January 2011

Just before 11 p.m. on Jan. 2 911 calls started pouring in from White Center.

King County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a black Acura chasing after a red SUV in White Center at speeds up to 80 mph. The driver of the Acura was leaning out of his window shooting a handgun at the SUV, according to a press release from King County.

A deputy tracked down the Acura in the Top Hat neighborhood ten minutes later, but the suspect was able to elude the officer.

Shortly thereafter another deputy saw the Acura on SR 599 and pursued the suspect southbound on I-5. The deputy lost sight of the Acura near the Kent-Des Moines Road, according to the press release.

At 12:25 a.m. a woman from White Center called 911 to report her 1997 Acura Integra stolen and deputies believe this is the same vehicle involved in the shooting and chase. The Integra has a Washington license plate number 403ZJG and is black in color with red and silver wheel rims.

According the press release there have been no injuries reported, no one is in custody and neither vehicle involved has been found. Deputies believe the red SUV may be a Nissan 4Runner.

On Dec. 27 a couple living on the 5300 block of 21st Ave s.w. called police to report a burglary. They suspect their own granddaughter (who lives with them), who has been using meth and marijuana and hanging out with a known burglar. There were no signs of forced entry to the exterior of the house, but the locks of three rooms were broken by a screwdriver found on the scene. $300 in cash, three diamond rings worth $200 each, a set of $1000 diamond earrings, an iPad, a Toshiba laptop, a Zune mp3 player and a Daisy CO2 BB gun were stolen. Police took the screwdriver for fingerprint analysis and the couple’s granddaughter has been missing since the burglary.

Some dedicated students at Ballard High devoted a lot of hours over Christmas Break beautifying the walls of the school's Activities Center.

The BHS Art Boosters sponsored a mural design competition and junior Victoria Shao’s design was selected.

When you conjure up thoughts of an emergency room visit, it usually involves a personal experience, late at night, with a heavy dose of pain and anxiety while doctors and nurses try to help you.

Dr. Jim Rice knows those situations well after his tenure as chief of the emergency department at Highline Medical Center.

Rice is choosing to move from acute care to what he calls "less acute," in opening a family practice in Burien. He's known in the sports circle as the "doc on the field" for the Highline Pirates.

Dr. Rice inherited the job from Dr. Alan Gunsul in 1985. He will continue in that role but sparingly.

"I love the kids," he said.

He won't be too far away. His new office is located at 142nd and Ambaum Blvd. S.W.

At an age when lots of people are retiring, Rice is starting a new career in family practice. Dr. Rice is now seeing patients from infants to senior citizens. What was a career in the fast paced trauma center is now one of treating everything from asthma to arthritis. Rice is loving it.

Breeders Theater opens its 10th season with a new show, "Casting Call," Jan. 14-Feb. 5 at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien.

"Casting Call" takes place at a major theater festival, where they are about to launch a production of a major new play that already has been optioned to Hollywood. With the film director scheduled to attend -- in search of someone to play the lead in the film -- three actors are vying for this potential role of a lifetime and might be willing to do anything to get it.

Breeders Theater founder T.M. Sell wrote the play. Doug Knoop directs, with music by Nancy Warren and choreography by Teresa Widner.

"Having worked with good actors for a while now, it occurred to me that if an actor put her or his mind to it, you really wouldn't know what they were thinking," said Sell. "So this is a play where things may not be what they seem."

The cast includes Andrew Smith, Teresa Widner, Laura Smith, Ericka Zabelle, Eric Hartley and Stephen Scheide.

"Casting Call" runs Jan. 14, 15, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, Feb. 2, 3, 4, 5 at 7 p.m., with doors open at 6:30 p.m.; with matinees Jan. 16, 23, 30 at 2 p.m., with doors open at 1:30 p.m.

A second Design Review meeting regarding the proposed development for 6559 15th Ave NW is scheduled for tonight.

In November, BNT reported that some neighbors are less than happy about the proposed development, calling it a “recipe for disaster”.

They fear that the development - a four-story live-and-work building containing 101 residential units and parking for 67 vehicles - could create a serious safety hazard for neighborhood school children because of its planned parking garage entrance off Northwest 67th Street.

These neighbors will be sure to make their concerns heard at tonight’s meeting.

The four-story development is being proposed for the currently vacant lot across 15th Avenue from Ballard High School. It will be market-rate apartments with 72 studios and a mixture of one and two-bedroom units on the top three floors. The first floor will be a mixture of live/work units, parking and leasing offices and a gym for tenants.

Burien pet owners can now obtain licenses for their dogs and cats at reduced rates. Licenses for altered pets are $10; unaltered pets, $25. The licenses are good through June 30.

The city of Burien requires the purchase each year of a pet license for all dogs and cats 6 months of age or older. The fee is based on whether the pet is altered or not. Full-year licenses are $20 for altered pets; $50, unaltered pets and are issued on July 1, good through June 30.

Residents 65 years of age and older may obtain a special permanent license for the lifetime of their altered pet for a one-time charge of $15. Proof of spay/neuter must be submitted.

Current pet licenses issued by King County Animal Control are valid in the city through June 30. County licenses can be exchanged for city of Burien licenses at no charge. Lifetime licenses issued by King County will be honored. Pet owners of altered animals must bring documentation of the surgery in order to get the lower rate.

Angle Lake Manor Club in SeaTac held its 3rd annual "Polar Bear Plunge" at the Manor Club Private Beach at 10 a.m. sharp on New Year's morning. First Avenue Starbucks in Burien provided warm drinks. An "insignificant gift" was awarded to each participant.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW

The boys basketball team finished third at the Les Schwab Holiday Basketball Tournament at Kennedy Catholic High School during Christmas Break.

The Beavers beat Foster High from Tukwila, lost to Kentlake and then came back with a win on the last day, beating Issaquah 63-54.

Ballard's Salim Gloyd was named to the All Tournament Team. Gloyd scored 80 points and had 27 rebounds during the tournament.

The team's overall record is now 6-3 (3-1 in KingCo). They'll be playing two home games this week. On Tuesday the Beavers will take on Skyline at 7:30 p.m. and on Friday, Garfield visits BHS at 8 p.m.

With indications that this will be a severe winter Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staffers across the region are carefully monitoring weather effects.

"Our state and local governments have done solid work preparing for this year's winter storms, updating their websites and working closely with radio, television, and print media to inform and advise the public," said FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy. "I urge our citizenry to heed winter warnings from local emergency managers, and to exercise extreme caution when utilizing alternative sources of heat, power and transportation."

In commending residents to review and update emergency plans and inventory and replenish disaster kits, Murphy stressed that emergency power needs can rank right up there with food, water, first aid kits and shelter.

If the power goes out:

• Don't call 9-1-1 for information--use your battery-powered radio for emergency bulletins.
• Plan on cell phones or corded phones for emergency calls. Cordless phones require electricity.
• Turn off major appliances to protect against surges when the power resumes.