October 2012

By John Rankin
Normandy Park City Councilmember
SPECIAL TO THE HIGHLINE TIMES

(Editor’s Note: The elected-mayor issue has been a hot topic in Highline. SeaTac has voted several times on changing its form of government to a strong mayor system. At one election, the measure fell short by only nine votes. Burien City Councilmember Jack Block Jr. has also voiced interest in the idea.

SeaTac, Burien and Normandy Park have a city manager/council form of government while Tukwila elects its mayor citywide.

Mr. Rankin’s views are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other Nromandy park council members.)

By now it’s no secret that Normandy Park, long one of the most stable and desirable neighborhoods south of Seattle, is in pretty rough shape. Our most recent city manager has found new employment elsewhere and is departing, leaving behind a city with tenuous finances, substantial litigation liabilities and a bitterly divided citizenry. It didn’t have to end this way, but our system of local government has made it almost inevitable.

Theft at Burien Walgreens culminates in bloody brawl
A man who attempted to shoplift beef jerky and a can of soup in a Burien Walgreens at SW 148th St. and Ambaum Blvd. the night of Sept. 26 got into a bloody brawl when a good Samaritan chased him down and tried to apprehend the suspect. "He was confronted by a clerk. When she confronted him he shoved her, which makes it a robbery," said Sgt. Patrick McCurdy of the King County sheriff's office, referring to the
suspect. The alleged thief, who police say is a known drug user, took off on foot. Robbin Geiger, who was riding bikes with his 10-year-old son, Cooper, saw the incident and immediately gave chase.

Burien man charged with first-degree murder
King County prosecutors have charged 33-year-old Asuan Santos-Valdez of Burien with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting at a Tukwila motel parking lot. He is accused of shooting Orlando Soto 37, of Tukwila, in the 14100 block of Tukwila International Boulevard at about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1, according to charging papers.

Man arrested for attempting to abduct boy

By Kyra-lin Hom

Now that I've regaled you all with my rather spontaneous opinions on dating etiquette (see last week's column), let me return to the topic I had originally intended for last week. As of September 18th, headlines exploded with news of the Emily Herx versus St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend fiasco. For those who have managed to avoid this legal mess or are unclear on the details amidst all the media's fabulous he-said-she-said, allow me to give a quick rundown.

Emily Herx was a language and literature teacher at the private, kindergarten through 8th grade Catholic school mentioned above until school officials failed to renew her contract for the 2011-2012 school year because her in vitro fertilization procedures went against Catholic Church teachings. Herx retaliated by suing the school and local diocese for discrimination. Things snowballed from there.

Seattle Children’s Hospital, Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC), and Healthy King County Coalition (HKCC) today announced the receipt of a two-year, $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Areas of focus include the cities of Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, North Highline, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila, and the Seattle neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Georgetown and South Park. This area has a combined population of more than 479,000.

The Community Transformation Grant (CTG) will fund Seattle Children’s Hospital and its partners to work collaboratively with youth, families and communities in South Seattle and South King County on obesity prevention and tobacco control, particularly among youth.

Administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CTG program is a comprehensive community health improvement initiative launched in 2011 and funded through the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. CTG funds support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending in small communities.

The Delridge, High Point and South Park branches of the Seattle Public Library system are looking for Homework Help volunteers to help kids find success in school.

Here are the details from SPL:

The Seattle Public Library is seeking additional Homework Help volunteers to assist mainly ESL students in grades one through 12 with homework assignments throughout the 2012-2013 school year.

Volunteers will help students with homework assignments in English, history, mathematics, science, social studies and other school subjects on a drop-in basis. Applicants must have completed at least one year of college and have experience assisting youth as a tutor, family member or teacher.

There are Homework Help volunteer openings at the Library locations listed below. Volunteers will be scheduled for weekly two-hour shifts through June 6, 2013.

