June 2019

 An adult male was taken to the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound Monday morning near 106th SW and 1st Ave SW. This was the second shooting in two days in the White Center area.

The shooting took place at about 7:50 a.m. according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The man's wounds were not life threatening. There was no information on the suspect.

White Center saw what was acknowledged as a "running gun battle" on Sunday morning after an altercation in the early morning hours broke out at a hookah lounge whose entrance is on the alley between 16th SW and 17th SW in the 9800 block. In that incident three men were wounded, and two remain in critical condition. 

The facts behind both incidents were still being investigated.

A press release on both is expected in the next 24 hours.

A fire on the first floor of the Edge Apartments in the 3100 block of Avalon Way SW did some damage, and forced some of the residents out of the structure around 6am on Monday, June 24.

No occupants were found in the area of the fire. Some residents were assisted out of the structure. Some potentially experienced smoke inhalation. Red Cross was called to assist with those forced out of their apartments.

No cause or dollar value of the damages was announced.

See the video of the incident captured by Tomasz Biernacki below.

By Marilyn Littlejohn

For those needing help with life difficulties, the new Burien Community Resource Center provides easy access to approximately 40 community service providers.

Opened in February, 2019, as a joint effort of King County District Court and the City of Burien, the resource center is open to everyone who lives and works in the community. On any given Monday between 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Burien Community Center (14700 6th Ave SW, Burien), a visitor will find, on average, 16 community service organizations offering services such as:

• Cash / financial assistance

• Transportation / ORCA Lift/ shuttles

• Employment and training opportunities

• Housing search support

• Food assistance

• Legal assistance

• Dispute resolution

• Mental health treatment

• Substance use treatment

• Youth & young adult programs

 

By Jean Godden

I carried Seattle's flag through a banquet hall in Vancouver a few years back, likely in 2013. I was a delegate to the Association of Washington Cities annual convention and cities were expected to parade their flags through the room.

Until time to march, I kept Seattle's flag tightly furled, hesitant to display our teal and white banner. When I finally passed the banquet tables, I thought I heard laughter and saw finger pointing. I could barely wait to furl the flag and pack it back in its carrier for return to the city archives.

Seattle, like most Washington cities and towns, has its own flag. Ours was designed by the late Paul Kraabel, last Republican to serve on the city council. Kraabel was a good councilmember, a thoughtful and witty guy, but no flag designer.

information from SWSHS

The longest-lasting outreach program of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, (SWSHS) "Words, Writers & West Seattle" is expanding and changing its name!  In an effort to better focus on the society's mission, "to promote local heritage through education, preservation, and advocacy," the new series will be presenting authors, books, and stories of the Puget Sound and Duwamish Peninsula and will continue to enjoy the partnership of the Seattle Public Library.    

Update 11:30am

According to the King County Sheriff three adult males (and possibly more) were involved in a shooting in the middle of White Center on Sunday morning. Public Information Officer for the Sheriff Ryan Abbott said that a single 911 call came in around 5:30 am describing an altercation involving shots fired near the O'Reilly Auto Parts store at 17th SW and SW Roxbury. Then at 6:13am three adult males arrived at Harborview, having transported themselves there. One was shot in the leg and later released. The other two suffered life threatening injuries and were declared to be in critical condition.

The incident, according to pollice, appeared to begin at an after hours club whose entrance is on the alley between 16th and 17th SW. That location is below the Smoke Shop in White Center with an entrance on the alley. It's known as a "hookah lounge".

The West Seattle Blockwatch Network meeting Tuesday, June 25th at 6:30 PM for our monthly meeting.

The special guest will be Melanie Cole from the Seattle Office of Emergency Management.