December 2009

At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Dec. 16, North Precinct officers responded to a call of a stabbing in the 6500 block of 23rd Avenue Northwest.

Two male residents of a shelter at that location got into a verbal argument that escalated into the suspect stabbing/slashing the victim’s throat. The suspect then fled on foot.

The victim was treated at the scene by the Seattle Fire Department Medics and then transported to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment.

Officers conducted an area search for the suspect but were unable to locate him.

It does appear that the suspect and victim knew each other.

This is an active and on-going investigation, and detectives will be responsible for the follow up investigation.

Students in grades Pre-K-12 are invited to submit essays for Federal Way’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration. Entries should incorporate this year’s theme, “I have a Dream for Federal Way.”

Essays must be 300 words or less and should reflect on at least one of the following:

• What does Dr. King’s speech mean to you today, in this community?
• How would Dr. King express his dream today?
• How is the dream relevant to today?
• How does your dream affect how you live your life?
• How are you making the dream a reality?
• How are you engaging the dream?
• What is the next step in reaching this dream?
• Why is your dream unique in human history?

Winning entries will be announced at the Federal Way City Council meeting on Jan. 19, 2010.

The contest, sponsored by the Federal Way Diversity Commission, is open to public-school and home-school students living within the boundaries of the Federal Way School District.

Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson went at it in boys swimming Tuesday and even though the Raiders took this one easily place-wise, winning 9 of 11 races, the final score said different with the Eagles hanging in there until the very end. Federal Way only lost, 88-81, to its South Puget Sound League North rivals at the Federal Way Community Center.

"It was a close one. It can't get much closer than that," said Malcolm Neely, filling in for assistant coach Wendy Neely, who had to take their diver to get checked out medically after he hit his head on the bottom of the pool in the diving portion of this day's dual meet competition.

"Our varsity diver went down," said Neely of Jeff Pratt. "He's done pretty good. He's got all his dives together."

The best racer of the day was Jordan Gaspay, who went to state last year in the 100 yard breaststroke, taking fourth in the consolation finals. He also won the 200 Individual Medley on this day in 2 minutes,19.90 seconds.

Gaspay's times were good enough. The 1:06.99 in the 100 breast Neely said was his best time. And that is good to be doing some best times because he wasn't even swimming much of late.

Aggressive acceleration propelled the Evergreen Lutheran girls basketball team to a 40-34 win against West Lutheran (Minnesota) in a Friday, Dec. 11, second session game at the 10th annual Great Western Shootout Tournament at the Eagle campus.

"We used our speed and quickness to win on defense," proclaimed Eagle head coach Jeff Kurbis. "(Markelle) Lance's three-point goal was big for us.."

Evergreen Lutheran stormed the boards early, but had problems getting the ball to drop against West Lutheran while fighting to four ties and an 8-8 tie after the first quarter. The Warriors worked the ball inside and were able to transition to a 16-11 lead with 5:10 remaining before halftime.

Southpaw Megume Poetter torched the net for a three-point goal and followed with another goal from the outside. Kailey Fuegmann converted a free throw ahead of Megume Poetter's standard three-point play as Evergreen Lutheran led 20-16 with less than four minutes to halftime. Fuegmann swished in an outside shot to leave the Eagles with a 24-19 halftime margin. Megume Poetter collected eight Eagle points.

Height advantage finally took its toll against a stubborn defense on Saturday, December 12, at the Great Western Lutheran Shootout on the campus of Evergreen Lutheran High School.

Arizona Lutheran Academy took charge in the third quarter, pulling way to a 39-23 girls basketball victory against Evergreen Lutheran in the championship match up.

"When Melanie (Laete) went out (in the third quarter), they got nine unanswered points," declared Eagle head coach Jeff Kurbis. "No one could answer their big girl."

Evergreen Lutheran was hanging close to the taller Coyotes, 16-13, when six-foot Melanie Laete drew her fourth foul as the second half began and had to sit on the bench. With no one taller than 5-8 to contest them, the Coyotes climbed away. Bethany Unkefer drilled a three-point goal followed by three consecutive inside baskets from 6-foot, 3-inch Kristen Schulz as Arizona took a 25-13 command in the third quarter.

