June 2013

Last Friday, 110 students from Salmon Bay Elementary recreated the Oregon Trail experience, trudging and toiling their way eight miles from Ballard to Magnuson Park. The kids went all out for the biannual event, dressing up like miniature modern day Lewises and Clarks. Wherever they went, peoples' heads turned at the unexpected surprise of the small army of pioneers.

When the Ballard News-Tribune caught up with the crew, around U-Village, the once energetic kids had begun to slow. Teacher Brian Williamson said they were just beginning to understand what the pioneers on the Oregon Trail had experience. Of course, while the kids walked on a paved trail and did not have to repeat the experience again the next morning, pioneers would travel for up to six months at a time on rugged, pathless terrain.

Still, Williamson said it was a good learning experience for the children, most of whom probably haven't walked such a long distance in their life. The children slogged along the Burke-Gilman Trail for about six hours. "There's triumph in overcoming adversity," he said.

To view the slideshow, click on the main picture above or the thumbnails below.

A fire near White Center located at 10617 17th SW did heavy damage to the living room of a single family residence.

The resident was, according to neighbors and the North Highline Fire Department not home at the time of the fire. No cause or damage estimate has yet been determined.

On the evening of June 8 a West Seattle woman was walking near the intersection of 42nd Ave. S.W. and S.W. Graham with her husband and child when they heard what sounded like a BB gun shooting tin cans. Moments later, the mother was struck in the buttocks with a BB, according to police.

The woman's husband surveyed the scene and identified an apartment window where he believed the shooter was located and called police.

Police said they arrived and located the suspect, who was "completely cooperative" and told police he was shooting down on aluminum cans from his second story window when one of the plastic rounds ricocheted off a can and struck the woman.

The victim declined medical attention and the 20-year-old suspect was arrested for reckless endangerment, a gross misdemeanor.

By Carol Smith

Yonder stands a grand old lady
Nobel, though in sad distress
Scorched and vacant are her gardens
Pitiful her ragged dress

Once she was a regal creature
At whose table we all dined
Dressed in lace and candelabras
Welcoming, yet so refined

But now jilted by a lover
Whose devotion did not last
The fickle arm of indecision
To limbo, has her future cast

Without help, I fear her beauty
Will be doomed to lie instead
Neath some condo wrongly touted
As the “improved” Alki Homestead!

By Laurie Rasmussen

West Seattle Little League Dodgers won the Minors division championship on Saturday against the White Sox with a score of 11-2. The Dodgers had an amazing season with a record of 18-1 losing only one game this year early in the season.

They went on to win 17 games in a row.

Yesterday they were led into battle by their ace pitcher Michael Schwartz who pitched an amazing five inning game . Their bats were hot yesterday as well allowing for everyone one of their players to get on base during the game with a hit or base on balls. Then the Dodgers were able to bring in pitcher Nate Rasmussen to come in and close the game out in the top of the sixth inning pitching only to three batters to end the game.

The Dodgers get to move on to the Tournament of Champions next weekend in Burien.

By Porter Hammer

The West Seattle Little League Majors Division Championship game was played Saturday June 8, and featured great performances by three 12-year old boys who are in their last season of 12U Little League play. The Orioles played the Braves in a dramatic game, which featured a come from behind walk off win in the final inning.

Chris Frost started the game pitching for the Orioles, and gave up 5 runs through 5 innings. Kai Osaka started the game pitching for the Braves, and went 5 + innings in an outstanding effort.

Additionally Kai hit the game's only homerun, a solo shot. Joe Pare (son of current West Seattle Little League President Brian Pare) won the game for the Orioles with a walk off two out hit.

The Orioles won 6-5.

The Orioles move on to the Little League Tournament of Champions for District 7. The first game will be played this Friday at 6pm at Normandy Park.

Seattle Police were called to the 2300 block of Fairmount Ave. SW Saturday morning June 8, just after 7am responding to a report of an apparently unconscious woman on the side of the road. Investigators think she was jogging and was likely struck by a vehicle. If so that driver did not stop, did not call police or provide information and left the scene.

The victim, a 54 year old woman was treated at the scene and then transported to Harborview Medical Center with life threatening injuries. Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives were at the scene and continue to actively investigate.

If you know anything about this incident you are urged to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this case. Anonymous tips are welcome.

If you were wondering what was slowing traffic along 15th, it was a car accident. What looks like a fender bender occurred out in front of the St. Alphonsus Church on NW 58th St and 15th Ave NW at approximately 6:12 p.m. An ambulance rolled right by the scene and a fire truck didn't respond until 6:25 p.m.

Follow Ballard News-Tribune on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ballardnewstrib

And Twitter at http://twitter.com/ballardnewstrib

By Greg McCorkle

The Red Star Pizza company was likely a happy and jubilant place on Saturday.

Two of the Pony League teams they sponsor won their respective league titles Saturday afternoon at Riverview Park in West Seattle. In the Mustang League the Red Star Pizza team beat the team from Alki Lumber 6-5 and over on the adjacent field the Red Star Pizza Pinto League team defeated the team from Tom’s Automotive 10-2. The kids couldn’t wait for the awards ceremony to end so they could reward themselves with pizza and sodas provided by their sponsor.

When I was ten playing baseball was everything. Putting that uniform on was a transformative moment for me. I became Mickey Mantle, my boyhood hero. Striding out onto the field I felt ten feet tall, the master of my world. And that world was a simple place. No school, no parental rules, just the game. And in the game everything is possible. Dreams can be fulfilled in the ballpark like no other place for a young person.

By Maggie Nicholson

As a young boy, Steve had already developed his mischievous grin: one that unwrapped and crinkled across his cheekbones. His eyes, reflecting the joy, twinkled like starlight on tinfoil. The grin would show itself readily: as he played with baking ingredients atop a flour-coated counter top, as he chased after his dog, Spooky, and certainly as he grew.

Steve was a friendly and happy child. He loved to be around other people. He was Captain of his school patrol in sixth grade. He had two younger brothers, Tim and Kevin, who he played with and ate meals beside growing up. Steve’s parents, Bill and Joanne, raised their boys in West Seattle. Bill was a machine salesman and Joanne a stay-home caretaker.

As an adult Steve remained conversational. Entering new environments, he was as open as he had been in younger years. He saw the best in people and had a heart as unblocked as an open door. Everyone was welcome there.