May 2015

The master Builders Association, Johnson Braund, Inc and voluteers pitched in last week build a free ramp that will give 73-year-old Harris Masih more mobility at his SeaTac home.

Harris suffers from a neurological disease that leaves him severely weak and unable to negotiate stairs.

Mr. Harris' son, Eric, said "This will help with my father's neurology appointments. I was the only person who could help my father of the house. I would power through it. Now my mom can assist."

Eli Tuttle, from John Braund, architect, said "We just get out and like to help the community. We are architects and this allows us to gete out, use our hands instead of the computer. This is a great community event every year. This is our fifth year."

Do you have a comment? Send it to editor@robinsonewspapers.com

Soojin Kim to Join the Staff on June 1stThe City of Burien has hired Soojin Kim to serve as its next City Attorney. She will replace the services provided by Kenyon Disend, PLLC, a municipal law firm which assisted the City on an interim basis after Craig Knutson’s retirement on October 15th. Kim comes from a professional background that includes a depth of public sector experience as well as private practice at the law firm of Graham & Dunn. She began her legal career at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office as Assistant Attorney General.

By Tim Clifford

The King County Sheriff’s Office is desperately searching for Dale Shewmaker, 56, who failed to appear in court on May 8. Shewmaker was waiting to hear the verdict in a trial on three counts of Child Molestation that he was facing stemming from incidents that occurred from 2008 to 2011.

He was last spotted riding along the Chinook Pass on a black Suzuki motorcycle with a license plate reading 9B1265. Shewmaker has access to other vehicles however along with connections in Yakima, where he lives, and the southeast area of King County.

He is described as being 56-years-old and standing 6’1. He has grey hair, brown eyes, and weighs around 220 pounds.

It is believed that he is still in the area and numerous jurisdictions have been told to be on alert.

By Tim Clifford

Two detectives reacted quickly enough to save the life of a child rape and molestation suspect when they found him attempting to commit suicide on May 7.

The day before, Det. Fred Gendreau was assigned to handle a report of child rape and molestation out of SeaTac committed by 74-year-old Roy Lee Lesner on his granddaughter. Lesner’s daughter, in tears and visibly shaking while she spoke with detectives, reported that her 5-year-old daughter had told her about numerous sexual encounters she had been forced to engage in with her grandfather.

The child was interviewed by a Child Forensic Interview Specialist and confided to investigators that on numerous occasions since June of 2014 Lesner had performed oral sex on her and would often rub her private parts through her clothes. Lesner told the 5-year-old that these encounters were their “secret” and to never speak a word about them.

By Tim Clifford

Chris Dearth, a (former) Sheriff’s deputy working with the SeaTac Police Department was fired May 1 following an investigation into a boating incident that occurred along the Tacoma Narrows in January. Reportedly Dearth got drunk, operated a small motor boat, left his gun and badge on the dock and assaulted police officers who confronted him.

On Jan. 19, around noon, the 28-year-old off duty deputy took off in a small motor boat from the Narrows Marina in Tacoma. Dearth was spotted by marina workers, who also observed that he appeared drunk, speeding towards an off limit area of the marina where there are low hanging electrical wires. After getting his boat tangled in the lines and causing over $300 worth of damage Dearth left the scene.
About 90 minutes after this sighting a group of teenagers and a photographer reported to marina staff and police that they had found Dearth’s badge and gun sitting on the dock.

Seattle Police are still investigating the details of an assault at Golden Gardens Park that took place on May 2 and left one man with nerve damage to his eyes.

According to Det. Drew Fowler of Seattle Police Department, officers have not yet taken a suspect into custody. However, the victim was able to provide the name of the suspect: the two were classmates together at a local technology college.

The suspect assaulted the victim by gouging and pushing sand into his eyes.

Fowler could not disclose whether the man permanently lost his sight from the attack, but said, “He should be able to return to work soon.”

The assault took place on May 2 at the park. Police spoke to the victim on May 4, and he told them that the night of the incident he and his girlfriend were at the park with other classmates. Another group of “rowdy” classmates arrived. Out of nowhere, the suspect tackled him from behind. Then the suspect choked the victim. The victim said he could not breath for at least five seconds. A friend of the victim’s broke the two apart.

By Gwen Davis

The District 1 candidates took to the floor Mon. evening, where each discussed how he or she would approach tackling a city council term.

"For the very first time we will select a representative from District 1," said the initial facilitator. "As of the end of last Friday, these are the official candidates and we are very glad you are here."

"The two top vote-getters will advance to the general election," she said.

The primary is August 4.

"This year you will be voting for three candidates for the city council.”

Lucy Gaskill-Gaddis asked three questions, which rotated tables. Each candidate had two minutes per question. The first round took 60 minutes. After that round, people would be able to ask questions to council candidates, one-on-one.

Each question was two minutes.

Question 1: Why do you want to want to run for District 1 and what qualifications do you have the job?

Karl Wirsing: "Wherever you live you state to see patterns -- you see big ideas and big personalities but after a while they fizzle. I don't ever want to lose the fire at the start."

Friday, May 15
Baseball
SCS 4, Klahowya 1
Seattle Christian captured the West Central District Class 1A title with Friday's victory over Klahowya at Curtis High School in University Place.
The Warriors now advance to the regional level of state play for the final 16 teams.
Seattle Christian will take on South Whidbey in a 10 a.m. Saturday game at Volunteer Park in Anacortes.
The Warriors must win that game and a second that afternoon to reach the May 29-30 state tournament in Yakima.

Saturday, May 16
Boys soccer
Central Kitsap 2, Kennedy 1
Kennedy Catholic came up short in Saturday's West Central District Class 3A championship battle at Highline Memorial Stadium, losing in a tiebreaker penalty kick shootout to Central Kitsap.
The Lancers were outscored in the shootout, 3-2.
JFK will open state action Tuesday, playing Shorewood in a 7:30 p.m. match at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila -- the Lancers' regular home field.
Liberty 3, Tyee 0
Tyee played for the West Central District 2A title Saturday at Franklin Pierce High School in Parkland and lost to Liberty of Issaquah.

Duwamish Longhouse Event
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
4705 W. Marginal Way S.W.
206.431.1582 or www.duwamishtribe.org
Sat., May 23, 1-3 p.m. Academic Elders: New books by Ken Tollefson and Vi Hilbert, with Jay Miller & Lois Dodson. A lively panel featuring Dr. Tollefson, anthropologist for the Duwamish Tribe. Book signing. Free event. Information at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1592198 or www,facebook.com/events/1469061673384852/

Annual Memorial Day Ceremony
Forest Lawn Cemetery/Funeral Home
6701 30th Ave. S.W.
206.932.0050
Mon., May 25, 2-3 p.m. Ceremony at Forest Lawn, followed by a reception at:
American Legion Post 160
3618 SW Alaska St.
206.932.9696

“Beach Blanket Bingo” Theme for Rainbow Bingo
Senior Center of West Seattle
4217 S.W. Oregon St.
206-932-4044