Caty Poetter interrupted the surge by running to the boards for a rebound basket. Arizona Lutheran then went on a 4-0 surge to lead 29-13 with one quarter left.

The Burien Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board to return the northern shoreline of Seahurst Park to a restored, more accessible, and more natural condition.

Since being armored in the 1970s, beach elevations in Seahurst Park have dropped 3 to 4 feet due to wave scouring and the disconnection of the beach from sources of sediment.

The changes in the beach have significantly degraded the quality of habitat for salmon and the organisms they depend on, particularly forage fish. Crews will remove a seawall, rock riprap, groins, paving and fill.

A similar project on the southern shoreline of the park to remove the seawall and restore the beach was completed in 2005.

The northern section is much larger in scale and will include recreational elements such as a playground, picnic areas and trails. Construction is scheduled for fall of 2010.

In addition to the $750,000 grant, the City of Burien will contribute $133,000 from a state grant and the Army Corps of Engineers will contribute $1,800,000 through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act.

(Editor's Note: Des Moines resident Luke Gullberg was found dead on Mount Hood on Dec. 12. The search for two other missing climbers was called off Wednesday and they are presumed dead, also. Gullberg's close friend, Peter C.H. Livingston, wrote the following tribute.)

Family and friends of Luke Gullberg share a bond of grief today as they mourn the tragic loss of someone very dear.

Luke's body was found early Saturday morning, Dec. 12th, 10,500 feet up in icy terrain on Mount Hood. Luke was a lifetime resident of Des Moines and was only 26 years old.

Along with climbers Anthony Vietti, 24, of Longview, and Katie Nolan, 29, of Portland at approximately 1a.m. Friday morning, Luke ascended the mountain for what should have been less than a 24-hour climb.

An experienced climber and avid hiker, Luke reportedly died of hypothermia. The details of what happened that led to the tragedy are still unknown, but what is certain is that the Des Moines community has lost a truly great citizen on that mountain.

West Seattle vandal Ryan Cox was arrested this morning by Southwest Precinct detectives near the intersection of 44th Avenue SW and West Alaska Street. Cox was taken into custody without incident at around 8:30 a.m. He will be booked into King County Jail. The Seattle Police Department appreciates all of the public assistance in this matter.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, the Sealth Seahawks (2-0 overall, 2-0 league) played their second game of the season against the Eastside Catholic Crusaders (1-4 overall, 1-3 league). Senior Greg Wilson won the tip and Sealth quickly scored the first basket. As the clock kept running, junior Keon Lewis stole the ball from Eastside and Sealth led by 4. During the second quarter, senior Daniel Davis scored to put Sealth up by 8. The Crusaders were loosing their breath as Lewis passes the ball to his fellow teammate and senior Tomas Ogbaslassie who’s lay up gave Sealth a 12 point lead. The Crusaders got the ball back hoping for a shot, but the Seahawks stole the ball away for another two points. One one play late in the second quarter, junior Tre’von Lane jetted down the court and threw a quick pass to Wilson who attacked the rim for a dunk, but he missed. Ogbaslassie, still determined, got the rebound and Sealth led by 17 at the half.

While attending the City of SeaTac Open House showcasing plans for downtown development last evening at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, I was impressed with the vision of our City Council and the Planning and Public Works departments.

It was easy to see past the paid minions along the street with picket signs protesting the impending use of "Eminent Domain" and the self-interested representation of those who own the commercial property along International Boulevard.

Where certainly the commercial property owners need to have a voice in the process, the fact that they alone would know what is best for the community of SeaTac is short-sighted and entirely self serving.

If any time and place would be a candidate for eminent domain action, the area proposed for a concerted SeaTac Downtown development plan should be the place and now is the time.

The plans displayed by the existing commercial property owners may have merit if only their individual properties where included in a more expansive plan.

Instead, they looked more like a manipulative means to insist their property is worth much more than the existing "Fair Market Value."