West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
12:23 PM: An 85-year-old Vashon Island man with Alzheimer’s is missing, and King County Sheriff’s Office and the Alzheimer’s Association have asked media on this side of the Sound to also distribute his photo, in case he managed to get onto a ferry. His name is Jack Randles; he is described as 6’ 1”, 150 pounds, with white hair and mustache. He was last seen in the downtown Vashon area around 4:30 pm yesterday. KCSO is searching on the ground and in the air. If you see or have seen him, please call 911.
8:58 PM UPDATE: The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber reports the search has been called off for now.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Ron:
Someone stole our White Wells Cargo Trailer last night from the Gatewood area. The license plate is 1384 TI. It was filled with wood from my remodel and cabinet-making projects. The thieves cut the locks preventing them from towing it off and removed it from our alley.
6:42 PM UPDATE: Added a photo provided by Ron.
11:45 AM: Couple of outages at the moment, just in case you’re affected and wondering if you’re alone … Seattle City Light has 22 homes without power along Beach Drive, in the Weather Watch Park vicinity (see the map); the cause is listed as “unknown,” though Melissa tells us via Twitter that it “sounded like a transformer blew.” Meantime, here in Upper Fauntleroy, our Comcast Internet service is out, and the utility tells us we’re not alone – they’re attributing it to storm-related damage.
2:59 PM UPDATE: The City Light map shows the Beach Drive outage is over.
After last Saturday’s shooting by Morgan Junction Park, some discussion centered on safety concerns in the park itself. Some of those concerns came up at last night’s quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association (a week later than originally scheduled, because of last week’s snow/ice).
Other major agenda items included an update on design of the Murray CSO-control project across from Lowman Beach Park, and upcoming electrical-cable work in Gatewood. Read on for details:Read More
Every shopping-center or supermarket parking lot seems to have one – a big pile of dirty snow left over from last week’s storm. Scott Ryan photographed this one, and e-mailed it to us late last night:
If anyone in West Seattle has aspirations of summiting Mt. Rainier, but would rather avoid the park fees and oxygen deprivation, there’s a limited window right now to climb a pile of snow that is impersonating Mt. Rainier in the Roxbury Safeway parking lot at 28th SW & Roxbury. At about eight feet, Mini Mt. Rainier is the largest of Safeway’s half a dozen snow piles, which are still resisting the warm front that defeated last week’s paralyzing snow attack.
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
EASTBOUND SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSURE: Again tonight, this section of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed, starting east of the 1st Avenue South ramp (which will remain open, as will the ramp to northbound 99), 9 pm-5 am. Also remember it’s scheduled to be closed all weekend, 9 pm Friday-5 am Monday. Details here.
OPEN HOUSE #1: Open house marking the grand opening of the Memory Care Community at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 3:30-6:30 pm – details here
OPEN HOUSE #2: Party at Skin Butik, which has moved from Harbor Avenue to the corner of California and Graham, open house from 5-7:30 pm.
PARENTING WORKSHOP: Tonight is the rescheduled “Parenting with Courage and Connection” workshop, 6 pm, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7141 California SW, presented by Jody McVittie, MD. Free. Questions? E-mail Jody@encouragingsolutions.net or call 206 782 1595.
ARBOR HEIGHTS WATER-MAIN WORK: Public meeting in Arbor Heights re: water-main work resulting from the reviews after last August’s fire, 7-9 pm, Arbor Heights Community Church.
FUNDRAISER FOR THE CROHN’S AND COLITIS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: Join The Beer Church at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) 7 pm tonight for a raffle of Pearl Jam memorabilia and more, benefiting CCFA. Details on The Feedback’s site.
FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE: College Goal Sunday, assistance in filing requests for financial aid for college, Chief Sealth International High School, 7-9 pm.
BAD ART, BAD FASHION: First annual Yen Wor Bad Art and Fashion Show, 8 pm-2 am. Facebook event here.
JANUARY 26: At The Bridge: Free Poker on Thursdays (generally two games, 6:30 pm & 9 pm, check Facebook for updated info)
Big night for the Cub Scouts of Pack 793 Den 4, sponsored by Holy Rosary Parish. 14 Tiger Scouts visited Emmy Award-winning West Seattle journalist Brian Callanan, who is host of “Ask the Mayor” on the Seattle Channel. Top photo shows Brian leading the scouts on a tour of the cable channel’s HQ. Then – it was “Ask the Mayor” night, on TV, and for the scouts:
(Back row, Den Leaders left to right: Charles Guzek, Brian Christenson, Patrick Quinn. Front row, Scouts left to right: Augie Herrin, Brody Olson, Jake Beardemphl, CJ Guzek, Ben Leonardo, Charlie Bendzak, Jack Cahill, PJ Barton, Jack Christenson, Henry Ament, Kaeden Quinn, Ryder Mackay, Carter Joy)
Brian Christenson, who shared the photos, picks up the story:
After the tour of the station, Brian Callanan escorted the scouts to the mayor’s office for an in-depth interview to get answers to what the 6 and 7-year-old kids in West Seattle want to know. The mayor was extremely engaged and wanted to make sure that all scouts had their questions answered. Questions ranged from “whether the mayor was right-handed or left-handed” to “what sports he liked to play.” The mayor stated that he enjoys biking, sea kayaking and basketball. And although he is right-handed, he is adept at shooting a basketball with either hand. The most hard hitting question came from 6 year old CJ Guzek, who wanted to know if the mayor got his wife’s bike back that was stolen last year. The answer unfortunately was ‘no.’ When discussions turned to the recent storms and the mayors handling of the event, the scouts were very positive about the event. However, the 6 year old scouts were more excited about schools being closed and getting to stay at home and play in the snow.
Bottom line: Mayor McGinn is very scout-friendly and and the scouts had a great experience with Brian Callanan and Mayor McGinn. Thank you to both!
West Seattle is getting a new elementary school, starting next year, after having closed two elementary campuses in the past four years. The Seattle School Board voted unanimously tonight to spend $6 million for a “short-term capacity-management” plan that includes reopening the former Boren Junior High School on Delridge – which has long served as an interim site for schools whose permanent campuses are temporarily out of commission – as a new elementary school. The district says it will focus on STEM – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – and will be an “option” school, the second one in West Seattle (joining Pathfinder K-8), meaning that it will admit students by application only, instead of serving a specific neighborhood zone. Boren is supposed to be the school’s temporary home, but its permanent home is not stipulated in the board motion, only that it will open this fall. Though this was part of the district’s “short-term capacity-management” proposal, intended overall to deal with overcrowding at many elementaries, district staff had previously acknowledged the new school would not likely draw off enough students from jampacked campuses to avert addition of more portables elsewhere – board member Harium Martin-Morris stressed before tonight’s vote that the district will wait for this spring’s enrollment data before deciding which schools, if any, need them.
In a series of community meetings, and other discussion venues (including here), West Seattle’s new board member Marty McLaren acknowledged she heard a strong sentiment for adding a new neighborhood school, but that was not possible for next year, and a week and a half ago, she changed her mind about trying to delay the “option” school plan. Board president Michael DeBell acknowledged during tonight’s meeting that West Seattle had been “tough” to deal with during the capacity-management discussions – without elaborating.
Next step: The district’s “open enrollment” period starts February 27th, and by then, we should know more about what the new school is supposed to be like. Meantime, the board is expected to start work soon on “intermediate” and “long-term” capacity management, which would include decisions about opening more schools, and possibly building at least one with money to be raised in the future BEX IV levy.
Congratulations to Seattle Lutheran High School soccer stars who have just won big honors. At right, Ashley Shaw has been chosen Washington State B Soccer Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. She is also the Saints’ all-time soccer-scoring leader, with 94 goals and 37 assists, and led them to the state tournament every year she’s been there, including the state championship last year. At left, Emily Winter, also a key player these past four years, was elected to the All-State second team. Both girls are seniors and have made their college choices – Ashley (who says she’s been playing since she was a preschooler!) is going to Seattle Pacific University on a soccer scholarship – expecting to sign on Letter of Intent Day next Wednesday – and Emily is going to Washington State.
If you are driving out of West Seattle late tonight or early tomorrow, note that the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct section of the bridge will be closed again, 9 pm-5 am. SDOT says the closure will start east of the 1st Avenue South offramp, so you will be able to use that exit or 99, but not 4th, Columbian Way, or I-5. The same closure is planned tomorrow night and for the entire weekend ahead, from Friday night 9 pm through Monday morning 5 am – and every weeknight for two weeks after that. SDOT has details here.
63-year-old* Gatewood resident Lovett James Chambers (right) is now charged with first-degree murder in the Saturday night shooting that killed 35-year-old 
Michael Travis Hood (left; known by his middle name). Charging documents were just provided by prosecutors; Chambers’ bail is now set at $5 million. Hood was shot by Morgan Junction Park; a friend then drove him to Providence Mount St. Vincent, thinking it was a hospital, and that’s where police and medics found him, taking him to Harborview Medical Center, where he died hours later.
