February 2015

by Paul Moseley

History may judge this years West Seattle girls team as one that has no true consistency except they win all the time. Oh…and that Lexi Ioane will play a critical part in each victory. The Wildcats guaranteed themselves a spot in the Regional championships tonight by beating Bishop Blanchet Braves 55-45 in the Sea King District tournament semi-final game. The Wildcats, racking up their 14th win in a row, gave the crowd a roller-coaster ride on the way to a win.

Former West Seattle Chamber of Commerce President and the co-owner of the West 5 Restaurant in the West Seattle Junction Dave Montoure became the eighth announced candidate for the new District 1 Seattle City Council seat. He joins seven others seeking the position including Chas Redmond, Amanda Kay Hemlock, George Capestany, Phillip Tavel, Shannon Braddock and Brianna Thomas.

In his announcement he detailed his civic involvement and said he would work toward bringing more office space, and a 24/7 medical facility to the West Seattle peninsula and would try to preserve free parking in the West Seattle Junction.

Montoure's full statement:

Dave Montoure today announced that he is running for a seat on the Seattle City Council, District 1. “It’s time for a change at City Hall," stated Montoure, "and I will bring that change.”

The campaign will kick-off with a meet and greet on Tuesday, February 24th at Easy Street Records and Cafe on the corner of California and Alaska at 6:30 p.m.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Highline/Tyee/Evergreen co-op swim team brought four swimmers to a big meet, and they earned some high places and good finishes, not to mention one big surprise finish that qualified guys on to state, unexpectedly, in the 2A West Central District meet at the Hazen Pool on Saturday.

Port Angeles won districts with 237 points. Steilacoom was second with 224, Liberty third with 203.5, Lindbergh fourth with 139.5, Sammamish fifth with 133 and Highline sixth with 76, beating out Olympic with 68 and Kingston with 61 points. There were 17 teams total from this district.

"We did awesome," said Megan Reynolds, the team's coach. To note, all four swimmers at districts were either from Highline High School or it's preparatory extension school, Aviation West. "Very clean exchanges in two relays. So excited. Going to state in two relays."

Two! Not bad for a team that didn't win any of its dual meets this Seamount League season. And that sixth place, with only four swimmers, that's a "wow" factor, too.

BY GERARDO BOLONG​
Contributing Writer

​LAKEWOOD - Early hesitancy cost Kennedy Catholic dearly in a second round 3A West Central/Southwest bi-district girls basketball 45-29 loss against Narrows League Lincoln (Tacoma) at Clover Park High School on Fri., Feb. 13.

In the opening season game at Lincoln, it was the third quarter that proved decisive in a Lady Abes 61-42 win.

"The girls were hesitant at the start," said KC head coach Greg Caldwell. "They were ready to play, but it seemed like everyone was waiting to see who would step up. Once we settled down, we were able to stay with them for awhile. I'm proud of how the girls kept playing hard. Lincoln is a tough team."

The statement "We were robbed" had a literal meaning for the Lancers in a frightful first quarter.

Stealing the ball regularly and breaking to the basket often, 6-foot, 1-inch post player Tamia Braggs and Morticia Mc'Call collaborated to stun Kennedy Catholic for the first 11 points of the game en route to a 13-2 lead after one quarter.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

SEATTLE--Bounce, bounce, bounce...
Like a yo-yo, up and down, up and down. Precise with the ball on and off her hand, Lexi Peterson, with determined eyes, reads the defender in front of her.

Then, doing a move, a crossover dribble, moving left to right, she leaves her foe behind. She drives into the paint as the interior defense closes in, but Peterson is ready, as she sweetly kicks the ball outside for a teammate behind the three-point arc.
Swish!
The Seattle Christian graduate is now showing her talents and teamwork as a member of the Oregon Ducks women's basketball team that visited the University of Washington on Sunday, Feb. 8.

"I'm at Oregon, in my fourth year," said Peterson, a 5-11, red-shirt junior who is a guard for the Oregon Ducks, spending a lot of that time on the court at the position that leads a team on the court -- point guard. It's not her natural spot, though, according to Ducks' coach Kelly Graves, but Peterson is so talented. And that is the position Graves needs her to play.

BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

No. 1 Seamount League seed Kennedy Catholic woke up the echoes after a slow start to turn away No. 3 Greater St. Helens League Columbia River (Vancouver) 46-36 at Kennedy High School in a first round game of the 2015 West Central III/Southwest Washington IV bi-district girls 3A basketball tournament on Wed., Feb. 11.

The Lancers (17-4) moved on to a Feb. 13, 6 p.m. showdown rematch against Narrows League Lincoln of Tacoma (13-5). The Abes hosted Kennedy in the season opener and took advantage of the Lancers in the third quarter for a 61-42 victory. Columbia River (14-8) has a Feb. 13 loser-out date with Enumclaw (11-10) at Washington High School.

Ariell Garnett was involved in the Kennedy Catholic 7-2 scoring burst that opened the second half and enhanced the Lancer lead to 27-18. Sandwiched around her 3-pointer was a Garnett steal and lay up plus an assist to Jasmine Moore.

DES MOINES, Wash. — Most students enrolling in classes at Highline College will no longer be charged a $17 admissions application fee. First-time students enrolling in general admission classes for spring quarter 2015 will be the initial beneficiaries of the change.

“Eliminating the admissions application fee is part of our continuing effort to increase access to higher education for members of our community,” said Dr. Jack Bermingham, president of Highline College. “While $17 does not seem like much to some people, for members of our South King County community, it can be significant and be an unnecessary barrier to education and training that is vital for improving their lives.”

Highline College serves an area with a significant low-income population. One indicator of families struggling financially is the high number of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch in four of the public school districts in Highline’s service area: 56 percent of students in Federal Way; 68 percent in Highline; 52 percent in Kent; and 73 percent in Tukwila. The average for school districts in all of King County is 36 percent.

Burien, WA– The Highline Public Schools School Board invites community members, families, and staff to attend a work session on the district’s budget. Chief of Staff and Finance Duggan Harman will discuss the overall budget picture for next school year, including budget impacts related to the February bond failure.

Highline faces critical challenges after the bond measure fell short of the 60 percent approval required for passage.

Budget considerations include urgent needs stemming from aging schools and overcrowding due to growing enrollment. The work session will include discussion of expenditures necessary to meet those challenges.

Work Session
Wednesday, February 18
5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Marvista Elementary School
198000 Marine View Drive SW
Normandy Park, WA 98166

A School Board meeting will immediately follow the work session. The community is also invited to attend and participate in the meeting.

School Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 18
6:00 p.m.
Marvista Elementary School
198000 Marine View Drive SW
Normandy Park, WA 98166

By Gwen Davis

Last Thurs., Seattle mayor Ed Murray along with officials from the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced Vision Zero, “an effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030,” according to the city.

In 2015, officials will lower speeds on specific streets around the city, including West Seattle. Targeted streets will be reduced to 25 mph, replacing the standard 30 mph.

The five streets in West Seattle include:

· 35th Avenue SW

· SW Roxbury Street/Olson Place SW

· Delridge Way SW

· Fauntleroy Way SW

· Harbor Avenue SW

According to the document describing the details of Vision Zero, “each year, more than 150 people sustain life-changing serious injuries and approximately 20 people die on our streets. People over age 50 are particularly vulnerable and have made up 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities in the last three years.”

KENT, Wash. – February 16, 2015 – The Kent Police Department is asking the public for their assistance in locating a vulnerable 64 year old mentally delayed female, Barbara Stevenson. She was last seen Tuesday, February 3, 2015. She has not been seen or heard from since. Stevenson has medical conditions to include a heart defect and diabetes. In addition, Stevenson has also been diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder and needs daily medication. It was reported that Stevenson is often delusional and more concerning is the fact that Stevenson did not take her medication or any personal items with her.

Stevenson is a black female with a light complexion. She stands 5’02” tall, weighing 135 pounds. She has black hair, and brown eyes. She generally walks with a cane.

Stevenson’s family is afraid that due to her mental state she could easily be manipulated and taken advantage of.