February 2008

against state law

The Washington State Patrol says it plans to "vigorously enforce the state's new law against sending text messages while driving," now that the law is in effect.

"Texting while driving was always a bad idea," said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. "Things happen too fast on the highway to take your eyes off the road long enough to read or type a message."

Because texting while driving is a secondary violation, troopers cannot stop drivers if they see it occurring.

Senate Bill 6385 - Concerning real property. The Senate passed SSB 6385 to the House, by a vote of 27 to 20. This bill reiterates the duty that a contractor or builder has to exercise reasonable care in the construction or improvement of residential real estate. As part of that duty there is a limited implied warranty of habitability for construction or improvements.

Every discussion about the Alaskan Way Viaduct inevitably includes references to the "Big Dig" in Boston. It was heard again Tuesday evening during an Alaskan Way Viaduct design workshop at Cooper Elementary School: politicians lied, subcontractors cheated, nobody cared.

With design of the central waterfront tossed back into the air, the state, the county and the city jointly decided to work on the uncontested portions of the project.

All three levels of government are in agreement on much of what needs to be built at the north and south ends of the waterfront.

The sale of 191 rental units is dead for the time being, but residents of the Lock Vista Apartments are still recovering from the disruption of potential eviction from their homes.

About a dozen residents met last week with a representative from the Tenants Union of Washington State to get a run down of their rights as renters after hearing the sale of their four-building complex had fallen through.

The Northlake Group was in negotiations to buy the Lock Vista for the last several months to convert the units to condominiums.

When Diane Sugimura, the director of the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, "crashed" the 50th birthday party of Ballard environmentalist, Vic Opperman, to present her with an official proclamation, the surprised birthday girl appeared overwhelmed with delight, and responded, "Am I dreaming?"

Sugimura read the proclamation by a bonfire in the rain in Opperman's backyard. The framed document honored Opperman on her birthday in conjunction with Seattle's Neighborhood Appreciation Day, Feb.

Saturday, Feb. 2

Wrestling

Seamount meet

Mount Rainier won the Seamount League competition with a total of 308.5 points, with Highline second with 232 and Evergreen fourth with 188.5. Kennedy took sixth with 151.8 points and Tyee place eighth with 84.

Rhemond Slish of Mount Rainier wrestled at 112 pounds and defeated teammate George Porcincula, 10-3, in the championship.

Jesus Torres of Tyee won by pin in 2 minutes, 30 seconds.

TACOMA - Rapidly developing youth and experience blended together again on Thursday when the Evergreen Lutheran girls basketball team cut down host Mount Rainier Lutheran 51-21 in SeaTac League Class 2B action at Meier Gymnasium.

Continuing their ascent from a slow beginning of the season, the excelling Eagles (10-1 league, 13-6 overall) are poised for the playoffs and a seventh consecutive run to state with confidence heading into a Tuesday (after press time) showdown with league unbeaten King's West at Chief Leschi Schools. The winner of that game earns the No.