At first glance the charging documents shed little light on the case beyond what has been reported already, except to say Chambers told investigators the victim and his friend were making “racial slurs,” and that Hood was shot three times, twice in the back. The documents detail Chambers’ past, as support for the increased bail:
… the defendant appears to have a substantial history of crimes of violence, which may increase his potential sentencing range. It is believed that the defendant’s criminal history began in the eariy 1960s and includes a conviction for Robbery in 1961; a crime identified as GL (possibly Grand Larceny) in 1962; Robbery (two counts) and Kidnapping in 1966; Escape with Force in 1966; Resisting Public Officers in 1972; Extortion in 1982; and Robbery of a Savings and Loan in 1982. It is anticipated that the State will amend the Information in this case to Íiie Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges against the defendant prior to trial.
In addition, it appears that the defendant has prior arrests for Kidnapping for Ransom and/or Rape by Force in 1965; Armed Robbery and Felon in Possession in 1973; Robbery in 1974; Extortion in 1976; and Bank Robbery in 1980. The ultimate disposition of the latter group of cases is not yet known.
In court for Chambers’ first bail hearing on Monday, the suspect’s wife said he had had nothing more than a traffic ticket in the 20 years they had been together; county records show they have owned a home in Gatewood for 18 years, and he has run a home-based computer-tech business. Details of the charging documents, ahead:
West Seattle resident Melissa Chin (city-provided photo at left) has just been announced as one of four assistant city attorneys with whom City Attorney Pete Holmes is relaunching the “precinct liaison” program. This afternoon’s announcement says Chin is the only one who will be assigned to work with police at two precincts – Southwest and South; each of the other three gets its own liaison. Here’s the official news release:
Next month four assistant city attorneys will be deployed among Seattle’s five police precincts to augment the City’s response to emerging and increasingly complex neighborhood public safety and regulatory issues.
The precinct liaisons — Melissa Chin (South/Southwest), Jana Jorgensen (North), Sumeer Singla (West) and Matt York (East) — will provide critical legal services on the issues of high importance to their particular precincts. They also will be accountable for managing a number of regulatory provisions in a more effective and efficient manner because they will better understand the dynamics in the individual communities.
(WSB photo from Seacrest, October 2011)
The West Seattle Water Taxi is coming off a big year – ridership numbers published online show its usage up 40 percent last year, compared to 2009, and it wasn’t all the extra “Viadoom” ridership in October – the ridership in December was more than triple that of a year earlier. Some big things are ahead for the King County Ferry District, which manages the run – including new vessels and a new administrator. and, as we first reported last month, a fare increase this spring. Today, the county has just sent out a reminder about the increase:
King County Water Taxi fares will be going up on March 1. The adult and youth fare for one-way trips on the West Seattle and Vashon routes will increase by 50 cents. Passengers with reduced fare permits will pay an additional 25 cents per ride.
This is the first fare increase since the King County Ferry District began operating the Water Taxi service nearly three years ago.
“The additional revenue generated from this increase, along with growing ridership and our continuing efforts to contain costs, will be important factors in helping us sustain this service in the long-term,” King County Ferry District Chair Joe McDermott said.
Both the Vashon Island and West Seattle routes provide year-round, weekday commute service. During the peak season, April through October, service on the West Seattle route expands to seven days a week, including extended hours on weekends and selected nights.
The fare increase is expected to generate in excess of $150,000 annually. This revenue will help offset operating costs and contribute to the King County Water Taxi’s overall financial stability.
Over the past year, ridership has hit record highs. The Rachel Marie, operating between West Seattle and downtown, has seen a 40 percent jump in annual ridership when compared to 2010.The Melissa Ann operates at near capacity between Vashon and downtown Seattle.
As a result of passenger demand, work has begun with the U.S. Coast Guard to raise capacity on both vessels from 150 to 172 passengers by early summer.
Efforts are also underway to replace the District’s aging fleet of leased vessels and improve passenger staging areas.
The new boats will be funded mostly by federal grants, as we reported last month. Meantime, the county says it’s getting closer to hiring a district administrator.
12:23 PM: Even as some cope with new wind damage today, the city is continuing to take care of loose ends from last week’s snow/ice storm. One week ago, we showed you Beth Stone‘s photo (above left) of a street sign that came down at 47th/Admiral; on Tuesday, Admiral Neighborhood Association vice president Karl de Jong photographed an SDOT crew (above right) fixing it. In less than an hour, Mayor McGinn is scheduled to discuss another part of the cleanup/fixup plan – what’ll be done about post-storm potholes. We’ll add that information when it’s available (you can also watch here at 1 pm).
