July 2007

Murder reward increased

July 16-A reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of Nicole Pietz was increased by her family to $26,000.

The body of Pietz, 32, who lived in Lynwood, was found in Burien in early 2006. Police detectives have reported no reported suspects in the unsolved case.

Her car was later found in Seattle's University District. She was last seen at her Lynwood home Jan.

(Editor's Note: Jerry Robinson was thinking about dentists this week.)

Meet "Ike" Smyth

He lives in Rainier Beach but he comes to the Elks Club in Burien once a month on Saturdays just to dance. Yes, he is no spring chicken but being 83 doesn't keep him off the dance floor.

He does best on swing music like Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey but he also does the polka-the slower version.

He knows the territory out here, too.

Multiculturalism, tolerance separate us from enemies

By Eric Mathison

Ralph Nichols' column last week, headlined "It's Christmas in July means PC censorship," seriously veered off the rails from the start.

He began by quoting Dr. Bruce Thornton from a California university declaring, "Multiculturalism is an ideology, and at its heart it's anti-Western Civilization."

I didn't know what the heck Dr.

Thank you for your thorough, fair and thoughtful coverage of local news in Burien.

It is increasingly evident that 152nd Street is in the midst of an exciting renaissance, filling with unique family-owned businesses drawing patrons from throughout the region.

Accordingly, we propose the street be given a new name, perhaps even "Main Street." A new and memorable name will highlight the importance of 152nd as the past, present and future Heart of downtown Burien.

We hope that civic leadership and the City Council will provide the street with a new designation, on

I read with great interest and not a great deal of surprise the letters in [the July 18] Des Moines News from the Rev. Paul Freeman, Eric Dickman and Ted Ottinger responding to another letter written by a Mr. Fatton, apparently denigrating the homosexual movement, lifestyle, etc. I'm just afraid they will feel slighted by this one also, but no apologies.

First of all, we are told by one writer not to judge, because that's what the Bible says.

The very fact that they are writing the letters they did is very judgmental on their part.

I am writing in response to the letter from Ted Ottinger in the July 11 Highline Times.

By his suggestion that "supposed Christians" should restrict their reading to the New Testament, thus ignoring the Old Testament, indicates his distain for anyone who is truly Christian. It also indicates his lack of understanding of God's word-the Bible.

The entire Bible (not just those parts he decides he likes) is inspired by God. It is God-breathed. It is inerrant.

During my tenure as head secretary at Bow Lake Elementary School, I witnessed many important events.

Highline's oldest school will-for a third time in its history-house elementary students.

Cedarhurst students will be temporarily assigned to Sunnydale School, located at 15631 Eighth Ave. S. in Burien, after a stubborn roof fire on July 14 damaged their new building.

Cedarhurst, 611 S. 132nd St. in Burien, was scheduled to open in September.

Students from an alternative school, Big Picture High, have been housed at Sunnydale but will move to the old Glacier High School site in September. Glacier is at 2450 S. 142nd St.

Pressure continued to build this week on the Port of Seattle and Burien as low-income housing advocates campaigned to save the Lora Lake Apartments from demolition.

Rev. Sandy Brown of the Church Council Of Greater Seattle conducted a "service of lamentation" on Monday to protest the pending demolition.

Nine protesters were arrested July 19 after they occupied a vacant unit at the apartments in Burien and refused to leave.

King County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt.