October 2011

Press release from the King County Sheriff's Office

In what was described as “animal hoarding”, detectives and animal control officers raided a Burien house last night about 6:15 PM in the 1300 block of SW 120th St. Thirty-eight Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Chin dogs were found in the residence, all in relatively poor health and kept in extremely dirty dog crates. Fourteen were immediately taken to a veterinarian’s office and nine were euthanized.

Please click the image above for more.

A man at the residence said the majority of the dogs were his, and claimed some were show dogs. Furthermore, he said there were additional dogs at a house near Issaquah.

Detectives and animal control officer from King County subsequently served a search warrant at a residence in the 5900 block of 189th Ave SE and found another 62 dogs. These animals were in relatively good health and in clean crates, but due to the condition of the house, the dogs were taken by King County Animal Care and Control.

“The Hole” at 3922 S.W. Alaska St was sold for $32 million in a foreclosure auction at the King County Administration Building on Oct. 7.

In an uneventful auction, the bid started at exactly $32, 385,920.77 – the opening bid from 3922 S.W. Alaska LLC, a company linked to Madison Development out of Kirkland.

No one else entered a bid and after the auctioneer’s “going once, going twice, three times, sold,” 3922 LLC was the winner (although not present at the auction).

3922 LLC has been interested in and involved in The Hole’s future for some time. The property was scheduled for a foreclosure sale in February, but 3922 LLC filed an appeal to stop the sale, telling the court they would post $7.7 million in security to cover the liens against the deed filed by construction companies who had started on The Hole, and never been paid by the Bluestar – the original developer.

Judge Susan Craighead accepted the appeal “because it is virtually certain that 3922 will be the purchaser at that sale.”

Almost seven months later, it turns out she was right.

Press release:
An insurance agent who sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in fake business-insurance policies has been sentenced to more than two years in prison.

Brenda MacLaren-Beattie, 68, of Des Moines, was sentenced Thursday in King County Superior Court to 26 months in prison. She was immediately taken into custody. She was also ordered to pay back $532,659 in restitution.

"I'm very pleased that the court took this as seriously as we did," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. "This agent sold fictitious coverage to dozens of medical offices in Washington and Oregon, often for years. People thought they had coverage and they didn't."

An investigation by Kreidler's office found that from late 2001 through 2009, MacLaren-Beattie issued fake insurance to 25 oral surgeons in Washington and 16 in Oregon. During that time, she is believed to have collected more than $532,000 in premiums for fictitious insurance policies, often issuing counterfeit certificates of insurance to doctors and clinics. Her insurance license expired in 2009.

Saturday Oct. 22 the Annual Southwest Seattle Historical Society Gala will celebrate an even 160 years from the founding of the city of Seattle at Salty's on Alki at 1936 Harbor Avenue s.w. in the Alki Event Room.

The event will feature a special Salty's Brunch, a silent auction, raffle, dessert dash, and whimsical entertainment.

Each table will represent one decade of the 16 that have passed since The Denny, Low, Boren, and Terry Party arrived at Alki Beach, “The Birthplace of Seattle”.

Costumes are encouraged.

It will run from 11:30am to 2:30pm

Tickets are $65-adults. $25-12 and under children 4 under, free

You can purchase your tickets by calling the Log House Museum at (206) 938-5293. Credit cards are accepted. You can also purchase tickets by check by mailing it with a note to the Southwest Historical Society 3003 61st Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116. Any donations you could add to your ticket purchase will help the museum and society sustain their mission of preserving Seattle's priceless history.

Fatima Eremita Hemmons officially opens her Luso Food and Wine Shop in the new White Center Plaza Sunday. All are welcome to attend.

9988 15th Ave. SW, Unit C.
White Center

Band is on from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm.

Need to gear up with Beaver spirit clothing? Shop online for your Ballard High School apparel and help the DECA program while doing it.

Ballard High School launched a new online store this week, offering a wide assortment of Ballard gear such as sweatshirts, hats, mugs, blankets and much more.

The Ballard DECA program prepares students to succeed in careers in business and marketing. To raise money, they created “The Apprentice Challenge.” The students have to apply their marketing skills and promote Bucky's Online Store, receiving sales from the customers who enter their promo code. To help support this program, go to www.fieldhouse.com/ballard and use the promo code BEAVER to get 10% off any purchase.

Find the store at http://www.fieldhouse.com/ballard

Ghost Light Theatricals is opening their ninth season tonight with Vengeance at Sundown, a 1950's B-Movie adaptation of the Jacobean play, The Revenger's Tragedy.

After the death of his lover and his father, Victor seeks revenge on Duke Jones and his despicable family, but he's not the only one.

Written by Ben Newton and David van Wert and directed by Ghost Light Theatricals' Founding Artistic Director Beth Raas-Bergquist, is intended for an audience of ages 10 and older as it contains campy 1950's violence, gore, and sexual innuendo - fitting for the month of Halloween.

Vengeance at Sundown features the work of Lauren Anderson, Jesse Baldridge, Geb Brown, Carter Lee Churchfield, Katherine Clancy, Stephanie Mallard Couch, Samuel Duchin, Joey Fechtel, Peter Frost, Dane Goulet, Bethany Hightower, Allison Irvine, Courtney Meaker, Faith Middleton, Jordi Montes, Ben Newton, Beth Raas-Bergquist, Andrew Rekdahl, Travis Roderick, Alexandra Scarborough, Allegra Stahl, David van Wert, Julia Welch, Raymond Williams, and Dan Yost.

Ghost Light Theatricals' dynamic duo, Ben Newton and David van Wert, also wrote the late night show following Vengeance at Sundown.

Ballard had a meet at Kelsey Creek Park on October 5 against Bothell and Newport-Bellevue. Alex Bowns had to sit this race out because of a head cold but the boys still finished second.

Sophomore Michael Vitz-Wong was Ballard's top finisher at 4th place.

The girls team finished third. Junior Anna Mirenzi was Ballard's top finisher with a 2nd place finish.

Here's a link to the full results:
http://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=46170#489

press release:
Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Chair of the Transportation Committee, and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, Chair of the King County Ferry District, encourage residents likely to be affected by the nine-day closure (October 21-31) of the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct attend one of this month's open houses hosted with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

"The City and County have been working closely with the State, Port of Seattle, Metro Transit and even the Coast Guard to make sure there are no ‘car-mageddons' in Seattle because of this temporary closure," said City Councilmember Rasmussen.

King County Councilmember Joe McDermott added, "These open houses are an opportunity for commuters to learn about the transit alternatives that will help get them to and from downtown and ease congestion. Getting people into alternative modes of transportation will help all commuters during these nine days."

Two open house meetings will provide the public with information about the upcoming SR 99 nine-day closure (Oct. 21 – 31), commute options during the closure and how SR 99 will change for drivers when it re-opens.

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

11:40 p.m. on October 1st. 25th block of NW 85th St

A man was attacked from behind while walking to a bus stop late on the night of October 1st. The victim said that two male suspects struck the back of his head with an unknown object and attempted to steal his backpack. The victim said that he held on to the backpack even when the suspects forced him to the ground. The suspects then let go and fled on foot.

The victim called his mother and his friend to come pick him up, and the friend called police. The victim said that he could not provide a description of the suspects. He was treated at the scene and taken to Swedish Hospital in Ballard for further treatment.

6:40 a.m. on October 1st. 14th block of NW Market St