About That Kennewick Lighthouse

Kennewick Sights | Comments (0) Cari McGee January 29, 2010 @ 7:15 am

There are quite a few things in this world that I don’t like/don’t understand -

  • why my husband bites his nails
  • why my son nibbles on paper
  • why Jo married Professor Bhaer instead of Laurie, like she should have
  • why people include raspberry in chocolate-based desserts

but the big one, and the subject of this post, is the Kennewick Lighthouse -

Lighthouse with Blue Bridge in the Background

They say this is the first lighthouse built in the U.S. since 1962. That’s right, the first in almost half a century. Gee, could it be because there is no reason to build one?

(photo taken earlier this month)

City of Kennewick launches “Virtual Kennewick” mapping tool

Kennewick News | Comments (0) Matt McGee January 28, 2010 @ 10:16 pm

Okay, this is kinda geeky … but also pretty cool. The city has recently added a “Virtual Kennewick” mapping tool to the city web site. You can access it here.

The tool presents information from a GIS database, and users can see a variety of city data online — often the kind of stuff you’d have to visit the city offices and spend a lot of time researching in person. You can see community resources (like government offices, theaters, USPS, libraries, etc.), zoning designations across the city, the locations of various city utilities (sewer system, water, etc.), and here’s a screenshot that shows the city’s land use plan (red is Commercial, for example).

virtual-kennewick

The city explains the tool’s benefits this way:

The GIS database is a spatial model of City facilities in the “real” world. Complex data relationships can be presented using geographical representations, or maps. Maps provide a “picture” of those relationships that is easier to understand. Better understanding of the complex data presented in running a City allows for improved decision making, provides more efficient work efforts, and establishes cost savings for the City and it’s constituents.

On top of all that, it’s just kinda fun to check out.

Shopping in Kennewick? Grab some coupons

Kennewick Business | Comments (0) Matt McGee January 18, 2010 @ 11:46 pm

Hey folks, this is just a heads up about a new page we’ve added on the blog:

Kennewick Coupons

If you’re shopping in Kennewick, or going out to eat, be sure to check that page to see what local merchants are offering deals and discounts. You can move the map around, zoom in, zoom out, you name it. Enjoy!

Cottonwood Elementary: Kennewick’s New School

Kennewick Schools | Comments (0) Matt McGee January 13, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

The Kennewick School Board met this evening and choosing a name for the district’s new elementary school was on the agenda. The choice, as you can see from the district’s Twitter announcement, is Cottonwood Elementary.

newschool

Kennewick’s Most Dangerous Intersection

Kennewick Life | Comments (0) Matt McGee January 5, 2010 @ 11:36 pm

If I asked you to name it, I’m guessing you’d say the new roundabouts near the Blue Bridge. But those aren’t technically an intersection, are they? I’m thinking not.

The intrepid reporters at KEPR-TV (my old stomping grounds) are reporting that the actual winner of most dangerous intersection in Kennewick is Clearwater Ave. and Columbia Center Blvd. Hmmmm. Not much of a surprise, is it?

They’re basing it on the 17 accidents that happened at that intersection in 2009. That makes it the worst intersection in the whole Tri-Cities. KEPR says it’s been the most dangerous intersection in Kennewick since 2003.

So … be careful seems to be the thing to say right about now.