December 2012

I am a resident of Burien since 1994. Previously, I was a resident of White Center from 1971 until I left White Center in 1994. The reason I left White Center was due to three robberies of my home--1978, 1985 and 1990.

These were not what prompted my wife and I to sell our house and move to Burien. It was the police protection, fire department response and town response to keeping Burien clean and orderly, which was lacking in White Center.

I had taken part and was involved in many White Center programs but I was frustrated in the town’s lack of moving forward.

With the issue to annex North Highline I was a bit dubious that any change to match the progress that Burien has done would be reflected in White Center. The vote for the lower half of North Highline disappointed me as I was hoping that all of White Center would be annexed.

Lawmakers in cash-strapped Des Moines debated Nov. 29 whether the city’s limited funds should go for charity or roads

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to give money to charity when we can’t even provide basic services,” said Councilmember Jeanette Burrage. “We’re spending more money then we’re taking in.”

Burrage added that constituents voted for her because she said she would fight for better roads and more police officers.

The discussion turned emotional with Councilmember Melissa Musser saying that more people in the community would rather support a battered woman than a block of paving.

“I would much rather keep someone from being hungry than pave a small patch of road,” added Councilmember Carmen Scott.

Councilmember Bob Sheckler reminded the council that an older resolution on the city books stated that a goal of the council was to give one percent of their budget towards Human Services.

The conversation moved back and forth from the food bank to new funding expenditures and the council’s commitment to the city.

KidsSounds, YouthSounds and TeenSounds are joining forces Friday, Dec. 7 to present “Jingle, Jangle, Joy,” a fun-filled program that will give families a festive start for the holiday season. The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and free for 17 and under accompanied by a paying adult. Group discounts are also available by phone. Contact nwassociatedarts.org or 206-246-6040 for tickets.

Special guests for the youth chorus’ tenth anniversary Christmas show will be the members of SilverSounds Northwest, a fun group of retired folks. Artistic director Paula Hawkins has invited back all former singers from any of the youth choruses to join the singers onstage for a grand finale number.

This is Tom Gehl’s 42nd Christmas season in Burien as operator of Gehl’s Flowers and Gifts.

Several generations have brought their families into his downtown store to create Christmas pictures with the large carrot-nosed snowman.

WABI press release:
We got drenched!
Five of us rain-slicker-clad walkers headed out from Burien Town Square, hunkered in a doorway, into the downpour, undaunted by the deluge. We took advantage of the awnings and overhangs as we walked along the south side of 152nd, and marveled at the lavish “quinceañera – 15th Birthday Party – dresses” in a half dozen shop windows.
We noticed the cupcake shop going in, the Chinese market, the talismans and herbs, and the Christmas portrait studio.
It’s always remarkable what one sees when on foot instead of behind the wheel.
We headed east past Highline High School to Des Moines Memorial Way, the “Road of Remembrance.”

By this time, halfway through our 2.5 mile route, our feet and pant legs were drenched, but our group of five shifted and mixed and conversations changed along the way.
Once we got back to the middle of Burien, we didn’t even feel like taking time for hot coffee; a hot shower back at home sounded better, so we all said goodbye until the next Walk-n-Talk on January 6th.
Intrepid walkers we were, and it was a pleasant afternoon.(We got each other out for some fresh air and exercise!)

Rosie didn’t do it! “Not Guilty!” Newspaper headlines shout out in big black print that the Newfoundland dog, named, Rosie, legally did not need to be killed with a police rifle.

Sympathetic Rosie supporters around the world are hoping to celebrate that lawsuit finding.

Rosie was a remarkable dog, a 115-pound prize that should not be dead. Losing any precious pet can be life changing because pets are an important part of families and people living alone.

Deidre and Charles Wright, Rosie’s owners, have likely walked the long path of grief that follows loss of those we love. I’ve lived that heartache time after a death, and it hurts beyond words.

Pets jump into our heart and stay there forever. They are family to many folks, just as my Shih Tzu, Miss Katrina is to me.

Most pets are usually friendly if treated well, yet it’s wise for strangers to ask dog owners if you can pet their dog. Children get excited and can accidentally poke little fingers in dog’s eyes. Also, dogs tend to protect their owners and some just aren’t as friendly as Rosie was.

KCSO seeks witnesses
The King County Sheriff's Office is seeking witnesses in a Nov. 6 incident where a 56-year-old Burien woman was found on S.W. 152nd St. around 5:30 p.m. with a life-threatening head injury. Sgt. Cindi West said the woman has been unable to talk to detectives. If you have information please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 Reference case #12-258013 On Monday, November 6th around 5:30 PM police responded to a 911 call at S.W. 152nd St near 4th Ave S.W. to a report of a woman lying in the roadway bleeding from the head. Burien Police arrived and started CPR on the woman when they found she was not breathing. Witnesses said the woman had just left a pet store in the area and was found a few minutes later lying in the roadway. Detectives believe the driver of the van may be a potential witness and are asking them to come forward as well. The van was described as a late 80’s Ford or Chevrolet, possibly gray in color, with an orange or brown stripe down the side. This van is NOT a suspect vehicle.

Identification of robbery suspects sought

Zags are coming to town

Idol Sports & Entertainment announced that additional tickets for the 10th annual State Farm® Battle in Seattle, the nation’s premier neutral site men’s college basketball game, will be released to the public on Tuesday for this year’s game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, Dec. 15, at KeyArena.
The recently released tickets, which became available after Gonzaga and Kansas State released their sponsor allotment, begin at just $16 and are still available for purchase at the KeyArenabox office, Ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster outlets.
The game will be just the third meeting all-time between Gonzaga and K-State, with the Wildcats winning the previous two contests. The teams’ first meeting came on March 22, 1994 in the second round of the Postseason NIT – a 66-64 K-State victory – and most recently on Nov. 22, 2010 in the semifinal of the CBE Classic, which K-State won, 81-64.

"Vicious" Vincent Thompson returns to the ring Thursday night, resuming his quest to become heavyweight champion of the world.

The undefeated Federal Way fighter will square off against Yohan Banks (5-7-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout on the Fight Club OC card beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the The Hangar on the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Thompson (11-0, 2 KOs) last fought in May on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights," beating Joell Godfrey (14-7-1, 6 KOs) in eight rounds.

In the interim, Thompson's managers and trainers Calvin Thompson, of Federal Way, and Sam Ditusa, a Normandy Park resident, patiently pursued the best boxing management firm they could find to handle their fighter -- after parting ways amicably with Tacoma-based Brian Halquist Productions last year. Calvin Thompson is Vince's father.

They finally found the right fit in Roy Englebrecht Promotions, based in Southern California. Thompson signed a five-year promotional contract last month and will be fighting six times next year.

Three WSSC Teams (WS En Fuego GU-11, WS Panthers BU-12, and WS Titans BU-11) have advanced to the 2012 Sports Authority Recreational Cup State Semi-Finals this coming Saturday 12/8 at Starfire Sports in Tukwila.

Reader William D. Fry shared the news via Facebook.

Here are the match times:
Boys U-11, SF2, D2- J '01 Red Rockets vs D3- HSA WSSC Westside Titans, 8-Dec, 9 am, Starfire 10
Boys U-12, SF1, D1 - Mukilteo Rhinos vs D3- HSA WSSC Panthers, 8-Dec, 9 am, Starfire 1
Girls U-11, SF1, D3-HSA WSSC En Fuego'01 vs D7 - PSC Yelm Pythons FC, 8-Dec, 10:30 AM, Starfire 9