October 2016

Guard against identity theft - and protect your finances

Sponsored by Sarah Cecil

In 2015 alone, more than 13 million Americans were victimized by identity theft, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. What can you do to guard your identity and protect yourself from potential financial losses? 
Here are some ideas to consider: 

• Review your statements. Closely review the monthly statements from your checking and other financial accounts. If you find any unfamiliar charges, contact your bank or other financial services provider immediately.  

• Order your credit reports. The three credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian – are each required by law to provide you one free credit report a year. Make sure your name, address and other information are correct on your credit report, and if you find old or inaccurate information, have it removed. 

• Place a fraud alert. If you suspect you have become a victim of Identity theft, place a "fraud alert" on your credit reports by contacting any of the three credit reporting agencies. You can choose a short-term or long-term alert. And if you’re an active member of the military, you can request a special, one-year alert.  


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Pat's View: Motel from Hell

By Pat Cashman

A couple of weeks ago, I had been driving all day and felt as whipped as a crew of galley slaves. I searched through the deepening night gloom for any motel with a vacancy.

Just when I thought I was going to have to pull over and sleep roadside for the night, I saw a sign blinking up ahead---heralding the Trail’s End Motel.

Indeed it was---even though with a few burned out lights it read rail’s E d Mo e .
But the smaller sign below contained the good news: VACANCY. (Actually it read VACA. But thanks to my longtime “Wheel of Fortune” viewer-ship I figured it out.)
I strolled in to the motel office wearily. Behind the counter was a guy who looked so creepy that even Norman Bates would have turned around and gone back to his car. But I was so tired that a bed of nails sounded appealing.
After checking in, I walked down several doors to my new venue---number 11---and even though I was yet to lay eyes on it I was already writing a blistering Tripadvisor.com review in my mind. I knew it would have to be a doozy to top some I had seen previously on-line.

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Police Blotter Week of 10-3-16

Safeway shoplifter makes getaway without any stolen items

A shoplifter turned violent at Safeway, located on the 2600 block of California Aveneu S.W., around 11 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 27. The suspect was a white male in his 30s, wearing a dark hoody and jeans. Witnesses said he was about 6’2” with a thin build, scruffy facial hair and a buzz cut.

The suspect had filled a shopping cart with food and a case of beer before making a beeline for the exit. Security ordered him to stop and the man dropped everything except the beer, continuing to make his way toward the door. A witness then tried to block the exit

The suspect ran and dropped the beers, which exploded on the ground. A Safeway employee confronted the thief, who then pulled a rope out of his pocket, which had a lock and a paint scraper tied to it. The suspect swung the small blade at the store worker but did not hit him.

The robber ran off, and police were unable to find him. Staff from the store will send the security feed to officers to follow-up.

Robbers sneak in on sleeping man on 47th Avenue S.W.

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Amanda's View: International Wrongful Conviction Day

By Amanda Knox

International Wrongful Conviction Day celebrates its third anniversary on Tuesday, October 4th. In honor of that, here’s a layman’s crash course in the causes of wrongful conviction, and a brief introduction to the Innocence Movement.

The Causes
Wrongful convictions are not some weird anomaly. Studies estimate that between 2.3 and 5% of people currently incarcerated are actually innocent. The causes of wrongful conviction are well-documented and stem from systemic problems. They are:

1) Inadequate defense

It would be nice if the simple fact of your innocence were enough to protect you from having to face criminal charges. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Time and again, innocent people are forced to stand trial, and their futures depend not so much on the fact of their innocence as on how well their lawyers make a case for their innocence. When an overworked or incompetent lawyer fails to make the case, an innocent person will be wrongfully convicted.

2) Invalid forensic evidence

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White Center Bike Park opens pleasing many 'spokes people'

By Gwen Davis

We all know Seattle is a bike-friendly city. However, the Cascade Bicycle Club just took bike freedom and happiness to the next level.

This past Saturday, the Cascade Bicycle Club held the grand opening of the new White Center Bike Playground at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park.

The White Center Bike Playground is what’s known as a “traffic garden” — a paved, flat area with real-life traffic modalities. Traffic gardens contain simulated roads, sidewalks, stop signs, roundabouts and other realistic traffic signals, in order to teach bicyclists how to obey traffic laws for when riding on real streets.

Traffic gardens empower people to both learn how to ride a bicycle in a flat, car-free environment, while also learning the rules of the road. They are useful for all ages. Traffic gardens are largely found in Europe, especially in countries such as Denmark.

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Good for you: Scaring Stingy Jack

By Kathryn Kingen

Did you know that the great pumpkin owes its fame to a legendary man named Stingy Jack? According to Irish legend, going back hundreds of years, this miserable character was so crabby, nasty and disliked, that when he died he was rejected by both heaven and hell. Consequently his unwanted soul was left to roam the darkness on Hallows' Eve. oooOOOooo! Pumpkins were carved by Irish families as Jack O'Lanterns and lit to drive his wretched spirit away from their homes and into the shadows. Apparently those guardian pumpkins did a glowing job because in return the entire Halloween holiday celebrates the Jack O'Lantern face as its iconic symbol.*

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