October 2010

Ahmed Mohamed, 22, was booked into the Seattle Correctional Facility yesterday afternoon, Oct. 11, according to the King County Jail Register. His bail is set at $500,000, according to charging documents.

Mohamed and Jonathan Baquiring, 21, were charged with robbery in the first degree and malicious harassment in the May 25 attack of 16-year-old West Seattle resident Shane McClellan and warrants were issued for their arrest on Sept. 20.

“Now I can sleep a lot better,” Tim McClellan, Shane’s father said of the news that Mohamed was in jail. “Now we can finally have closure.”

Baquiring was jailed on Sept. 21 on $500,000 bail, according to the jail register, and police were searching for Mohamed until yesterday.

“It was still a little nervous knowing one guy was still out there,” Tim McClellan said.

Police spokesmen did not have further details on how Mohamed was apprehended as of Oct. 12, however in an earlier interview Lt. Norm James, operations lieutenant for the SPD Southwest Precinct said that police believed Mohamed may have left the state.

Judy and John Kinsman love Shelties as a breed because they are very calm, good natured dogs and great pets.
They got Issabella about six years but she is 11 years old from a breeder in Graham. "She said this little Shelty needed a retirement home, and I had lost my first Shelty." The breeder had tried to breed her several times but Issabella could not have puppies so they chose to sell her.

She eats a normal dry food diet but really enjoys apples as a snack. "She's older so my vet has her getting apples or vegetables as treats," Judy said.

"She is the best dog to take anyplace or to walk because she is so friendly and she doesn't bark or jump up on people," Judy explained. Her best friend is Gracie, the black lab next door.

Shelty's are very easy to train and "Izzy" knows the basics of sit and stay. "I can leave the gate open on the fence and she knows to stay," said Judy. Issabella really enjoys sleeping under the bed.

The color of Shelty's runs from black and white, like Issabella, to a tri-color, sable and blue merle which have distinctive eyes.

Several local environmental organizations will be attending the Oct. 18 "Community Forum to discuss the Past, Present and Future of the Duwamish River." The event will be held at Camp Long 5200 35th Avenue s.w. from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“There has been a lot of great work done for the Duwamish by several local organizations,” said Brian Allen,
Sustainable West Seattle President. “What we’re hoping to do with our Community Forum is bring more attention from the broader community to this issue.”

Once a source of livelihood for native people, the Duwamish River over time became a dumping ground for toxic waste and a repository of pollution for Puget Sound.

Local activists have been working for years on the monumental task cleaning up the river.

Sustainable West Seattle’s monthly Community Forum will feature several of the key individuals involved in this effort who will describe what’s being done and what help is still needed.

Scheduled speakers include:

• Rob Holland, Port of Seattle Commissioner
• BJ Cummings of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
• Heather Trim from People for Puget Sound

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Oct. 8, 7200 Block of Second Ave. N.W.

A woman told police she arrived home to find a door and a window wide open. She said the window had been closed but unlocked when she left for work.

The suspect, who is apparently rather picky, took unknown jewelry from a jewelry box in the main bedroom. The suspect then went downstairs and laid out all of the victim's X-Box games without taking any. Finally, the discerning burglar went through the victim's DVD collection, selecting 40 of them.

In addition, the suspect took two old passports and two social security cards.

The victim told police she talked to her neighbors about the burglary, and an approximately 20-year-old man who recently begin renting nearby acted suspiciously.

The victim said he became nervous, turned off a light and closed the blinds when she told him police would be investigating the burglary.

11:57 p.m. Oct. 9, 9200 Block of Phinney Ave. N.

At 11 p.m. one female roommate returned to the rental property. She was met in the street by an unknown man, who asked her if she needed an escort to the front door. She declined.

The Ballard High School volleyball team kept things close in three games against Garfield High School Oct. 11 but could not get the final push to earn a victory.

Garfield shut the Beavers out 3-0 in the match, winning by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-20 and dropping Ballard to 1-6 in KingCo and 1-9 overall.

Sophomore Liza Berg finished with 11 kills and three blocks. Junior Monique Marquez had 22 assists. And, sophmore Leah Schildkraut added five kills.

Ballard has three matches left to add another win this season, unfortunately the competition won't make it easy. Two of Ballard's final three opponents – Issaquah and Newport – are undefeated.

First up for the Beavers is Newport High School at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Newport. Ballard was defeated 3-0 by Newport last season.

Dear Editor,

Mayor McGinn’s proposed unethical raid to increase utility rates to use them as a “CASH COW” is one of the lowest blows that could be made on the average household in Seattle during this period of severe economic impact on the majority low and middle income sectors of the population. Utilities are part of the basic life supporting needs of humans and use for non-utility budget augmenting purposes deserves maximum protection from political tampering !!

