened employment pool for employers.  With better skills come better jobs, and ultimately a better Columbia Basin.

“Going back to school was the best thing for me.  It opened a lot of doors,” said Angel.

Last year, the CBC Basic Skills Division served more than 2,600 adult literacy learners at more than 15 sites in Benton-Franklin counties.  They are committed to providing more adults with the literacy and job-training skills they need to be successful in the workplace and in life.  Countless success stories have come out of the Basic Skills Division.  Angel, Phonesavanh, and Rebecca are just three examples.

Angel dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to help support his family.  Three years later he returned to CBC to obtain his General Education Development (GED) certificate.  He went on to earn his Commercial Drivers License and an A.A. Transfer degree in psychology.  Angel is now able to support himself and his family--on a livable wage.

Phonesavanh, an immigrant from Laos, came to the U.S. not knowing any English.  While at CBC she took English as a Second Language classes (ESL), ESL/Adult Basic Education transition classes, then went on to earn her GED, and both her Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy certificate through Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training.  She is currently employed as a phlebotomist at Tri-Cities Laboratory.

Rebecca dropped out of the seventh grade when she became pregnant with her son Francisco.  In the following years, she and her husband ran a family business while raising their five children.  Desiring to do something different, Rebecca knew she must return to school.  Despite the challenges of raising five young children, she came to CBC and earned her GED.  Rebecca is now the WSU GearUp Site Director and an excellent role model to her children and siblings.  Francisco is currently a CBC Running Start student—and a testimony to Rebecca’s influence to pursue a higher education.

Michelle Mann, executive director for the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council and CBC Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Jim Watts will also attend the Board Meeting to discuss the importance of basic education to the workforce and economy.

Columbia Basin College's Dental Hygiene program is offering dental care for adults 18 or older and offers reduced rates for services such as cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments and sealants.

Fall clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fridays through Dec. 4.  The dental clinic is on the CBC Pasco campus.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 542-4571 or go to www.columbiabasin.edu/dentalclinic.

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

The 42 year old is one of seven contemporary artists displaying their work at Columbia Basin College this month.

But they aren't your typical artists, many are inspired by graffiti and street art.

"Mainly, I'm just collaging images from different sources and then I try to build this composition," said Dykeman.

The new artwork is unique to the college and the community, as the pieces create a window into an out-of-the-box world of art that students can relate to.

"It's what we see everyday. The skateboards, the graphic art of cartoons, but it's got a fine art twist," said Samantha Ray, art enthusiast.

Teachers at CBC also praise the eclectic mix of paintings because they get students involved and interested in a new generation of art they can easily add to.

"They can see artists who have gone, incorporated things they understand and turned into fine arts, rather than studying the old masters and thinking, that doesn't relate to me at all," said Mary Dryburgh, CBC Gallery Coordinator.

But even as others are giving his graphic art meaning, Dykeman says his painting doesn't represent anything.

He's just doing what he loves.

"When I can just sit here alone and make these images, that's the best part, that's the funnest part of it," said Dykeman.
 
 

This fall, Columbia Basin College's Dental Hygiene program is focusing on dental care for adults age 18 or older.

Many services are offered at a reduced rate, including cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

Fall clinic hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8-11 a.m. Fridays through December 4. All appointments are held at the dental clinic located on the CBC Pasco campus.

Estimates are available to determine the needs of the patients, the timeframe for patient care, and the cost for services. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 542-4571 or visit www.columbiabasin.edu/dentalclinic.

Columbia Basin College has recruited two dozen professionals from Tri-City public agencies and businesses to be the first students in a new yearlong leadership course.

Maj. Doug Crandall, a former leadership instructor at the West Point Academy, will teach the group, which will meet for nine months.  Guest lecturers will come from business schools at Harvard and Stanford universities, the University of Washington, the Air Force Academy and West Point.

Students also will go on a field trip to Seattle, have coaching sessions with Crandall and be mentored by a community leader or sit on a nonprofit agency’s board.

CBC President Rich Cummins said he and Crandall came up with the idea for the Leadership Fellows Program last summer and began looking for potential sponsors who would pay to send professionals to the training.

The group’s first session is at 7 p.m. today in the college board room on the Pasco campus.

Cummins said if all goes as planned the college will offer a leadership certificate next year.

The program is designed to be self-supporting under the college’s community education program.  Tuition pays all costs.  Business sponsors pay $6,000 per student, while nonprofit groups pay $3,000.

The first class has 24 students.  They are:  Terri Cole and Christie McAloon from Benton PUD; Kris Stauffer from City of Richland; Gary Deardorff, Evelyn Lusignan and Maxine Whattam, from City of Kennewick; Randy Hayden for Port of Pasco; rick White from City of Pasco; Nikki Gerds from Pasco Chamber of Commerce; Martin Valadez from Columbia Basin College; Tyler Gilmore from Pacific Northwest Laboratory; Theresa Richardson from Habitat for Humanity; Cory Hatcher from Cadwell Labs; Keith Zink from Pay Plus Benefits; Jex Biorn and Ian McGregor from The McGregor Co.; Kyle Barclay, Mark Knight, Brandon Price and Pamela Stowers from AgriNorthwest; Martin Bertsch, Sue Duffy and Mark Schuster from ConAgra Foods; and Kirt Shaffer from Tippett Co.

