February 2010

Todd Beamer's Titans fought hard for coach Heather Sugg and for the seniors, since it was "seniors night," and the combination of the two almost brought a victory against rival visitor Decatur.

"Almost," said, Sugg. "Almost."

The Gators won a game with such excitement and suspense, 47-46, not knowing of the victor until the very end -- with the Beamer girls not fighting with incentive like their counterpart boys that played the same day in Gator country for second place in the South Puget Sound League.

"I was trying to win for coach more than win for self," said Frantasia Johnson, a junior 5-6 guard on these 1-14 Titans that ended up in dead last in the SPSL South. The Gators won one more. "And the seniors."

Two good motivators for a fight there, especially the former motivation, as coach Sugg was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor about three weeks ago in mid January. Sugg was getting headaches and family, led by husband John, insisted she go in for a look from a doctor. A biopsy done -- with staples in place after skin taken off her head -- and five days of tears later the truth was known -- cancer.

Stinging and suffocating defense plus good ball handling led the Decatur boys basketball team to a 70-59 South Puget Sound League South victory against visiting crosstown rival Todd Beamer on Tuesday to set up a potential three-way log jam for second place.

Closing out their regular season with clout, the Gators inhabit second place at 12-4 while also improving to 14-6 overall. If the Titans and Puyallup win their Friday night league match ups, they'll join Decatur at 12-4.

"Our defense had a great game," said Decatur head coach Kevin Olson. "Our double team was really working, so we stayed with it. We really wanted to keep the ball out Davis' hands. Offensively, we were really able to finish."

According to Olson, a three-way tie would necessitate a mini-tie breaker of two half games probably held on Tuesday at a to-be-determined site.. Puyallup would get the bye due to being the only one of the trio to defeat division champion Curtis.

Every few months Kevin Foxen and Sean Spinglet, owners of A Place for Pet's in downtown Burien, take their pet show on the road to various schools in the Highline area.

Last week, Kevin was visiting Burien Co-op Preschool with a veritable menagerie of exotic pets from a Mexican RedKnee Tarantula to a Madagascar Veiled Chamelion. Especially exciting was the Kenyan Sand Boa (non-poisonous).

The 2-3 year old kids were enamored by the creepy crawlies for the most part, bravely holding and petting with reservation. It seemed harder on the mom's than the tykes as each slithery creature was introduced.

The creepiest may have been the plastic jar of King Meal Worms escaping in all directions when loosed on the carpet. Probably a tasty treat for the Veiled Chamelion, but Kevin does not allow them in the same space at the same time.

A couple of Peruvian Guinea Pigs enjoyed cuddling in their arms like babes.

The rather docile Tarantula enjoyed resting on knees, in hands and on heads as Kevin moved it around the room. A special Sun Conoure from South America, fluttered its wings often while perched on little fingers.

Katrina Thompson and her mother, Kerry Thompson, 68, are taking volunteerism to new heights. That’s because each has officially been assigned a task by Vancouver Olympics officials on and around the Whistler ski resort during competitions.

Kerry’s responsibility will be keeping fans orderly that attend the Whistler Sliding Center and its luge and bobsleigh track clear of debris.

Katrina, a West Seattle High School class of ’87 graduate and former Alki resident, will be stationed in the Whistler Media Center, armed with computers, three monitors, two printers, and seven copiers.

“I’ll be sort of the hub for media,” said Katrina, an IT consultant for Avanade Inc. “A huge contingency of media from all over the world will stop by the Media Center to pick up printouts of the results from skiing, luge, curling, hockey, and other sports. I print those out. You’d think they’d prefer to get the information electronically somehow, but no. They want the sheets of paper in their hands.”

Helping to celebrate Senior Night at Beamer High School, Heather Sugg the girls varsity basketball coach was also recognized. She is battling an inoperable, cancerous brain tumor. Heather's son Spencer sang "God Bless America" a capella and received an arousing round of applause.

Here are some photos to enjoy from that evening.

Tom Norris took on the task of filling in as the head boys basketball coach Tuesday, Feb. 2 as a favor to full time head coach Kyle Templeton.

Then again, he even took on the assistant coach job as a favor to Templeton to begin the season.

