day : 25/01/2011 9 results

The Southwest Precinct‘s retiring Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow got quite a sendoff from the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, as about 40 people came to its first meeting in three months to hear his parting words. The group itself was a prescient creation of local volunteers – since now that the city will have fewer crime-prevention coordinators, volunteer efforts matter more than ever.

Deb Greer, one of the group’s trio of leaders (with Karen Berge and Deanie Schwarz), put together a retrospective of Block Watch’s beginnings in Seattle, to tee off Kinlow’s memories, and tributes from a few of the attendees around the table.

But before we get to that – the crime tip of the month from the uniformed SPD rep on hand, Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Jogger attacked, suspect arrested

January 25, 2011 5:43 pm

| 40 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 5:43 PM REPORT: A suspect arrested this afternoon after an attack in Lincoln Park may be responsible for other attacks, according to Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen. He says the female jogger assaulted this afternoon was not physically hurt. After police set up containment, they caught a suspect, and Capt. Paulsen says detectives will be following up for possible ties to other incidents – including previous cases at Lincoln Park. The arrest happened around 4 pm, according to a WSB’er who says his son saw police “tackling someone” at the park around that time. (Checking our archives, an incident last August is the most recent one we’d heard about.)

6:55 PM UPDATE: There’s now a short summary on SPDBlotter, with a few more details:

On January 25th at approximately 3:50 p.m. a 27-year-old female was jogging on the waterfront trail in Lincoln Park (8000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW) when an unknown male suspect ran up behind her and attempted to tackle her by throwing his arms around her legs. The victim was able to break free and get away. The suspect fled eastbound through the park toward Fauntleroy. The suspect was apprehended by responding officers as he attempted to cross Fauntleroy. The victim positively identified the 46-year-old male suspect, who was subsequently booked into the King County Jail for misdemeanor assault.

Sexual Assault Unit detectives are handling the follow up investigation. It it unknown at this time if this suspect is responsible for any other attacks.

According to the jail register, the suspect was booked just before 6 pm; public records list him at a Gatewood address, less than a mile from Lincoln Park. We’re checking on his record.

7:08 PM UPDATE: The suspect, who we will not name until charged, has a 2005 assault charge on his record. The charge says he attacked a woman in Highland Park in what appears to have been a road-rage incident that started on Highway 509; he followed her to her home, where he pulled over, reached inside her car and hit her in the face before grabbing the cell phone she was using to call 911, and ran off. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 3 months in jail (with work release), according to the documents in that case, which also show he had prior convictions for assault, property destruction, and reckless driving in the mid- to late ’90s. He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow morning.

9:32 PM UPDATE: A WSB commenter says she’s the victim from this afternoon’s incident, and writes:

West Seattle- I am the jogger who was attacked this afternoon. I was running on a trail along the upper part of the cliff. I was also surprised by the attack in broad daylight, and I had passed many people out walking their dogs. This is the only time I have ever ran with my cell phone, I recommend everyone to do this, it’s the only reason they were able to catch him. I called within seconds of it happening.

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From Korea to West Seattle: Visiting teachers at Westside School

January 25, 2011 4:13 pm

| Comments Off on From Korea to West Seattle: Visiting teachers at Westside School

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Westside School (WSB sponsor) is sharing news this afternoon about two teachers visiting from the Republic of Korea. This is the second year they’ve had a visit like this (first year at their new West Seattle campus in the former EC Hughes School). Westside’s announcement explains:

The teachers have been selected for their excellence in teaching and are currently working with the A.C.E. Language Institute at Seattle Pacific University. They are very interested in how Westside School uses strategies such as Project Based Learning, Investigations, and Integrated Lessons to teach the children. The Korean teachers will be observing all classes and they will have the opportunity to present lessons on Korean culture to the students.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for our community to learn about life in Korea as well as for our guests to experience the ‘Westside Way,’ remarked David Bergler, Westside School’s Director of Admission. He continued, “It is our hope that this experience will cultivate long-lasting cross cultural understanding and the building of a relationship between our school and those of our guests. We believe that through this experience our students will learn about another culture and spark interest in becoming globally-minded citizens and future world travelers.”

The teachers are halfway through a two-week visit.

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Regional spotlight for Chief Sealth star who’s both player and coach

January 25, 2011 3:53 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

If you haven’t already seen this (it’s linked from the WSB More News page) – our partners at the Seattle Times have an inspiring story today about Chief Sealth International High School‘s Tre’Von Lane, who is both varsity basketball player and freshman basketball coach. You can read Mason Kelley‘s story here.