Beacon Hill Branch, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.
Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way S.W.
High Point Branch, 3411 S.W. Raymond St.
NewHolly Branch, 7058 32nd Ave. S.
Rainier Beach Branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S.
South Park Branch, 8604 8th Ave. S.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Sometimes life doesn’t seem to be fair. Pain, suffering and injustice lurk at every turn in the road for some people while others seem to escape most of the hard knocks of life. I, myself, feel that I have escaped the misery that befalls many of my older friends. But when I look back at my own life, perhaps I have paid my dues in my early years. Born into a very large family after my own father died I experienced second-hand pain since my mother shed tears for many a day while I was still very young. It took me a little longer to find my way in life than some other people but once I discovered who I was to become, I took off like a rocket.

TACOMA – Brent “Mankill” Knopp of Burien kept his perfect record intact following an impressive second round stoppage of Sandy, Oregon’s Brandon Pitts at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

The “CageSport XXI” card airs on ROOT SPORTS Friday, October 5 from 10-11 pm, Friday, October 12 midnight-1 am and Sunday, October 21 11 pm-midnight. Those who check out the action on ROOT SPORTS will be treated to expert commentary from a unique broadcasting crew. The crew comprised of global sensation and KZOK 102.5 morning talk show host Danny Bonaduce, former UFC announcer Jeff Osborne and former two-time world champion and Fighter of the Year Miesha “Cupcake” Tate.

Headlining a talent-rich card, the heavy-handed Knopp connected with crisp elbows in the opening stanza. In the second, both men came out guns blazing. Each fighter connected with strong blows, but Knopp’s were more powerful. After repeatedly landing strong strikes on Pitts’ head, the referee stopped the contest at 4:21 in the second of a scheduled three round middleweight contest.

Knopp is now 4-0 with all four wins by knockout. Pitts, who is trained by 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Matt Linland, falls to 2-2.

Sports Roundup

Friday, Sept. 28
Football
Tahoma 55, Mt. Rainier 14
Mount Rainier ran into a tough Tahoma squad from Maple Valley in a South Puget Sound League North Division game played Friday. It was the second game of a doubleheader at Highline Memorial.
Renton 47, Highline 7
Highline took a beating at the hands of Seamount League rival Renton in the opening game of Friday's twin bill.
Lindbergh 38, Foster 0
The Bulldogs were shut out by the Lindbergh Eagles in Seamount League action Friday.
Lakeside 45, Evergreen 27
Evergreen fell to Lakeside in a non-league football game Friday.

Saturday, Sept. 29
Football
Chimacum 28, SCS/Life Christian 13
The combined Seattle Christian and Life Christian football team took a loss to Chimacum in a Nisqually League bout played at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood this past Saturday.
Girls soccer
Mount Rainier 3, Kentlake 2
The Rams rallied for a win against the Falcons of Kentlake in a SPSL North Division game Saturday.
Kennedy 1, Eastmont 1
Kennedy battled Eastmont to a non-league tie at Highline Memorial last Saturday.
Cross country
Seattle Christian

Pancake Breakfast to Benefit Nickelsville Camp
Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Social Hall
7141 California Ave. S.W.
Saturday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to noon. Suggested donation is $5/person, or what you can afford. Plenty of parking, seating, and pancakes, with all the trimmings.

GriefShare Support Group
Grace Church
10323 28th Ave. S.W.
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon. This international grief recovery support group is open to anyone who has lost a loved one to death. You can start at anytime. Contact: Barb at 206-932-7459 or Grace Church 206-937-8400.

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206-937-7169

press release:
Incoming kindergarten students and other families new to Seattle Public Schools for the 2013-2014 school year can get a jump on the enrollment process starting this week. Early enrollment is offered through Jan. 31, 2013.

Early enrollment allows families to avoid long lines during the busy spring and summer enrollment periods. While early enrollment does not impact where a student is assigned to school – under the new student assignment plan, assignment is based on the student’s home address – it is offered as a convenience to families, enabling them to get the enrollment paperwork completed ahead of time.

“Early Enrollment streamlines the enrollment process so that parents and guardians can focus on preparing their students for school,” said Brandon Holst, John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (JSCEE) Service Center Manager.

Resources for families with incoming kindergarteners can be found online at http://bit.ly/QSCdM5.