March 2015

Amanda Knox is free.

The Italian Supreme Court overturned a convction against her, meaning she will not face extradition or serve the 28 year sentence in the case that had accused her and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of murdering British student Meredith Kercher.

Knox and Sollecito were originally sentenced in 2009 be were later acquitted in a subsequent trial in 2011. Rudy Guede was arrested for the crime and was later sentenced to 16 years for his role in the murder.

Knox returned to Seattle. She pursued an education at the University of Washington where she studied writing and later came to work for the West Seattle Herald as a freelance writer.

The Knox family released a statement:
"We want to express our profound gratitude to all of those who have supported Amanda and our family. Countless people -- from world-renowned DNA experts to former FBI agents to everyday citizens committed to justice -- have spoken about her innocence. We are thrilled with and grateful for today's decision from the Supreme Court of Italy. And we are grateful beyond measure for all that so many of you have done for her."

By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Positive feelings and strong play softball claimed the field for the Seattle Christian Warriors.

Stealing and picking up extra bases virtually at will, Nisqually 1A Seattle Christian used solid hitting and alert base running to complete an unbeaten and un-scored upon non league part of the spring softball season by defeating visiting 3A Seattle Prep 9-0 on Thurs., March 26.

"This was a good preseason," said Warrior head coach Rick Ronish. "They've played well and I love the chemistry. They've done everything we asked them."

With spring break and a one week InterSCession for students coming up on the calendar, Seattle Christian will not return to game action until April 14 with a league opener against Bellevue Christian on the field at the Hidden Valley Sports Park.

Under the glowing sun and azure skies at SeaTac, Seattle Christian tallied what would be enough runs to win in the initial inning.

By Gerardo Bolong
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES- NEWS

BELLINGHAM - Mount Rainier High School graduate Kiana Gandy finished her sophomore year on the NCAA Division II Western Washington University women's basketball team by showing good growth as her role on the team increased.

She played in all 30 games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Her total of 100 rebounds was fifth on the team while she led or tied for Viking game-high rebounds three times. She also was fifth in blocked shots. Her strongest continuous stretch of play was when she scored in double figures in five of six games, shooting 24-of-44 games from the field.

"Last year, I was more of a defender," she said. "This season, I became more offensive minded, stepped up and had higher expectations," Gandy said. "I'm driving, penetrating and looking more for open people while also getting other people open. I've become more of a shooter and more well-rounded. My strength conditioning also helped."

Visually impaired children and their families will fill their Easter baskets with “beeping” Easter eggs during a special Easter egg hunt with CenturyLink, supported by the State of Washington Department of Services for the Blind, on March 28, 2015. The unique eggs, provided by the CenturyLink Pioneers’ Washington State Chapter, are engineered with electronic circuit boards, batteries and telephone speakers to emit distinctive beeping sounds. As a result, visually impaired children can use their hearing to find the eggs and share in the joy and sense of accomplishment of a successful Easter egg hunt at Wesley Homes Retirement Community “The Gardens” at 815 S. 216th Street Des Moines, WA 98198 on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Timeline of Events:
10:00 Social time is from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m., with a short program at 10:10 a.m.
Refreshments will be served including gluten-free options. This is a great time to visit with the other families as well as the guide dog puppies with their trainers.

10:10 Opening Remarks: Marlynne Olson
Special Guest: Sue Anderson, CenturyLink Vice President of Operations for Washington

SeaTac: King County Sheriff’s detectives are actively looking for 68 year old Robert Leroy Studer as the suspect in the shooting death of his 42 year old nephew in Seatac on Thursday. Studer is considered armed and dangerous; he is 5’11, 240 lbs, grey hair and green eyes. He is possibly driving a white 2015 Chevy 12 passenger van with Arizona license plates “NFLHAWK.”

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Robert Studer or recognizes the associated van, they are urged to immediately call 911.

At about 5:15 pm, SeaTac Police were called to a business park in the 18900 block of 16 Ave S for an unknown type disturbance. When they arrived they found the victim inside a business with apparent gunshot wounds to the head. The victim was transported by medics to Harborview Medical Center and pronounced dead.

Seatac Police, Burien Police, Sheriff’s Deputies, K9 units, and King County’s Guardian One all searched the large business park but did not locate a suspect.

Detectives quickly identified Robert Leroy Studer as the suspect and sought the public’s help in trying to locate him. Investigation in to what lead up to the shooting is on-going.

The regular inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and I-90 lane closures will make getting around the Seattle area slow at best this weekend.

Highway construction and a regular inspection of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will close portions of SR 99 through Seattle during the weekend of March 27-29. Lane closures along both directions of SR 99 begin at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27. By 10 p.m., SR 99 will be closed between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street until 5 a.m. Monday, March 30.

SR 99 closure details

7 p.m. Friday, March 27, until 5 a.m. Monday, March 30

Seattle Public Utilities crews will close two northbound lanes and one southbound lane of SR 99 between Ward Street and Highland Drive from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.
WSDOT and SDOT contractor crews will close SR 99 between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29

information from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society

Cathy and Jake Jaramillo are retired executives who now enjoy spending more time doing wilderness and urban hikes with each other. Together they have written Seattle Stairway Walks: An Up-and-Down Guide to City Neighborhoods, the city's first guidebook to the best neighborhood walks in Seattle that feature public stairways.

The public is invited to this FREE series from 5 to 7PM on Friday, April 3rd, at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in tracking down Robert Studer, 68, a man they believe murdered his nephew late Thursday afternoon. Details and a press release were sent out late Thursday night by the Sheriff’s Office.

At 5:15 p.m. SeaTac police received reports of a disturbance in a business park on the 18900 block of 16 Ave. S. When they arrived they found a 42-year-old man who had been shot in the head multiple times inside one of the businesses.

The man was taken to Harbor View and pronounced dead upon arrival.
Officers quickly surmised that their main suspect is Studer, the victim’s uncle. K-9 units and the Guardian One helicopter were deployed in the area around the business park but were unable to locate the suspect.
Details of the investigation or how Studer was identified as the suspect have not yet been released. The investigation is just beginning with details to be released over the next few days.

By Paul Moseley

Sonya Elliott announced yesterday that she will not return to coach the West Seattle High School girls basketball team. Elliott joined as Wildcat head coach in 2010 and finished that first season with a 3-16 record. In the years since, she has built a regional powerhouse, finishing this season with a 23-6 record, undefeated 17-0 conference record and a Metro League championship.

Elliott earned her second Coach of the Year Award this year, and had five players honored with All-Metro recognition. Among her All-Metro stars is her daughter, Senior Charli Elliott, who has played for her mom all four years of high school.

Elliot said she will return to writing, modeling and managing her clothing business. Elliott is the author of Back On the Court and owns Full Court Designs which promotes the PeaceLoveBasketball logo.

Mayor Ed Murray will be stopping in at the Chaco Canyon Cafe 3770 SW Alaska St. on Saturday for right around half an hour to have a cup of coffee and meet people, and chat with them about their concerns.