2:18 PM UPDATE: The mayor says four “Pothole Rangers” crews are out and about taking care of post-snow/ice potholes. More details in the city news release. (If you want to report one, you can do it online, here.)
In the extensive comment discussion following our Monday followup on the deadly Saturday-night shooting by Morgan Junction Park, a friend of 35-year-old victim Michael Travis Hood said she wants to be sure he isn’t forgotten. (Travis is his middle name, but that’s how friends say they knew him.)
Jodie Davis (pictured with him, above) is the first person who told us he had died hours after the shooting, though authorities did not confirm that until Monday morning. We spoke with her by phone yesterday, and she provided the photos in this story. She also has spoken with our partners at the Seattle Times for this followup published last night, which notes, as friend and witness Jamie had told us on Sunday, that Travis had moved here just a few months ago in hopes it would be safer than Jacksonville, Florida, where his two brothers were killed in the ’90s (as detailed in this Florida story). Travis leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter named Destiny (pictured with him, at right). Jodie told us she is still trying to figure out how to get back there for Travis’s memorial service, once a date is set. Meantime, today is the deadline for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to make a decision about whether to charge the suspect, who was arrested at his Gatewood home shortly after the shooting. Homicide detectives asked publicly yesterday for any more witnesses to come forward; the documentation made public so far does not hint at any alleged motive for the shooting.
Quick look at tonight’s highlights, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
NEW WEST SEATTLE SCHOOL? Rescheduled Seattle Public Schools board meeting with decision on “short-term capacity management,” including a proposal for a new “option” elementary school in West Seattle. 6 pm at district HQ in SODO.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Morgan Community Association‘s rescheduled quarterly meeting, 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at The Kenney (WSB sponsor; 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW). All welcome; agenda here.
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Officer elections and a “Nickelsville” encampment followup are part of tonight’s agenda. 7 pm, HP Improvement Club, 12th/Holden.
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT: 7:30 pm, the second week begins for the new production at ArtsWest in The Junction.
POETRY BRIDGE: Tonight’s the night for the 4th Wednesday Poems & Tales at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, 7-9 pm. Featured readers: Janee J. Baugher and Danielle Jacobowitz, followed by open mike (sign up at 6:45 pm) for poets and storytellers.
GOOD LUCK! Seattle Sports Star of the Year honorees announced at Benaroya Hall event. Two West Seattleites – Maddie Meyers and Julie Woodward – are up for the “Female Sports Star of the Year” award.
Just in case you’re waking up and wondering … the forecast says it’ll be breezy today, but not “advisory” level. Last night’s wild wind did cause some damage in West Seattle over the course of about eight hours; we chronicled it all, including photos and video, here. But this morning, so far, all seems to be relatively well (no power outages of note, either).
While the wind howled outside, a tough boys’-varsity basketball matchup proceeded inside, at Chief Sealth International High School on Tuesday night. Visiting O’Dea won, but the final score was only part of the story:Read More
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, beyond ongoing WSB breaking-news (etc.) coverage:
*Saturday afternoon, an officer was driving in the 7500 block of Fauntleroy Way when he saw a car pull over to park and watched the three young men inside pull black beanies onto their heads —- a typical behavior of burglars. A records check showed that the car was a suspect vehicle in a theft and was not registered locally. When the car pulled away from the curb, the officer followed. The driver made several efforts to elude the officer, who pulled the vehicle over in the 6500 block of California Ave. A 19-year-old passenger described as having a history of associating with burglars and meth users initially lied about his identity, police said. He is a North Admiral resident. The 22-year-old driver is a Morgan Junction resident and the other passenger, also 22, lives south of the Alaska Junction. All were warned about their suspicious behavior, and the officer promised to consider them suspects if there were any burglaries in the area. After promising to not commit burglaries, they were released.
Six more summaries ahead:Read More
(TOPLINE: Scroll down for ongoing updates … Wind advisory extended till 4 am …)
(Here’s what the City Light power-outage map looked like during outage’s peak around 7:32 pm – click for “live” version)
6:14 PM: As the wind picks up, hours after the National Weather Service issued a “wind advisory,” a few power outages have popped up in West Seattle, . Right now, Seattle City Light reports more than 100 homes out between spots in Arbor Heights, mostly centered around 28th SW between SW 98th and 100th, and Westwood – here’s the latest map (which may lag reality a bit, so keep us posted). We’ll be tracking that and any other storm-related news throughout the evening. (Thanks for the tips – 206-293-6302 or editor@westseattleblog.com any time.)
