August 2011

Twelve people were shot when gunfire broke out at a lowrider car show in Kent on the afternoon of July 23 at La Plaza shopping center on Pacific Highway S. Amazingly, everyone survived.

While the investigation continues into who and how many were involved in the shooting, King County law enforcement agencies have publically vowed to work together in focusing in on gang violence in the area, while elected officials are asking the county for more funding for prosecutors and police.

Kent Police are busy interviewing witnesses and analyzing surveillance footage from the shooting, and in the meantime Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas brought together over 60 law enforcement officials from King and Pierce County on July 27 to discuss local and regional gang violence.

According to a City of Kent press release, the meeting resulted in two initiatives: “a commitment to effectively collect, analyze, and share criminal intelligence about violent street gangs to all law enforcement agencies throughout the area,” and the assembly of “a contingent of investigators to work collaboratively to target the most violent gangs and gang members in the area for aggressive enforcement action.”

When the U.S. Navy Blue Angels jets begin zipping over Lake Washington this week, drivers won’t be cruising across the Interstate 90 floating bridge at the same time.

During the practice flights and air show, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close all lanes and several ramps of I-90 between I-5 in Seattle and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island several times between Thursday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 7. Drivers should expect congestion and plan ahead. Additionally, there are two scheduled openings of the State Route 520 floating bridge.

To avoid congestion, drivers who want to cross Lake Washington via I-90 should plan to get to the bridge at least an hour ahead of the closures and consider using alternate routes such as I-405, SR 520 or I-5.

No stopping or parking is allowed on the floating bridges. By closing I-90, WSDOT is complying with Federal Aviation Administration rules to create a safer environment for motorists and Blue Angels pilots by reducing distractions to both.

I-90 closures

They say laughter is the best medicine, and for the many of you who feel like you are suffering from SAD this summer, I am about to write you a prescription. While most of us have been spending the summer angry about the lack of sun, two local Ballardites have been working on bringing the laughs. Meet sketch comedy duo Charles, who will be performing their show The Ace of Bass this weekend at the Ballard Underground.

Living in Ballard since 2007, Chuck Armstrong and Charlie Stockman met when they were both undergrads at Stanford University and working at the school’s humor magazine, the Stanford Chaparral, of which Charlie was editor-in-chief. A few years ago they produced the Seattle Untimely, a fake local news channel in the same vein of The Onion. Then in 2008 they began creating live sketch shows.

Burien residents will be breaking out their comfortable shoes the first Sunday of each month for a "Walk 'n Talk" from Town Square around Lake Burien.

The plan is to enjoy conversation and a walk through town. Grabbing a local coffee or snack before or after the stroll is encouraged.

The inaugural walk is Sunday, Aug. 7.

Walkers of every level and ability are invited to gather at Burien Town Square Park, S.W. 152nd St. and 5th Place S.W. at 2 p.m. The walkers will set out at 2:15 p.m.

The 2.25-mile loop from Town Square will go west along S.W. 152nd St. and turn south onto 21st Avenue S.W. The walkers will head east on S.W 156th St., 16th Avenue S.W. and S.W. 158th Street. They will then zig-zag north on 12th Avenue S.W., S.W. 156th St.,11th Avenue S.W., S.W. 154th St. and 10th Avenue S.W. until they are back on S.W. 152nd. St. The final leg is east on 152nd back to Town Square.

For more info, go to design@RedRedCircle.com.

press release:

West Seattle Hi-Yu has been having an amazing award winning parade season with our “Sparkling Seattle” parade float and we are very proud that we have been able to represent West Seattle as the last community parade float in Seattle again this year.

All this year, the Bill’s Family has kindly been parking and storing the float in their yard, Hi-Yu thanks them for graciously providing us with this space. As the parade season draws to a close it is necessary for us to vacate and we are again faced with the dilemma of finding a storage location for our float and trailer.

To store the float we would require space in the dimensions of 25 x 10' and it could be indoor or outdoor. We are pretty desperate so if you have space, own or work for a company that has a secure parking lot or know of anyone who may be able to help us, please contact Tim Winston 206-938-2088 as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and for helping to keep this community tradition going strong!!

Click on photo for slideshow

From Seafair website:

Fleet Week Parade of Ships Today - 1:45pm at the Seattle Waterfront

Parade of Ships - Wednesday, August 3 at 1:45 pm

The Fleet will make its entrance in Elliot Bay on Wednesday, August 3 between 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. The Fleet will include U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD6), guided-missile destroyers USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Chafee (DDG90), three Royal Canadian Navy ships and one U.S. Coast Guard vessel. A special Centennial of Naval Aviation fly-over will include: U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler, U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler, U.S. Navy P-3 Orion, U.S. Navy E6B Mercury, U.S. Coast Guard HH60 Helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard HH65 Dolphin Helicopter and the T-34 Mentor.

CSR Marine is relocating its Magnolia-based boat yard across the water to the old Seaview Yard on Shilshole Avenue in Ballard.

Co-owner Scott Anderson said the lease for their current yard on Commodore Way ends August 30th and they hope to have fully relocated by August 25th.

The new four-acre location offers more space, big indoor facilities, a better location and better storm water drainage, said Anderson.

"It will offer better visibility for us and for the industry. I'm hoping to make it into a maritime center by cleaning it up and bringing in other guys as well," he said.

Anderson said the Ballard community has been very welcoming and friendly about their relocation to Ballard and that he's excited to be there.

The new location has a lot to offer but that doesn't mean that the relocation comes without its concerns.

"We're going to have to make 20 percent more income to break even," Anderson said.

CSR Marine is the biggest boat yard in the Interlake system and has been around for 35 years.

Editor's note: The West Seattle Herald has been covering news here for nearly a century. Robinson Newspapers (which publishes the West Seattle Herald) have a massive news archive of Herald coverage dating back to 1928. What follows are crime reports and public safety issues from 1935. Although reporters’ names were not included with stories at that time, their original words remain intact. As more historical crime reports are compiled there will be more installments of West Seattle All Time Crimes.

March 28, 1935
Juvenile Delinquency Is Worst in North End W.S.
Ninth Grade Dangerous Period for Unstable Youths Says Principal of James Madison Junior High
Several surprises were given members of the West Seattle YMCA Board of Management recently when Joy Scudder, principal of James Madison junior high school, spoke on “Juvenile Delinquency.”

The city of Des Moines is seeking interested citizens to write Pro & Con Statements for the Utility Occupation Tax for Des Moines Beach Park and streets to be on the November general election ballot.
Citizens must be Des Moines residents or business owners subject to the tax.
The committee application deadline is Monday, Aug. 8. Contact Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Director Patrice Thorell at pthorell@desmoineswa.gov or 206-870-6529.

For many people in White Center, Magic Lanes at the corner of 106th s.w. and 15th s.w. is a landmark. Not only for its tall sign but for its place in their lives as where they learned to bowl, hung out with friends, family and co-workers and enjoyed an inexpensive evening out. It opened in 1960.

But changing attitudes, demographics and a poor economy finally took their toll on the once bustling bowling alley. It closed permanently on Monday, Aug.1.

Owner Doug Harrell, who also owns Roxbury Lanes and Roxy's Casino, just over a mile away on Roxbury Street said that conditions over the past year had worsened and it was no longer possible to sustain the business.

He pointed to several factors that led to the closure including changing attitudes about bowling, less discretionary income and changes in how people live.