(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates – 8:16 pm, video added with Lt. Ron Smith briefing media)

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
5:02 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call believed to be a shooting, initially reported in the 4700 block of 38th SW (map), which is just south of The Triangle. The victim is being taken to Fire Station 32, which is nearby. We’re en route. Police are searching the area – radio traffic suggests police believe the victim was shot while walking in the vicinity. More to come.

5:10 PM: Official police info via Twitter – “a man was shot in the mouth.” If you are seeing/hearing a helicopter, it’s TV.

5:14 PM: Per medic discussion on scanner: The victim is a 31-year-old man who was walking his dog when he got hit by a pellet.

5:20 PM: Police were using a bullhorn to try to get someone out of a house on 38th SW. Our crew on the scene reports someone has been cuffed. No formal confirmation yet if that is the, or a, suspect.

5:28 PM: It’s clear from what our crew is seeing and what we hear via radio that police are still trying to sort all this out, regarding the circumstances, and whether the person they were talking to had anything to do with it. Their search remains very active. We’re seeing Gang Unit detectives on scene, though it is always stressed that their presence doesn’t necessarily mean gang involvement is suspected.

5:40 PM: An update on SPD Blotter describes the “pellet” as “possibly (a) BB” and says the victim was hit in the right cheek. Still a very active search/investigation. The injury is described as NOT life-threatening.

6:27 PM UPDATE: Police are reported to be searching the house they’ve been focusing on.

6:33 PM UPDATE: Also via radio – the house is reported to have “checked clear.” (We still have crews at the scene but they’re on each end of the block, as close as anyone will be allowed.)

8:16 PM UPDATE: No updates of note. We’re adding more photos and also this interview with Lt. Ron Smith – who discusses some of what else police found, including damaged vehicles:

The streets in the area are back open as of about an hour ago.

9:04 PM: If you couldn’t play back the video – Lt. Smith says police have no idea what the victim was shot with, describing it repeatedly as an “unknown projectile” that went through his cheek and out his mouth, apparently without even damaging his teeth in the meantime. He told police he didn’t see anyone or anything – just suddenly felt it hit him. Lt. Smith says the search of the house turned up a .22 rifle but it had not been fired recently.

THURSDAY MORNING, 9:27 AM: Just checked back with SPD media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson. He says the “projectile” still has not been found; also, the person who was being questioned was released, no arrest made – this all remains something of a mystery.

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Dozens of judges needed for WSHS senior projects: Can you help?

May 22, 2013 3:30 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Every graduating senior at West Seattle High School has to make a 10-minute oral presentation about the research for their senior project. And those presentations all need judges – with 58 spots remaining as of this afternoon. You can even sign up for two days, over the course of May 28, 29, 30, 31, and June 3 and 4, with presentations between 3 and 5 pm each day. “The latest trend in judging has been to listen with a friend or two and then go out for a nice supper afterwards. Think about it!” says teacher Rebecka McKinney – e-mail her if you might be able to help, ramckinney@seattleschools.org.

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As-it-happened coverage: City Council committee takes up encampment-location issue – Nickelsville and elsewhere

May 22, 2013 2:06 pm

| 44 COMMENTS

| Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(TOPLINE, 4:12 PM: Council discussion’s over; next step, public hearing June 25th)

(Editor’s note: What was the “live” video, above, has since been replaced with archived video of the meeting in its entirety)
We’re in the City Council chambers at City Hall downtown, along with more than 100 people, as the Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee prepares to take up two hot topics – encampments and marijuana.

We’ll be updating live, mostly on the former topic, because of the Nickelsville issue. We also hope to add the live-video window here in a moment (the 2 pm meeting is running a bit late). More to come.

2:13 PM: Public comment is about to begin. Council chair Nick Licata says each speaker will be limited to a minute and a half. First, Rev. Bill Kirlin-Hackett of the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness says he supports Licata’s proposal. “What we all agree about is that we need to keep working on remedies to enable interim survival plans,” he says. Next, a woman identifying herself as a Tent City 3 resident, who says excluding campers from residential areas would be discrimination. “Because I’m homeless, you don’t want me in the residential areas where kids are and stuff like that … (but) I don’t want to hurt kids.” Another Tent City 3 representative speaks next, about discrimination. “We support our friends at Nickelsville and want a good solution to their current dilemma,” but this is not it, he says.

A Nickelsville resident who says she is living there with her son and two cats is next. She says more than 125 people are there now and last summer peaked at more than 180 people. She says conditions and order are OK – except for the lack of running water, sewer, and “little police protection … We are doing great but our preference is to be moved someplace” where they would have such things. She says they “hope to move within next 2 months” without any new city codes and that they oppose the ordinances because they are not necessary.

Another Nickelsville resident, Trace DeGarmo, brings up the newly proposed Nickelsville “Option 7,” which he says would work within the current religious-encampment ordinance. They would move to two sites under control of religious organizations with whom they would sign contracts, he says. “This plan is now entirely doable” and would enable Food Lifeline to take over the current site

He is followed by Carolyn Stauffer of Highland Park Action Committee, who mentions the petition they have circulated with more than 200 names.

“We would like to see you act now and enforce the existing land use codes, because that’s your job … That it’s taken the council two years to have this conversation is shameful and disappointing,” she says, reiterating their demand that the encampment be moved before “it begins a third summer” there.

