July 2013

By Katie Nelson
HIGHLINE TIMES

A July 29 public meeting between the Burien community and Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives addressed concerns regarding FEMA’s new flood mapping updates. These updates could change the amount of money charged for national flood insurance policies along the shoreline area.

“This is part of a nationwide effort to update the nation’s inventory of flood maps. It actually started two years ago … because one of the most prominent complaints that we got is that they were old and out of date,” said Mark Carey, mitigation division director of FEMA Region 10. Region 10 includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

In order to qualify for discounted insurance premiums from the National Flood Insurance Program, a city must submit flood maps to FEMA for approval, according to Jan Vogee, Burien’s floodplain manager.

“Looks terrible.”

“They’re ugly.”

“Eyesore.”

If there was one resounding message that was left from the survey conducted by the Human Services Department in November of 2012, it was that the temporary Honey Bucket in Ballard Commons Park is not enough. According to respondents, the Honey Bucket smells, looks bad and may attract illegal activity.

In the survey, conducted on SurveyMonkey, 53 percent of 332 respondents said they did not want the toilet in the park; 38 percent said they would like it to remain; and 9 percent were unsure. More than 90 percent of respondents were residents of Ballard.

Now, community groups are joining together and beginning discussions with the Parks and Human Services departments to find a more permanent solution, such as a full restroom facility or, the favored option, the Portland-famous loo restroom.

Justin Feffer, FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association facutlty member, displays items involved in identity theft—a cell phone, credit card and card skimmer.

Feffer taught a class for law enforcement personnel last week at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.

We asked the primary election candidates for City Council positions in Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac to respond to the following question: What are your qualifications for the office you are seeking and why should voters select you over your opponents?

Primary election ballots must be sent to King County Elections by Tuesday, Aug. 6. A ballot drop box is located in Burien in front of City Hall/Library at Southwest 152nd Street and 4th Avenue Southwest.

The two candidates who receive the most primary votes for each position will move on the Nov. 5 general election.

(I) indicates the incumbent. There is no incumbent in the race for Burien Council Position 7. Jeremy Nutting was appointed by Des Moines council members to a vacant position but has not been elected by voters.

Burien City Council Position No. 1

Lauren Berkowitz

Around 3 a.m. on July 31, Seattle Police reported a deceased man was found inside a railroad car inside the LaFarge cement plant on the 5400 block of W. Marginal Way S.W., although they were quick to point out the death "appears to be accidental - not suspicious."

Police said the person appeared to have been deceased for several days, there were no indications of foul play, and that the rail car was recently in Eastern Washington and may have come from out of state.

If any updates arise, we'll post them here.

There are block parties and then there's the one planned for 48th SW and Dawson Street on Aug. 6, National Night Out.

This is an event you might have to buy tickets for if it wasn't free.

First of all they will have a live band by the Beautiful Freaks. Pretty cool but then they go way beyond it.

They will have a Kids Treasure Egg Hunt with prizes in every egg, plus chalk art for kids to make whatever design they can imagine plus sack races for everyone.

The Seattle Police and Fire Department (yes the guys with the big red fire engine) will likely make an appearance.

This is all on top of what is sure to be a rather massive array of food and beverages.

But the corker is that they are the only block party the organizers know of that only using recyclables for the event. All utensils, plates, cups and food will go into landscape waste and paper recycle – no regular garbage.

Update, August 6

Seattle Police Department have provided a photo of the suspect.

Original, July 30

From SPD Blotter

Detectives are seeking information on a suspect who sexually assaulted a woman. On July 28th, just shortly after 3:00 p.m., officers responded to the 1700 block of NW 85th to investigate a stranger rape. The victim stated that a male she had just met at a nearby bus stop had followed her home and sexually assaulted her outside her apartment complex.

The suspect is described as a black male, 25-30 years old, unknown height, medium build, slight goatee, wearing a jacket that was partially orange.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center. Area search for suspect was negative.
Anyone with information about this incident and or suspect is asked to call 9-1-1.

The investigation continues.

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From City of Seattle

Seattle reLeaf’s Trees for Neighborhoods program is giving away free trees to Seattle residents. Through the program, participants receive up to four trees, free watering bags for each tree, training on proper tree planting and maintenance, and exciting workshop opportunities on topics like young tree pruning. Since 2009, Seattle residents have planted 3,300 trees through Trees for Neighborhoods on private property, including fruit trees, evergreen trees, street trees, and small trees under power lines.

This year, the Trees for Neighborhood application will open on Wednesday, July 31st. The program is offering thirteen tree species, including Galaxy Magnolia, Tall Stewartia, Emerald Sunshine Elm, Mountain Hemlock, and June Snow Dogwood. The complete 2013 tree list can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/trees/availabletrees.htm. Residents should apply early as many species will be claimed quickly!
Important Dates:
July 31st – Application opens
September 1st – Street tree applications due
October 11th – Yard tree applications due

By Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

Big Top Bandits suspects arrested
The Seattle Safe Streets Task Force (SSSTF) arrested two subjects believed to be responsible for a series of armed, takeover-style bank robberies throughout King County. Investigators nicknamed the subjects the "Big Top Bandits", because of their clothing, which included a variety of hats worn at every robbery. In previous bank robberies, one of two subjects is seen on surveillance video entering a bank. In the latest bank robbery, in Newcastle, two subjects entered the bank. In each robbery, the subject(s) displayed handguns and pointed them at customers or employees.

press release

Seattle reLeaf’s Trees for Neighborhoods program is giving away free trees to Seattle residents. Through the program, participants receive up to four trees, free watering bags for each tree, training on proper tree planting and maintenance, and exciting workshop opportunities on topics like young tree pruning. Since 2009, Seattle residents have planted 3,300 trees through Trees for Neighborhoods on private property, including fruit trees, evergreen trees, street trees, and small trees under power lines.

This year, the Trees for Neighborhood application will open on Wednesday, July 31st. The program is offering thirteen tree species, including Galaxy Magnolia, Tall Stewartia, Emerald Sunshine Elm, Mountain Hemlock, and June Snow Dogwood. The complete 2013 tree list can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/trees/availabletrees.htm. Residents should apply early as many species will be claimed quickly!

Important Dates:
July 31st – Application opens
September 1st – Street tree applications due
October 11th – Yard tree applications due