SENIOR TIMES • MARCH 2020 uBRIEFS Benton County deposits $740K in wrong account after falling for scam
Benton County reports it was the victim of a phishing scam that led it to deposit more than $740,000 in an incorrect bank account in late 2019. Fortunately for the county, the bank froze the account shortly after the deposit, but not before $23,000 had been taken out. The county said it was asked to update the payment information for a contractor working on county construction projects in October. In November, after receiving legitimate invoices, it deposited the money in the account. It discovered the scam in December. Federal authorities have seized FORGETTE, From page 1
Nominations are now open for the 2020 Tri-Citian of the Year, which is given for “service above self.” The award was first given in 1962 and is an annual tradition, save for a gap during the 1970s when it was inactive. If, or when, Forgette takes up the next chapter, it will not entail practicing law. When he retired, he relinquished his license. His name will remain on the Kennewick firm he joined after graduating from the Gonzaga University School of Law—Rettig Forgette Iller Bowers. In the interim, in true Forgette fashion, he remains chairman of two boards—the Association of Washington Business board and the Washington State University Tri-Cities advisory council. Both echo decades of commitment to the Tri-Cities that began simply enough with a job hunt in the late 1970s. A Seattle native, Forgette went to the University of Washington and then studied law at Gonzaga. He graduated in 1977. His hometown was struggling economically and there were no jobs for lawyers. Forgette opted for the Tri-Cities after reading that it was one of the fastest-growing economies in the country in that year’s Tri-City Herald. He suspected he would enjoy it but figured that worst case scenario, he would pay off student loans working here. The job worked out, and then some. Forgette and his wife, Debbie, raised two sons, now adults living in Seattle. Forgette said he enjoyed the diversity of his Tri-City practice. In a larger market he would have had to specialize, but here, he was able to
the $717,000 left in the account after it was frozen. Benton County said it is working with authorities to have the seized money returned. It has not identified a suspect. The county has paid the invoice of the actual contractor. The theft occurred as the county was transitioning to new administrators following the retirement of its longtime manager. It said it is reviewing internal policies and procedures to avoid being vulnerable to similar scams.
Kennewick seeks volunteers to help plan schools The Kennewick School District is asking volunteers to provide input as it updates its strategic plan. The plan guides academic and operational priorities in the coming
do everything from estate and family law to business. And he had a hand in just about every important civic venture. He led the Save Our Dams effort to protect the lower Snake River Dams from environmentalists demanding their removal—a fight that has been revived in recent years. When he learned one of his sons’ teachers was spending his own money on classroom equipment, Forgette established Adopt-A-Disk, which funneled donations from businesses to local elementary schools to support technology. At its peak, Adopta-Disk touched every primary in the four Tri-Cities. He served as volunteer counsel for the Tri-Cities Development Council, or TRIDEC, then joined the board. After 15 years and two terms as chair, he stepped off as the longest-serving board member at the time. He lent his professional and volunteer support to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, a collaborative effort of the three area hospitals. The community, he said, wanted to see the hospitals collaborate.
years and serves as the benchmark for measuring the district’s performance toward meeting its goals. Superintendent Traci Pierce will host planning sessions from 6-7:30 p.m. March 18 and 24 at the school district’s administration center, 1000 W. Fourth Ave. Prospective participants should register for one. Visit ksd.org/News/The-LatestList/Strategic-Planning-InputSessions or information or contact spokeswoman Robyn Chastain, 509222-7424.
WSU seeks to fill library with Mattis’ favorite books
Washington State University TriCities is accepting donations to stock a new library with the 100 titles James Mattis said influenced He helped lead efforts that led to the establishment of the WSU Tri-Cities campus in Richland and has remained involved ever since. WSU has played a larger role in his adult life than his actual alma mater, UW, he said. The 2020 Tri-Citian of the Year will be announced at the April 23 banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center. Submissions are due March 14.
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his military career. The books will be available to students through the General James Mattis Leadership Library in the WSU Tri-Cities veterans’ center. Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general and President Donald Trump’s first Secretary of Defense, made the point that reading is important to leadership in his own recent book, “Call Sign Chaos.” The aim of the campaign is to stock at least one copy of each of the 100 books Mattis included on his recommended reading list. Local author C. Mark Smith is leading the fundraising effort. Go to tricities.wsu.edu/give to make a donation and for a list of Mattis’ picks
Mail-in nominations must be postmarked by March 11. Recent honorees include real estate executive Dave Retter, builder Don Pratt, restaurateurs Steve and Shirley Simmons and Columbia Center manager Barbara Johnson. Nomination forms, reservations for the events and a list of past winners are available at tricitianoftheyear.org. Call 509-783-7107 for details.
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