July 2007

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

More than two centuries after our Founding Fathers established with these words a new nation, America-the "shining city on a hill"-remains a beacon of hope and freedom for the world.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights, which limit the power of government in our republic, were built on this foundati

I was visiting at Highline Medical Center the other day. Elsbeth was there recovering from a knee replacement. This is the second time on the prayer bones.

The nurses call her the iron lady. And not because she does a great job on shirts.

As I was waiting by the elevator a big guy walked up and he had paint splotches on his shirt and some had spattered on his neck. He was obviously a man of means and distinction so I asked," Are you a doctor?"

"Yes," he said.

Bank robber shot, killed

June 29-A robber wanted for four bank hold-ups in South King County in less than a week was shot and killed by a Des Moines police sergeant shortly after 6 p.m.

The unidentified man, about 40, reportedly robbed a Key Bank at 23250 Pacific Highway S. in Kent around 5:30 p.m.

Half an hour later, a man matching his description robbed a Bank of America at 707 S. 227th St.

South Highline Americans' Lukas Kelly put on a good show for the 9-10 winner's bracket semi-final baseball all-star game that his team lost, 9-3, in the Washington State District 7 tournament at Bar S Playfield in West Seattle Wednesday.

But to spin a quote from the most recent version of the many remakes of the flick, King Kong, it wasn't Kelly's pitching that killed the beast of success for SHA, it was errors, and luck.

The 9-year-old Kelly went through the first six batters of West Seattle with relative ease. No, make that complete ease.

Highline hosts camps

Highline High School is getting set to host a series of sports camps this summer.

Soccer and girls basketball will be first, running from July 9-13, with the girls' volleyball camp runs from July 16-20.

Cheerleading and boys basketball run from July 23-27.

The soccer camp takes place at Highline Memorial Stadium and the rest of the camps are at Sylvester Middle School located at 16222 Sylvester Road S.W., Burien, Wash. 98166.

Camps begin at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. each day.

Paving crews will begin work on Southwest Admiral Way between 41st Avenue SW and SW Olga Street, this week.

Beginning Thursday, Admiral Way will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and will remain in this configuration 24-hours-a-day unless additional closures are required, until the end of the project.

Colleen E. Wilson, chief of police in Sumner for nearly five years, will take over as chief of the 130-person Port of Seattle police department around August 1.

"Colleen Wilson is exactly the right leader to make our police department one of the best in the country," said Port CEO Tay Yoshitani.

Historically during July 4th celebrations, 9-1-1 systems become overloaded with non-emergency calls related to fireworks and other celebrations. Emergency response officials across King County urge citizens not to call 9-1-1 unless a life-threatening emergency exits and there is a need for immediate help from police, fire, or medics.

"Unnecessary 9-1-1 calls can cause problems for our system," said Jeff Bowers, acting director of the King County Office of Emergency Management.

Initial results from the recent inspection revealed that a section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct has settled an additional one-quarter of an inch to a total of approximately 5 inches.

The settlement continues to occur in the same area between Columbia Street and Yesler Way. No new structural damage was caused by the additional settlement, such as widening cracks or development of new cracks.

"The viaduct is still safe for drivers.

Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott has introduced the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act.

The proposed law would transform the Unemployment Insurance program to meet the growing needs of a workforce changed dramatically since the program's inception.