July 2007

The new Seattle School District superintendent, Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, spent her first day on the job attending classes.

On July 9, her first official day in the job, the superintendent toured West Seattle High School, where she sat in on a summer school class.

Riding a yellow school bus packed with members of the media, Goodloe-Johnson first toured Northgate Elementary School to watch teachers be trained in the "Everyday Mathematics" program, the district's new math curriculum.

West Seattle has been crowning Miss Hi-Yu's every year since 1934 but this year there is only one young woman competing for the title.

"It's been harder the last few years to get people to run," says Carol Winston, the Miss Hi-Yu candidate coordinator.

There will be no Miss Burien 2008.

A new Miss Burien was scheduled to be crowned Nov. 17 but executive director Janie Bakke resigned in June and volunteers have decided to pull the plug on the pageant.

Lack of local financial support and a new requirement by the state Miss Washington and national Miss America organizations are the reasons cited for the Highline pageant's demise.

The Miss Washington and Miss America programs have teamed up with the Children's Miracle Network and are requiring that each local contestant raise $100 for the network.

With tuition costs rising, the dream of an education seems farther away for many students, therefore South Seattle Community College's new online payment plan aims to shorten the distance.

The plan called e-Cashier allows students to break their tuition fees into more manageable interest-free, monthly payments. Students need only pay a $15 enrollment fee each quarter.

Parents can also manage their child's payment account, taking an active role in their child's future.

South's program is operated by an independent vendor, Nelnet.

A City Light security guard thought she was being friendly when she said hello to a transient she recognized from her patrol. But he returned the greeting by hitting her on top of the head, causing a three-day headache.

Depressed by the recent death of a family member, a man stood in the middle of Harbor Avenue early Tuesday, telling his girlfriend that he "wanted to get hurt." Passengers in a passing car were happy to oblige: After the man flipped them off and yelled, they turned the car around, got out, and beat him up.

Jury service woes

By Mike Perry

In addition to the judges, for whom this letter should be a direct concern, copies are being sent to the local news media, government officials, and law firms.

It concerns two serious deficiencies in jury selection at the King County Superior Court and is based in part on correspondence with Greg Wheeler, manager of Jury Services and Laura Inveen, chair of the Judge Jury Committee.

The charges made here should not be taken lightly.

Not too proud for solid tavern fare

Jolly Roger Taproom

1514 NW Leary Way

Monday -Thursday 11 a.m. -11 p.m.

Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - Midnight

Closed Sunday

The pedestrian overpass from Carkeek Park to the beach is a great place to experience the power of trains, as they pass by underneath. Train buffs often set up their cameras at this spot to wait for their arrival. They use high powered binoculars to spot the trains coming around a distant curve.

Artist Dennis Warshal created this pig as part of the Pike Place Market's fundraiser "Pigs on Parade 2007." The pig sits in front of the Majestic Bay Theatre which sponsored Warshal's version of the porker.

A small sailboat sports bright stripes off Golden Gardens.