January 2010

Amidst budget cuts and a struggling economy, Highline schools have found at least one thing to be proud about.

At the Jan. 27 school board meeting, Superintendent John Welch said that Highline schools are ahead of the rest of the state when it came decreasing the gap between the number of white students and minority students who graduate from high school and continue on to college the next year.

He presented data which showed that the percentages of three racial groups - African-American, Hispanic and Asian - had progressively increased when it came to students who had graduated and pursued higher education the following year.

The data reflected the four-year period covering the graduating classes of 2004 to 2008.

The only category that showed significant decline was American Indians, which had fallen roughly 23 percent from 2006 to 2008. Welch said that he and his staff could offer no explanation as to why.

Are you tired of being ignored by your Legislature while the economy slips ever further into debt?

Isn't it time to retire professional politicians who lend their ear and attention to every other interest group except those that count -- our people?

If the answer is yes, you have an opportunity to toss them out and serve our people. The place to do so is to register in the Primary Election to get on the ballot. Surely any dedicated citizen can do a better job.

Remember that the professionals were there when all those deals affecting us now were made. Our founding Fathers never intended that their descendents be ruled by an oligarchic political class.

Here is how to begin:

http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/candidateinfo/Pages/FilingforElectiv…
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/referenceresources/candidatefiling/…

Please observe the following important dates in 2010:

May 21 Mail-in candidate filings can be received (will be processed June 7)
June 7 In-person candidate filings will be accepted after 8 a.m.
June 7 Online candidate filing begins at 9: a.m.
June 11 Online candidate filing ends at 4 p.m.

When you vote "Yes" for your share of the property tax that provides the maintenance and operations of the King County Library System (KCLS), you are supporting the information and technological tools needed by everyone to support our democratic society.

Our libraries are at the heart of our communities. They are treasures to be enhanced and protected.

Proposition 1, which asks us to restore the KCLS property tax levy rate to 50 cents per $1000 of assessed value for collection in 2011, should have arrived in your mailbox, along with the "Local Voters' Pamphlet." It does require that you mail in your ballot so that it is postmarked on or before Feb. 9. (There are no ballot drop boxes in our immediate community.)

The cost to the homeowner of a hypothetical $400,000 home is about $32 per year.

As current president of the White Center Library Guild, I am witness to the great volume and services offered in that library. Every month, between 8,000 and 10,000 people walk in the door to use this library.

"Here's looking at you, kid," the talented actor Humphrey Bogart whispered to the ever-so lovely Ingrid Bergman in that famous movie "Casablanca."

Those who believe in love's magic breathed a sigh for romance.

That years ago award-winning movie about love and intrigue still stirs treasured emotions. Love is the most intangible, yet most precious gift we give or receive.

So, why is it that commercializing love with advertisements and television sales pitches is irritating? While a fifty-bucks per ounce perfume and/or romantic dinner is thoughtful it's only the beginning of keeping the apple of our eye spellbound forever.

Gifts are tokens of love - not the birth mother of love. Those who build a partner-for-life relationship foundation on material premise alone are just as likely to soon (ready or not) contribute to a divorce attorney's investment future.

Frankly, the more the deluge of television and mail advertisements interrupt life, the more I subconsciously file that brand name in my memory category of," don't buy."

WIth a 47-30 loss to Lake Washington Jan. 29, the Ballard High School girls basketball team has lost six games in a row – it's longest losing streak of the season.

Senior Alexandria Lawrence led the Beavers with nine points. Junior Taylor Hall chipped in six.

With four games remaining, Ballard is 1-11 in KingCo and 3-13 overall.

Next up for the Beavers is Redmond at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 at Redmond High School.

Des Moines student Brittany Fugatt got to her high school prom five years late.

But there were compensations. Her date was film star Jack Black and the prom was in Southern California, instead of Mt. Rainier High School.

"The prom was lots of fun. There were tons of people there, the decorations were beautiful and it was very well done," exclaimed Fugatt, a kidney dialysis patient.

Black helped Brittany, her younger sister, Chelsea, who accompanied her, and about 250 young people forget about dialysis and renal disease and enjoy a fun evening at the 11th Annual Renal Teen Masquerade Prom, presented by the Renal Support Network.

Fugatt dialyzes three times a week, four hours a day at the Northwest Kidney Center in SeaTac.

Renal Support Northwest's Patient Focus, which has events for 14-24 year olds, sponsored Fugatt.

Francie Kay, Northwest Kidney Centers spokeswoman, explained that the network is a patient-run organization that offers services to help people with kidney disease.

"Because it is non-profit, it is very patient-focused," said Kay.

With improvements to South 216 Street from Pacific Highway South west to Marine View Drive to begin soon and Des Moines and the Port of Seattle moving forward to develop the Des Moines Creek Business Park, the city is looking to make 216th into a shopping destination.

On 216th from 20th Avenue east to 1-5 widening from three lanes (two east and west and one turn lane) to five lanes (four east and west and one turn lane) will be done.

There will be a bicycle lane on either side, as well as a sidewalk on each side. A four and a half foot buffer will separate the sidewalk from the street. The buffer will be planet with trees or low maintenance plants.

On 24th Avenue north from 216th widening will also be completed. The main road into the business park will be 24th Avenue South.
As the 'gateway' into Des Moines a new "Welcome to Des Moines" monument will be put at 216th and Pacific Highway in front of Safeway.

Councilman Scott Thomasson questioned whether it is a good idea to put in an elaborate monument when it is unknown where light rail is going to go. He said if SeaTac has its way it would be right above where they are planning to put the sign.

A string of turnovers from the Ballard High School boys basketball team led to a 21-10 first quarter deficit from which it couldn't recover in a 78-70 loss to Lake Washington Jan. 29.

Senior Gary Smith was the Beavers' high-scorer with 19 points. Senior Kyler Korsmo added 16.

The loss dropped Ballard to 4-8 in the conference and 5-11 overall.

With four games remaining, the Beavers are tied with Redmond and Roosevelt for the eighth and final playoff spot.

That makes Ballard's upcoming matchup at Redmond at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 all the more important.

Man Assaulted

Sheriff's deputies have arrested one suspect and are looking for another after a man was beaten and robbed early Jan. 26.

The victim told investigators he was robbed at gunpoint near the intersection of Ambaum Boulevard Southwest and Southwest 136th Street about 1 a.m.

The robbers ran off and the victim flagged down a deputy for help. Deputies searched the area, and a police dog found and bit one of the suspected robbers a few blocks away. Officials said they recovered a gun and several shell casings, but they do not believe the men shot at anyone during the robbery.

The second man involved in the robbery is still at large. The victim was treated at Highline Hospital for injuries he suffered during the robbery.

Attempted Armed Robbery

Des Moines officers arrested a 17-year-old male in the process of committing an armed robbery at the EZ Mart located in the 21600 block of Marine View Drive South.

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images from the All-City Gymanstics meet on January 27. Click on the image for more photos from the meet.