September 2007

River City, Iowa, in 1912 has always been synonymous with "trouble."

You know, the kind of trouble that starts with the presence of a new pool table in the River City billiard hall, a development sure to bring about the moral decline of the unsuspecting Iowans.

It's the sort of trouble that involves a con man named Harold Hill, who rolls into town to convince gullible parents to purchase musical instruments and band uniforms for their tone-deaf sons.

It's the kind of trouble where Professor Hill's cheating, dishonest schemes gradually give way to romance and lo

Noting an increase in gang activity in several King County communities, members of the King County Council last week proposed the creation of a gang suppression unit in the King County Sheriff's Office.

JoAn Cox, mother of slain King County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox, led a community petition drive earlier this year supporting establishment of a gang unit.

Deputy Cox was shot and killed last December while questioning a suspect with reported gang ties in White Center.

According to a July briefing to the Council by Sheriff Sue Rahr, gang-related incidents have r

The number of lanes from Sea-Tac International Airport was reduced last week from three to two in the near-to-terminal area.

Drivers should expect delays leaving the airport, especially during busy travel hours-midday (11 a.m.

Man injured in shooting

Sept. 2-Police were looking last week for the trigger man in an apparent drive-by shooting that occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 21600 block of 30th Avenue South in the Pacific Ridge area.

According to investigating officers, a 21-year-old man from Des Moines was shot in both legs.

The Foster Bulldogs and the Tyee Totems went at it on the gridiron Friday night on Neudorf Memorial Field and it was a rumble in the neighborhood of good positive things that kids do to fight hard to get ahead and come back from behind.

And, in the end, in the very end, the visiting Totems held on for a 14-13 win.

The Totems improved to 2-0 on the season, which includes last week's 20-6 win over Chief Sealth. Foster dropped to 0-2.

The Totems have been doing it with mirrors it looks like on paper, at least they sure have not been doing it with players.

Thursday, Sept. 13

Girls soccer: Lindbergh at Mount Rainier, 4 p.m.; Highline at Kennedy, Evergreen at Renton, 6 p.m.

Volleyball: Mount Rainier at Evergreen, Tyee at Kennedy, Highline at Renton, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 14

Football: Highline at Evergreen, Tyee at Mount Rainier, Foster at Woodland, 7 p.m.

Girls soccer: Foster at Charles Wright, 3:30 p.m.; Hazen at Tyee, 4 p.m.

At 16th and Holden, a man was stopped for a traffic violation. But it seems he was driving with a suspended license. His female passenger displayed her valid license to the officer and offered to drive the man and his car home. But her friendly gesture hit a snag when a records check showed that she was wanted on a $10,000 warrant after failing to appear in court on a prostitution charge.

As a movie concept, the idea of a rat becoming a famous cook doesn't hold much promise. It's a counterintuitive storyline considering the rodents inhabit the opposite end of the hygiene scale from anything we would want associated with food preparation.

Gee Automotive, held a "Block Party" on Saturday featuring the band 'Unite', Pookie the clown, Seahawk Marcus Tubbs, free food and prizes.Gee put together a successful car business in Spokane before purchasing all of the dealerships previously owned by West Seattle's Huling Bros.

When Elsbeth and I visited the newly owned George Gee auto dealership last week I got a chance to talk with the new owners of the former Huling Bros. company.

I met George Sr., his son Ryan and their wives and found them all warm, neighborly and anxious to talk to me about their long-term experience in serving the driving needs of thousands of friends in Spokane, where the name (it once was McGee, generations ago in Ireland) is a household word.

I love their philosophy - no visitor ever leaves our showroom without a smile on their face.