April 2012

When I first met Steve Darland he was a fresh faced young man still in high school, hanging out with my #2 son, Kenneth. Both graduated from Highline High School in 1962.

Steve's dad worked at a car lot on 1st Avenue. I needed a car. His dad sold me a 1962 Studebaker Gran Turismo-4-speed stick. I had no idea I was going through a mid-life crisis at the time. That car was so fast. It had gears I never thought were needed.

I loved that car. Eventually I got to know Steve a little better since Kenneth wanted to drive my car all the time. Steve was/is a wonderful guy.

When I pushed my kid(s) into the newspaper business I thought I could do the same with Steve. I hired him while he was as the University of Washington to sell advertising in our new Kent location. He was eager to take the job proving to be a natural.

He even won a best-dressed award from Esquire magazine, getting a free trip to New York; a trip he called a great experience in his life.

With an unyielding and determined look on his face, Richard C. Finnell, leaned waaaay back while holding his other leg out front at a knee-high kick position when he fired off a fast-spinning baseball that whizzed right by the startled batter’s swing.

Such skill may not be seen at an ordinary picnic and the story of pitcher Finnell’s throw cannot be compared to the professional skills of a Seattle Mariners.

Still, a 1919-year get-together occasion (93 years ago) sounds like a day of fun for sure. Old Time friends and neighbors celebrated that day of community with other early settlers at Des Moines Annual Pioneer Day Picnic held on September 13, 1919.

Officers of the “Old Settler’s of Des Moines Organization” sending invitations were President Finnell, Florence I. Markwell, John C. Elsey and Rollin A. Case.

The April 6 edition of the Highline Times carried an article on “Kids and Cops” stating that City Manager Mike Martin plans to ask Burien residents to fund a tax increase of $1.8- $2.3 million for additional 8-10 police officers and another $500,000 for discretionary public safety funding, in hope of "changing the public's perception of high crime rates in Burien.”

Martin states that “Burien’s problems are no worse than neighboring jurisdictions” and names other local areas with higher crime rates.

If the money is simply to “change the public’s perception,” then we don’t need a new tax with additional police to do that. Instead perhaps a public relations campaign promoting Burien as a “safe” community with statistics to back it up.

Especially since, in the article, Police Chief Scot Kimerer said, “even with the extra officers, Burien encompasses too large an area to make patrolling residential neighborhoods a plausible idea.”

Also, since it appears annexation of White Center is certain, won’t the additional annual $5 million in funding provide for the additional police officers needed?

Possession and discharge of fireworks in Des Moines will no longer be a criminal offense and will now be considered a class 1 civil infraction.

The Des Moines City Council voted 6-1 on April 12 to decriminalize nuisance type fireworks possession and discharge offenses. Possessing more than five pounds of fireworks will remain a criminal offense; acts endangering people or property will also remain a criminal offense.

“This is a more appropriate way to handle this,” Mayor pro tem Matt Pina said.

The city’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee also unanimously support the change, Pina said.

On average, there 100 plus calls each year to the Des Moines Police Department on and around the Fourth of July holiday for fireworks related offenses, according to Des Moines Police Chief John O’Leary. Of these, very few ever go before a judge.

“This way, it can be ticketed rather than having to be witnessed by our officers and will actually help reduce court costs and will be easier for the city to enforce,” said Mayor Dave Kaplan.

A big white blank spot in downtown Burien will be transformed this summer into a colorful mural.

An artist has been selected to paint the Dollar Store wall across from the Burien Library/City Hall. The painting will most likely start in July, according to Burien Parks Recreation Manager Debbie Zemke. The identity of the artist has not been made public.

The community may even get involved in the painting, according to Parks director Michael Lafreniere.

Burien Cultural Arts supervisor Gina Kallman put out a call for artists in January looking for someone experienced with design and installation of large mural projects.

The call was sweetened by a budget of $12,000 including cost of materials. Kallman said she was looking for an artist or artist team to create a dynamic innovative mural on the giant white wall located on 4th Avenue S.W. between S.W. 152nd and S.W. 150th streets.

About 35 artists applied. A jury of arts commissioners, community members and business people chose the artist to create and paint the mural.

4:00 p.m. Tuesday update

One of three engines belonging to the Space Shuttle Trainer arrived yesterday by truck, and was unveiled this morning shortly after 11:00 a.m. at the Seattle Museum of Flight's new Charles Simonyi Space Gallery. It will be on display and will join the rest of the craft. The 9-foot tall artificial engine resembles a giant beehive and is made of porous foam.

Museum President Douglas King separated some stubborn paper with the help of two others to reveal the faux, foam engine. The main sections of the trainer begin arriving June 16 from the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, flown into Boeing Field on that "pregnant silver fish" the NASA Super Guppy, a 25-foot by 25-foot by 111-foot long cargo plane. We are told the Super Guppy will be piloted by West Seattle High School alumni, Space Shuttle Astronaut Captain Gregory C. Johnson.

SEATTLE’S MUSEUM OF FLIGHT WELCOMES FIRST PORTION OF NASA’S SHUTTLE TRAINER TUESDAY

A missed shot or-- even worse--an air ball could be a severe foul at this basketball hoop on the end of South 147th St. in SeaTac. Private Sea-Tac Airport property looms on the other side of the basket.

Nikole Jay, a veteran in retirement community care, has been named the executive director of Judson Park, an American Baptist Homes of the West community with about 300 residents in Des Moines.

Jay previously served as health services administrator at Emerald Heights, a retirement community in Redmond. She joined ABHOW on March 5, filling the post vacated by Russell Akiyama, who retired this year after more than eight years at the helm of Judson Park.

“I absolutely feel a connection to serve seniors in my life,” said Jay, who has worked in retirement community care for 15 years, including more than four at Emerald Heights.

Tara McGuinness, ABHOW vice president and regional operations manager, said Jay’s qualifications impressed her during the search for Judson Park’s new executive director.

“Nikole stood out as a dynamic and highly intelligent leader with exceptional communication skills and a passion for serving older adults,” McGuinness said. “I am excited about the leadership and resident services acumen Nikole is bringing to Judson Park.”

Suspect named in assault

A suspect has been named in the shotgun beating of an 80-year-old Burien man in an attempted home robbery.

The suspect is Zachary Irish, also known as “Lil Zack.” Despite his nickname, Irish is described as 6 fteet tall. He weighs 165 pounds and is 27 years old.

Irish has a record of burglaries, robberies and domestic violence assaults.

Police say Phil Isernio, 80, returned to his Burien home and surprised Irish and an accomplice.They say Irish hit Isernio in the face with the butt of a shotgun.

Q13 Fox News quotes Isernio as saying, “As soon as I got in the house—bang!—right there. I dropped down on my knees and he came at me again and I blocked it like this and then I started pleading for my life after that, because I knew he meant business—he was going to kill me.”
The other suspect ran away during the incident but was caught later by deputies. Police said Irish escaped.

Burien woman convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering

Mount Rainier High School graduate Brandon Mann is entering his second professional baseball season with the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japan Central League. The left-handed pitcher was a former farm hand for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Conger leading Bees

Hank Conger, a catcher who was born in Federal Way, is leading the Salt Lake City Bees of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization with a .407 batting average after six games.
Conger got off to an 11-for-27 start with three doubles and two home runs. The catcher who was one of the Angels’ final cuts this year also has seven runs scored and six RBI for the Bees.

Ishikawa has slow start

Federal Way High School graduate Travis Ishikawa got off to an 0-for-5 start for the Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball team with four strikeouts. Ishikawa is a backup first baseman for the Brewers.

Pro instruction offered