Seattle City Light is urging its customers to be on guard against telephone con artists posing as utility bill collectors.
Recently, several customers reported that they received phone calls from people claiming to be City Light bill collectors.
Some of the best hikes around West Seattle are the various byways you can take down to the beach, and then back up. If, that is, you have any mojo left. Most of the time my mojo is gone after hiking down to the beach, especially if I have refreshed myself with a pint of Guinness at the Celtic Swell. On those occasions, I usually catch the bus back up the hill (please don't tell anyone).
Three of the byways to the beach I once took are no more, either damaged beyond repair or obliterated by development.
A young man ran through back yards in South Park trying to elude officers, but jumped a fence and landed in a yard protected by a large dog, which bit him soundly in the hand and ankle. The suspect was soon apprehended and booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of eluding and for parole violations from Olympia.
A car prowler apparently felt guilty about leaving his victim without some means of entertainment.
The announcement that workers' compensation and unemployment insurance rates will be lower next year is good news for Washington employers, workers and their families.
Governor Chris Gregoire announced the Washington Department of Labor and Industries will reduce rates by an average of 2 percent and will suspend the portion of workers' compensation premiums that both the employer and worker pay.
Pro Parks Levy dollars won't run out until the end of 2008 but the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department is planning now for how to absorb programs, staffing and maintenance now funded through the levy since city officials have made it clear it won't be renewed.
As well as purchasing and developing nearly 42 acres into open space, the $198 million levy voters approved in 2000 also provided about $62 million for environmental stewardship, maintenance and programming.
Four Seattle Board of Parks Commissioners resigned last month after the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that gives the council the authority to appoint half of the seven-member advisory board and creates one new position.
The parks' board will appoint its seventh member by majority vote.
After nearly three and a half hours of debate, the Seattle School Board formally adopted a set of 10 qualifications for a new superintendent last Wednesday, opening the door for a national search process.
Among other qualities, the next school chief should be committed to reducing the achievement gap, able to inspire trust and motivation and build leadership, the School Board decided.
Input from a series of public meetings with district staff and stakeholders were presented to the board and used as a springboard to define the list of "profile" requirements and one preferr
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HB 1057
Requesting information on the use of alternative fuels.
By a vote of 94 to 3 on Jan. 29, 2007, the House approved HB 1057, which would require certain information from state agencies that own and operate gas stations. The bill would require the agencies to inform the Legislature at which gas stations would it be practical to offer alternative fuels to the public and to other state agencies.
The Ballard Chamber of Commerce gave out its 2006 annual awards last week during an evening reception at the Nordic Heritage Museum.
The King Salmon Award went to Sterling Savings Bank in recognition of its outstanding contributions to SeafoodFest.
The Golden Spatula Award was given to Lo Reichert of Port Chatham Smoked Seafoods in recognition of outstanding volunteer service at SeafoodFest.
The Spirit Award was presented to National Bird Control in "special recognition of all their help with the holiday lighting program over the past two years.
Ballard state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles says with the cost of the war in Iraq mounting and President Bush calling for an escalation of troop levels, she and several other lawmakers have introduced Senate Joint Memorial 8003, which calls on Congress and President Bush to not escalate involvement in Iraq or increase troop levels.