"I didn't really like the job but, you know, I had to step up and do it and it was a lot of fun," Norris said. "I only came back to coach because of Kyle. He asked and I said yes. He's a great guy and I'm glad to help him out."

The favor paid dividends Tuesday as the Raiders rallied from behind to beat Kentridge, 69-57, on the TJ home floor -- adding one career win for the coach who led the Raiders full time 11 years ago.

Norris gave the credit to the athletes.

"The kids did a great job, boy did they come through," he said.

Thomas Jefferson got off to a bad start against the Chargers, falling into an 8-0 abyss.

Justin Lanier stopped the down turn by swishing in a three-point shot to make it 8-3 with 4:36 to play in the first quarter.

On February 4, 2010, at approximately 3:34 PM, Federal Way Police Officers responded to the call of a Shooting located at a residence located at 32820 20th Ave S, in Federal Way.

Upon arrival police located two individuals inside the location. Medics later arrived and declared both individuals deceased. One individual was a white male and the other was a white female both in their 80’s and residents of Federal Way.

Police were notified of the incident when an adult family member arrived at the location and discovered the bodies.

The initial investigation has shown there are no other individuals involved with this incident and it is currently being investigated as a Homicide/Suicide. Theinvestigation is ongoing.

Federal Way Police Detectives are currently processing the scene and interviewing neighbors and possible witnesses in an attempt to determine the related circumstances.

Ed. Note: This is a copy of a letter sent to Kellee Jones of Seattle Parks and Recreation.

I read the Feb. 5 Ballard News-Tribune article regarding the Jan. 28 Ninth Avenue Park meeting, in which a man at the meeting is quoted as saying nearby Whittier Elementary playground has nothing but swings and childrens' playground equipment.

That statement is absolutely untrue. Whittier has no swings, zero swings, and most of the area is open, paved surface, with one corner being playground equipment, and a few basketball hoops, a few maypoles and a dragon/snake sculpture across play area for climbing.

There are no public swings near the Ninth Avenue Park location, and there is a shortage of playground equipment in this area as well as a shortage of green space with lawns, flowers, shrubs and trees – a park for people to play and enjoy.

Ballard homes can provide their own garden spaces, no matter how small the yards.

The Seattle Department of Transportation today provided an update on the various road construction projects underway in SODO (South Downtown) including work on the West Seattle Bridge, Alaskan Way, South Park Bridge and Duwamish Ave. South.

Highlights:

- The center turn lane on Alaskan Way S will be removed to provide room for a lane shift between Massachusetts and Atlantic Feb 8-20.

- Crews will be working nights on the West Seattle Bridge Feb 8-11 in both directions.

- South Park Bridge to be closed Feb 10-13, 7am-7pm daily.

- Duwamish Ave S will be closed to through traffic (except local access) Feb 15th until mid-2011.

SODO Planned Construction / Events through Feb 14
Feb 6
7AM to 3PM
Paving at 6th Ave S and S Spokane St
Crews will be replacing a panel in the intersection of 6th Ave S and S Spokane St. Police will be present to help direct traffic.
Feb 8
9AM to 2:30PM
Lane closure on Airport Way over Argo Rail yard
Crews will close the southbound right lane for expansion joint repair.
Feb 8-12
7PM to 5AM

Two local Boys & Girls Club members have been nominated for the 2010 Youth of the Year Award celebrating service to community, family and the club, as well as academic achievement and moral character.

Taylor Franks, a Ballard High School senior and nominee from the Ballard Boys & Girls Club, has completed more than 200 hours of community service in the past year.

She is involved in many clubs, but still takes time to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club.

She said the club is a great because it gives young and underprivileged youth a place to go where the atmosphere is always positive and there is always someone to listen to them and help them.

"I really do care about the club," she said. "I love it."

Franks said she was surprised to be nominated, but it is a great honor.

"I was very ecstatic because I was up against some tough competition," she said.

Amaris Williams is the nominee from the North Seattle Boys & Girls Club. The Roosevelt High School student has been a member of the club for a decade.

Franks and Williams are two of the 11 Youth of the Year contestants from King County. Each contestant received a $500 education scholarship.