THE PUBLIC EXPECTS THAT UTILITY RATES SHOULD BE BASED ONLY ON THOSE COSTS DIRECTILY RELATED TO PROVIDING THE UTILITY SERVICE ---NO OTHER --PERIOD !!!!!!

Here are a few of the titles of articles in the Times recently since Mayor McGinn announced the idea to use our public utilities as “CASH COWS”!

Outlook On Economy Gloomy
Were Are Earning More And More Of Us Are Poor
Wage Stagnation Imperils Consumer Spending
Economics Look Grim
Inequalities A Threat To Nation

Last week a friend called to say she had a feeling that something new and exciting was happening in my life. When she asked if it was a new book deal, I scoffed and said, “I wish.”

I had been wrestling with two months of frustration and at times lack of hope around my ability to stay motivated to be my own self-employed cheer leader. The successes I’ve had were dwarfed and all that loomed ahead as giant mountains were things I had not yet achieved and the fear that I never would.

I was tired of giving myself pep talks. I was tired of spending years on books that may or may not ever become an entity off of my computer. And, I was tired of the constant cycle of putting my work out there (which is akin to my heart) only to hear nothing in response.

On the low of low of these days, I’d search Craigslist.com jobs, only to become even more depressed because after nine years of being self-employed, I am unemployable. I shared this with my no-nonsense Buddhist friend, and she said, “Dude, but you’re a writer. That’s what you have to do.”

“I know,” I sighed. “I’m just sick of inspiring myself. I inspire other people all day. I wish I had someone who would do that for me.”

A new edgy shop – Vulcan Knife Works – has opened in downtown Ballard. With 30 years of experience, Paul Inman and partner Thomas Gregory forge and sharpen custom knives, swords, axes and tools while Inman’s wife, Dee Button, a longtime leather crafter, designs sheaths and helps run the business.

Gregory, who lives on his sailboat in Ballard, mentored with Inman for 10 years. Inman learned from the late William F. Moran Jr., world-renowned bladesmith known as "the father of the modern Damascus knife.”

One needn’t be a sharp-eyed customer to first notice the more than 70 shiny steel knives, including two-handed great swords, Japanese Katana blades, a "Three Musketeers"-like rapier sword blade, Bowie knives and daggers, suspended from magnetic strips in the shop, located at 2419 N.W. Market St.

Button said her father used to feed her family while they were in Alaska in the late 40s by hunting outside Anchorage and indicated a mounted sheep head on the wall.

Tuesday, Oct. 5

Girls swimming

Mt. Rainier 121, Beamer 65

The Rams rolled past Todd Beamer, 121-65, in girls swimming action Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Mount Rainier opened by winning the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1 minute, 58.19 seconds with Courtney Larson, Mackenzie Marrs, Megan Kawaguchi and Jackie Beal doing the honors.
Beal then won the 200 freestyle race in 2:08.40 and Kawaguchi took the 200 individual medley in 2:17.37.
Kawaguchi was also the winner of the 100 butterfly in 1:03.03 and Erica Young took first in the 500 freestyle in 5:48.90. Larson was the winner of the 100 backstroke in 1:03.54 and Marrs won the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.65.

Kawaguchi, Larson, Young and Marrs capped off the meet by winning the 400 free relay in 3:55.25.

Girls soccer

Highline 11, Evergreen 0

The Pirates plastered the Wolverines in a Seamount League match last Tuesday.

Lindbergh 6, Foster 0

The Bulldogs were blanked by Lindbergh last Tuesday.

Volleyball

Kennedy 3, Lindbergh 0

The Lancers swept the Eagles in three games last Tuesday.

Evergreen 3, Foster 0

Evergreen bashed the Bulldogs in last Tuesday's action.

Highline 3, Tyee 0

Tuesday, Oct. 5

Girls soccer

TJ 2, Kentwood 1

The Raiders slipped past the Conquerors in a road game at French Field last Tuesday.

Beamer 0, Curtis 0

Todd Beamer and Curtis played to a scoreless tie in Tuesday's South Puget Sound League South Division action.

Girls golf

TJ 101, Curtis 50

Alexus Song shot a round of 37 to lead the Raiders past the Vikings last Tuesday.

Beamer 51, Federal Way 36

Jennifer Lee led the way for Todd Beamer last Tuesday with a round of 37.

Boys golf

Beamer 51, Federal Way 36

Todd Beamer posted a victory over the Titans last Tuesday.

Curtis 77, TJ 71

Curtis slipped past the Raiders last Tuesday.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

Boys tennis

TJ 4, Todd Beamer 1

The Raiders scored a win in a crosstown battle last Wednesday.