6:22 PM: Text says the signal is out at SW Trenton on busy 35th SW. We’re off to check on other traffic effects. (added) Confirmed Trenton/35th out – and 35th/Barton too.
6:47 PM: We checked Westwood Village; so far, it appears to be OK (a sign flickering here and there). We’ve been asked about Arbor Heights Elementary; it appears to be in the dark – though homes nearby are not. The updated “wind advisory” says strong wind is likely to continue till about 9 pm, and the advisory is set to expire at midnight. Meantime, City Light has about 600 customers out around the city, almost all in Westwood/Fauntlee Hills/Arbor Heights per their map and what we’re seeing, roaming that area. A few businesses too – like Gasco at 35th/Henderson – though as you can see on the left edge of the photo, the nearby streetlight still has power:
7:06 PM UPDATE: The City Light map now has a total of 1,300+ homes/businesses without power in West Seattle. We caught up with a crew just south of Westside School (WSB sponsor), which DOES have power:
7:30 PM UPDATE: We have a report that police are putting out flares by a “wires down” report that is on the 911 log as near 35th/100th in Arbor Heights – we’ll check that out shortly. City Light has now revised the number of customers out to just under 900.
8:17 PM UPDATE: Took a quick trip out to check on things – and that’s when the power came back on. Just a handful left now. The lights on 35th are all working again; businesses at Westwood and nearby are all on; Arbor Heights Elementary has power too.
10:20 PM UPDATE: As commenters are noting, the wind has kicked up again in a big way. One WSB’er says via Twitter that it’s torn off her patio roof in the High Point area. The National Weather Service’s latest advisory still says it’ll calm after midnight. No new power outages reported in the West Seattle area, though there’s a new one with a few hundred people out in Burien.
10:52 PM UPDATE: Kate and Mac both reported the barricade barrels on the westbound West Seattle Bridge had been blowing around – we just took the screengrab (above) from the SDOT camera, showing what appears to have been a brief detour so they could be picked up (the live camera is clear now).
11:29 PM UPDATE: Keva tipped us via Twitter to the damaged 7-11 sign on the south end of The Junction, in pieces on the sidewalk with a police guard nearby. Video (you can hear the wind):
12:26 AM UPDATE: As discussed in comments, the wind advisory is now extended till 4 am. There is a big new outage in City Light territory but outside the city limits, mostly in Burien but stretching up to part of White Center/Top Hat.
12:46 AM: A utility pole has come down on the west edge of The Junction, along Glenn Way, reports WSB contributor Katie Meyer, who saw it “crash down” – she took this photo:
Oscar nominations are out – and West Seattle’s own historic Admiral Theater points out that two of the “Best Picture” nominees are being screened there right now! “Moneyball” and “Midnight in Paris.” Showtimes are here. Admiral manager Dinah Brein adds, “Also – we wanted to let the community know there will be NO 4 pm screening of Tower Heist this Thursday, 1/26/12 due to a private event.”
Tonight at 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network is back in action, and you’re invited to join them in learning the best way to convey information to police – how to describe a suspicious person, vehicle, etc. Meantime, the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon has shared one of his periodic newsletters, with advice that might help you prevent a burglary – plus some insight into the current burglary “trends.” Read on:Read More
(Sealth & WSHS photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Seattle Public Schools teachers are rallying this afternoon to call attention to something you might not have heard about if you don’t have a child in the district: This is a “partial furlough” day for them, to save the budget-strapped district money. Schools let out three hours early as a result. Teachers from schools around the peninsula are demonstrating in the Triangle/Junction area this afternoon, and chose to wear red – “red for ed” – to call attention to the school-funding trouble. Some took group photos before heading out to rally – above, teachers gathered outside Chief Sealth International High School; below, teachers at West Seattle High School:
ADDED 2:02 PM: Teachers at Madison Middle School shared the photo they took:
ADDED 3:40 PM: Teachers at Arbor Heights Elementary shared this one:
ADDED: And, from teachers at Denny International Middle School:
ADDED: Alki Elementary teachers shared their photo, too:
After leaving school, local teachers gathered at multiple corners around Fauntleroy/Alaska, including this one:
The rallying is happening at five other sites around the city, as organized by the teachers’ union, the Seattle Education Association. The State Legislature has to decide the funding issue – more revenue, or more cuts – during the session that’s under way right now.
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