February 2012

March 3 is the date for the 3rd Annual Seahawk Spirit Dinner & Auction themed Passport to Excellence which is co-sponsored by Chief Sealth PTSA, Chief Sealth Performing Arts, and Chief Sealth Athletics

The doors open at 5pm at the Hall at Fauntleroy and tickets are $60 which includes sit-down dinner and a lot fun according to the organizers.

The event benefits the Chief Sealth PTSA (which in turn supports programs and activities for all CSIHS students) as well as the performing arts and athletics programs at Chief Sealth International High School.

Entertainment will include performances by Chief Sealth High School student musicians as well as the local group Choro Tocanda, performing Brazilian choro music. Taking elements ranging from European dance forms to African-rooted beats, this popular music was the first to express the many cultures that meet at the crossroads that is Brazil. Learn more about them at their site www.choro-tocanda.com.

TACOMA - Kristen Rodal of Highline led Highline area athletes into individual final events after Friday, Feb. 17, competition of the 2012 Washington State High School Gymnastics meet held at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

In addition to posting an eighth place score of 36.6 behind the accumulated 38.275 of first place Kiya Bjorge of Southridge, the Pirate gymnast unleashed a first place vault of 9.6 as her Saturday finals qualifying score. Rodal also stuck her beam routine for a first place 9.5 with an 8.5 tie for 12th on the uneven parallel bars behind the event winning total of 9.525 from Maddison Ward of Enumclaw closing out her qualifying performances.

"I just needed to stay balanced and focused," she said. "All the elements flowed together on the beam."

In the 3A/2A classification, the top 16 on each event qualified for the next day finals.

For Decatur, Anna Paradee earned spots with a 9.425 tie for eighth on the vault, a 9.125 ninth place on the balance beam and a 14th place 9.45 behind the top total of 9.75 of Bjorge.

"I was a little wobbly (on the beam), but I connected on my entire series," said a happy Lady Gator.

Friday, Feb. 17
Boys basketball
Kennedy 70, Foss 66
The Lancers scored a close victory over Foss Friday on their way to the West Central District Class 3A boys title.

Mt. Rainier 56, Kentwood 52
The Rams also posted a four-point win to get the 4A WCD tournament opened Friday.

Girls basketball
Mt. Rainier 68, Skyview 55
The Rams got started on their way to the West Central District 4A title with their win Friday.

Timberline 59, Kennedy 26
The Lancers lost by a big score in their WCD 3A action Friday.

Saturday, Feb. 18
Wrestling
Cal Woyvodich was the only Highline-area athlete to reach the state semifinals held at the Tacoma Dome, taking a 2-0 loss to Gabe Martinez of Quincy to miss out on the championship match.

Boys basketball
Kennedy 87, Lincoln 76
Kennedy Catholic won its semifinal against the perennially powerful Abes from Tacoma.

Olympia 63, Mt. Rainier 59
Mount Rainier got knocked into the third place game with Saturday's semifinal loss.

Foster 51, Fife 40
The Bulldogs won convincingly in 2A tournament play Saturday.

The most well known of the three finalists for the Highline Public Schools superintendent position will be in the spotlight, Friday, Feb. 24.

Dr. Susan Enfield will answer questions from the public from 6-7:15 p.m. at the Burien City Council Chambers, 400 S.W. 152nd St.

Enfield, interim superintendent in Seattle, is also a candidate for the top job in Bellevue’s school district. She has indicated she does not want the permanent position in Seattle.

Last Friday, the Bellevue school board agreed to conduct an accelerated interview with Enfield with several conditions.

Those include updating evaluation criteria based on recent community input and spelling out an interview process involving the district’s stakeholders. According to the district website, “if after that process the board feels they have a strong feeling, the board may extend an offer to a candidate.”

Bellevue spokeswoman Jackie Coe said the board will announce its superintendent search process on Monday, Feb. 27. Highline’s board members have said they will make a decision by March 1.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, the second of three Highline finalists answered questions from the public.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, David Engle was the first finalist for the Highline School District superintendent position to face public questioning.

Highline board members have indicated they plan to appoint a new superintendent by Thursday, March 1. The board is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. at district headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. They could vote on their selection and introduce the new superintendent then.

Engle has served as the executive director of Educational Testing Service in Princeton NJ. Before that, he was superintendent of North Platte Public School District in Nebraska from 2008 to 2011.

Dr. Engle has been a principal in Bellingham, Seattle and Bellevue. He also mentored teams of principals as a facilitator for the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership.

Although Engle’s last two jobs have been on the East Coast and Midwest, he emphasized his Northwest roots. He said his family has lived in Washington since before it became a state.

He still has lots of family in the state including a new grandchild, he added.

Posted by Detective Renee Witt- Seattle Police Blotter

On 12/01/11, at approximately 10:00 p.m., an armed, masked suspect wearing a fur-lined hooded parka and gloves, robbed a business in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW. A witness later called in a tip, after seeing a Washington’s Most Wanted show about the robbery.

During the course of their investigation and good police work, detectives learned that the suspect was hiding out at a house in the 5600 block of 21st Av SW. On 02/23/12, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Robbery Detectives arrested the suspect without incident. It was learned that the suspect may be responsible for other burglaries outside of Seattle. Robbery detectives are coordinating with those agencies.

Detectives booked the 22-year-old male suspect into the SCORE detention facility in Des Moines an for outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Charges are anticipated for the Burglary and the Robbery as well.

On Feb. 23, the Burien-based Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) held a Special Meeting for the purpose of interviewing and considering the four finalists for our Executive Director position, vacant since Oct. 14, 2011. The finalists were selected from among all applicants by a Selection Group of Commissioners on Dec. 14, 2011. With the interviews complete, the Commission went into open, public session to discuss and compare the finalists, and reached consensus on offering the position to King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, contingent on the results of a background check. Her second term as sheriff expires in 2013. Chief Deputy Steve Strachan, former Kent police chief, will be selected as Rahr’s interim successor, it is expected.

On Feb. 24 the Seattle Police Department announced the creation of a “dedicated emphasis … to address hot spots” of gun violence in response to the large spike in murders and near-misses as we move into 2012 (nine murders and 11 aggravated assaults so far this year).

Precincts will soon deploy Violence Prevention Emphasis Patrols (VPEP), according to a department press release, in response to “Recent community concerns (that) have ranged from civility violations, assaults, shootings and homicides. By providing a dedicated group of officers to address these problems in our communities, we hope to improve our ability to prevent gun violence and other crimes as well as respond to calls for service within each precinct. The dedicated emphasis will work collaboratively with neighborhood businesses to ensure that residents and visitors can be in these areas safely and without fear.”

Press release
The West Seattle Lions Club is pleased to announce that they will be making their 2012 Scholarship Awards. Six $1000 scholarships will be offered to graduating seniors living in the West Seattle area, as defined by the Seattle School Board. All awards will be paid directly to the Registrar’s Office of the school selected by the student.

Applications can be obtained from school counselors at West Seattle High School, Seattle Lutheran High School and Sealth High School, or from Dr. James T. Dunham, 3225 California Ave S.W.

All completed applications must be received in Dr. Dunham’s office no later than April 1, 2012.

The West Seattle Lions Club is proud to be able to help deserving West Seattle young people obtain their goals in life.

On Feb. 23, the Burien-based Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) held a Special Meeting for the purpose of interviewing and considering the four finalists for our Executive Director position, vacant since Oct. 14, 2011. The finalists were selected from among all applicants by a Selection Group of Commissioners on Dec. 14, 2011.