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Beach Drive slides briefing: Muddy mess, legal tangle

January 25, 2011 12:41 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news

(January 2010 WSB reader photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After two slides in less than a year – most recently, last month – with a road surface crumbling, a fire hydrant buried, and nearby residents afraid for their safety, why isn’t the Beach Drive SW (map) slide situation resolved yet?

That’s the question the City Council Transportation Committee put this morning to the directors of the two city agencies that are involved – the Department of Transportation and the Department of Planning and Development. Its chair Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who lives in the Beach Drive/Alki area, expressed frustration, as did a slide-neighboring (across Beach Drive) resident, Mike Winter, speaking in the public-comment time period before the meeting:

He noted that two upslope homes have been recently “yellow-tagged,” which DPD director Diane Sugimura later explained means flagged for safety concerns – in this case, residents were warned not to use their decks, because the footings aren’t stable. Winter also told the committee about the mud-swamped fire hydrant, which SDOT director Peter Hahn said that Seattle Public Utilities is “taking care of.”

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From the courthouse: Bushaw murder-case trial pushed to June

January 25, 2011 11:12 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

From WSB’s Katie Meyer at the King County Courthouse: Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque has just agreed to push back the trial of the remaining defendants in the Steve Bushaw murder case to June 1st. The delay was requested given what defense lawyers characterized as dramatic changes in the case once the two people who actually shot Bushaw in The Junction in February 2009, Danny O’Neal and John Sylve, struck plea bargains (as reported here earlier this month) – plus, senior deputy prosecutor James Konat also is leading the case against South Park murder/rape defendant Isaiah Kalebu, which has caused some conflicts. More details from this morning’s court session will be added here later.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Early-morning gunshots?

January 25, 2011 10:04 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We’ve received multiple inquiries this morning about suspected shots heard early today somewhere in the Alki/Charlestown Hill area. One was from Ed, who e-mailed, “We heard about 9 distinct gunshots Monday night at about 1:30 am from the 59th & Charlestown area. Not close but easy to hear.” Before anyone else e-mails to ask, we wanted to let you know we do have an inquiry out with police – but we can also tell you nobody WAS shot; the records of that are always clear, via the 911 log, and things on that front were very quiet overnight in West Seattle. So we’re asking police if they found any evidence of shots (casings, property damage, etc.), or fireworks, which “shots?” reports sometimes turn out to be; there’s nothing so far on the maps that highlight some incidents once reports are filed. Will add whatever we hear back.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Road reminders; family safety; writers…

January 25, 2011 9:22 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by David Hutchinson, taken along Harbor Avenue)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Road-closure reminders – westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, East Marginal/S. Spokane, and a stretch of 1st Avenue South near the stadiums are all closed tonight (the first two 10 pm-5 am, the 1st stretch, a little earlier) … Learn how to keep your family safer during a special presentation, open to all, tonight at Denny International Middle School, 6 pm (details here) … West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network hears Block Watch history (and more) from retiring Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow, 6:30 tonight at Southwest Precinct, all welcome even if you’re not a BW captain (Delridge/Webster) … Movie afternoon at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle (4611 35th SW; WSB sponsor), with “Singin’ in the Rain” at 1 pm (free, call 206-932-5480 to reserve your seat) … Practice night for West Seattle Community Orchestras, which welcome new members – details here … Nancy Whitlock of the Nature Consortium is the guest speaker at Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s weekly lunch meeting, noon at Salty’s, details here … “Writers and Tellers” are invited to Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge (9910 8th SW) tonight, youth @ 5 and adults @ 6, to share your written work, all genres; then at 8 pm, it’s a 21+ writers’ open mike at Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW), both events ending with a “Big Fat Liars’ Club” storytelling competition … Or if you just want to listen, it’s Family Story Time at the Delridge Library branch with Amy, 7 pm.

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West Seattle Girls Softball: Signing up players & board members!

January 25, 2011 4:00 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(2009 WSGS photo shared by Jersey Jill
Whether you’re a champ or a contender – a player or a prospective board member – West Seattle Girls Softball has someplace for you. 2011 signups are under way:

Spring is just around the corner; that means West Seattle Girls Softball registration has begun. (Through) February 28th, you can sign your daughter up for this year’s season. More details can be found at www.westseattlegirlssoftball.com. The cost of registration includes a uniform for your daughter to keep and a trophy at the end of the season.

We are currently looking for new volunteers to be on the Board. Please contact our President, Shawn Herrera, for more information. We would love to have you as a volunteer. If you can make it to our next board meeting, please join us. It is February 9th, 7 pm, at the West Seattle Eagles Club on California Ave SW, next to the Post Office. Please enter through the back door.

For scholarship details please contact Shawn Herrera.

See you on the field!

Shawn’s e-mail address is wssshawnp@yahoo.com.

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