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

Columbia Basin College has set an admissions application deadline of December 11, 2009 for winter quarter.  In the past, potential students could apply for enrollment right up until the time classes started each quarter.  Winter quarter begins January 4, 2010.

After students apply for admission, they must take placement tests to determine if they are prepared for college math, English and reading.  Research shows that those applying for admission late, register for classes late, and have the highest rate of failure among college students.

In addition, with classes filling up, it’s important that students apply as soon as possible to be able to register for their classes. 

For more information, contact Enrollment and Admissions at CBC, 542-4524.

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

KENNEWICK -- Julie Rivett has only two memories of her famous grandfather, author Dashiell Hammett.

Paul T. Erickson/Herald-Julie Rivett, granddaughter and biographer of author Dashiell Hammett is in town to discuss her grandfather's writing career as part of Mid-Columbia Libraries' Big Read Event.

Rivett is Hammett's granddaughter by his daughter, Jo Hammett, and was 3 years old when Hammett died in New York City in 1961.

She had met him just once during a week-long family trip from Southern California to visit Hammett and playwright Lillian Hellman on Martha's Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast.

The two things she remembers are that Hammett showed her how to hold her hand out flat to feed his poodles, and him taking her up into a round room in a tower to make echoing noises.

After he died, she was left with Hammett's short stories, novels and letters as her only means to get to know him.

Rivett was in Kennewick on Friday to celebrate what could be considered Hammett's greatest work -- The Maltese Falcon -- the featured book for the Mid-Columbia Libraries' Big Read in October.

The novel is considered the first in the hard-boiled detective genre, and has spawned more than 100 printed editions, two radio spin-offs, three films, countless imitations and a recent prequel, Spade & Archer, written by mystery writer Joe Gores with the permission of Hammett's literary estate.

Rivett said the estate has returned to the control of Hammett's family after years in the hands of Hellman and her estate after her death in 1984.

Hellman and Hammett were lovers for three decades, although they never married. Hellman's career was on the rise while Hammett's had halted abruptly after the publication of his last novel, The Thin Man, in 1934.

"He didn't stop writing so much as he stopped finishing," Rivett said of Hammett's literary efforts after 1934.

She said he had hoped to write a mainstream novel instead of another piece of crime fiction, but his desire to produce something great overwhelmed his ability to complete another book.

"Sometimes ambitiousness and aspiration can get in the way," she said.

Fragments of later literary attempts exist in an archive at the University of Texas at Austin, and some it appears Hammett gave to Hellman to use as the basis for her own work.

Rivett said one story referenced in Hammett's letters called My Brother Felix became the plot for Hellman's play Watch on the Rhine, later adapted into a film.

Not enough of Hammett's fragments remain to consider publishing, and Rivett said the family would be unlikely to do so out of concern for diminishing Hammett's literary reputation by releasing writings never meant for public consumption.

Hammett became a political activist after he stopped publishing, but his communist views brought him trouble during the McCarthy era of the 1950s.

He went to jail in 1951 for refusing to testify in a federal court about the location of some political fugitives. In 1953, he bumped heads with notorious Communist hunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who was spearheading an effort to have books written by authors with communist leanings removed from overseas libraries for servicemen.

Hammett was blacklisted and found himself under the scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service. Rivett said at the time of his death, the IRS claimed he owed $160,000 in back taxes and the rights to all of his works were auctioned to pay the debt.

That's how Hellman and a friend picked them up for $5,000. Hellman, and later her estate, held the rights for decades until Rivett's brother began the fight to have them returned to the family.

Rivett became involved with Hammett's literary estate 12 years ago, and in 2001 edited and published her mother's memoir and a volume of Hammett's letters.

It was through those letters that she came to understand her grandfather's literary talents.

"I really developed an understanding how ambitious he was," she said. "I developed an understanding of how deep this book is."

She described The Maltese Falcon as a complex work that can offer different layers to different readers, or to the same reader on subsequent reads.

"This book is revered by crime writers but is also very well-respected by writers of all kinds because it is concisely written," she said. "It has earned a respect far beyond the mystery marketplace."

The Mid-Columbia Libraries have given out 2,500 free copies of the book during October and had a series of events celebrating the novel.

Upcoming events include:

-- Special free showings of the classic 1941 Oscar-winning film, The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade and Mary Astor as the femme fatale at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Fairchild Cinemas, 5020 Convention Drive, Pasco.

-- Book discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday in Spanish at Columbia Basin College, Pasco.

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