CLICK AHEAD TO READ THE REST OF OUR DETAILED AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Dog stolen & 2 more reader reports

May 22, 2013 12:42 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch: First one involves a dog reported as stolen. This dog has been on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, and its owner is now going public with an added fact – she says it’s missing because it was stolen:

My male black Pomeranian was stolen from outside Bartells at 15th & Roxbury Sunday, May 19 at 5:25p. Last seen with two white females (one adult, one possible juvenile) on the #128 Metro bus heading East on Roxbury. I am devastated! If you have any information please call 206.938.4242 or the King County’s Sheriff’s office 206.296.3311. Thank you!! Reward offered!

Also reported as stolen: Golf equipment taken from Alex‘s car outside his home at Beach Drive and Atlas. He writes, “This is the third break-in this year that I am aware of on my little section of the Dr.; I hope word can get around so that neighbors become more aware, and so that we can all help each other by looking out for thugs like these scumbags that stole my clubs.”

Also, be on the lookout for this bike stolen from Lydia:

It’s a Giant Avail III, stolen from her front porch in the 7900 block of Delridge Way SW on Monday or Tuesday.

P.S. Long-form report from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is in the works. Two toplines:

-Street robberies are on the upswing – still primarily the type where you’re at risk of getting held up for your iPhone or iPod.

-The most popular brand among car thieves right now is Subaru.

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Parking changes, widened bike lane for part of Admiral Way hill

May 22, 2013 11:12 am

| 37 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Map provided by SDOT)
The Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge is in for more changes, according to an announcement just in from SDOT. Spokesperson Peg Nielsen tells WSB the changes will “widen the bike lane and existing buffer (to) make it feel safer for people riding bikes and encourage cyclists who might otherwise use the sidewalk to use the bicycle lane. This change will make for an even more pleasant walking experience for pedestrians.” According to Nielsen, this will be facilitated by removing on-street parking on the east side of Admiral south of 3508 Admiral Way (map), and time restrictions are planned to the north:

SDOT has visited the location six times since August 2012. During each visit, no more than five vehicles have been parked south of 3508 Admiral and on average 50 percent of them were cars ‘for sale’. As a result, we do not anticipate the parking change will significantly impact local residents. We’ve also heard concerns about the potential for vehicles to park long-term in front of residents just north of this address (on the east side). As a result, we are planning to limit parking to four hours Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. up to SW Olga Street.

A letter was mailed to residents along this portion of Admiral Way notifying them of our plans. SDOT is interested in hearing their feedback and have invited them to e-mail walkandbike@seattle.gov or call 206-684-7583 by May 31.

The last major round of changes for this section of Admiral Way was back in 2010, when what started as a “rechannelization” proposal was eventually downshifted to “restriping,” including an uphill bike lane and parking removal down the hill, south of City View.

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Video: West Seattleites discuss park system’s future ‘at a crossroads’

May 22, 2013 10:20 am

| Comments Off on Video: West Seattleites discuss park system’s future ‘at a crossroads’

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

What do you want Seattle Parks to be like in the future – and how do you want to pay for it? Those key questions brought dozens to Dakota Place Park last night to discuss the department’s draft Legacy Plan. As Parks’ Susanne Rockwell explained during the opening presentation, there’s much at stake:

The opening presentation was followed by 2 rounds of small-table discussions after a short presentation, each table focused on a different component of Parks’ operations/accountabilities, and that resulted in butcher-paper sheets full of ideas and suggestions:

Tonight there’s one more meeting about the draft Legacy Plan, focused on issues affecting immigrant/refugee communities, not in West Seattle but all welcome – 7 pm at South Shore K-8 School, 4800 South Henderson.

Next month, a revised draft will be circulated, and a final proposal is expected to go to elected officials before year’s end. Something to say, but couldn’t get to last night’s meeting and haven’t said it already? Say it fast – parkslegacy@seattle.gov

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West Seattle Wednesday: From the calendar, and beyond

May 22, 2013 9:22 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: From the calendar, and beyond

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The photo is courtesy of Patty, featuring some of the more than 50 Our Lady of Guadalupe School students who visited Fauntleroy Creek earlier this week to release school-raised salmon fry. Creek stewards and volunteers led by Judy Pickens are wrapping up the spring salmon-release schedule today. Here’s some of what else is happening around West Seattle and vicinity:

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE DISCUSSES NICKELSVILLE, ENCAMPMENT RULES: The council’s Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee meets at 2 pm at City Hall, with two proposed ordinances that are likely to affect the future of the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” – one expanding where in the city encampments would be allowed, one specifically calling for a study costing up to $150,000 as a step toward making the current site semi-permanent, both linked in the agenda. Public comments will be taken at the start of the meeting. (City Hall is on 5th between Cherry and James downtown)

NICKELSVILLE ON HPAC AGENDA: Then at 7 pm tonight, during its regular monthly meeting, Highland Park Action Committee will follow up on the afternoon’s meeting and discuss the claim it has filed as a possible precursor to suing to get the city to take action. The meeting’s at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th/Holden)

Two school events tonight:

POETRY SLAM AT DENNY: Student poets and their work are in the spotlight during the annual 8th-grade poetry slam at the Denny International Middle School Galleria, 5:30 pm. (2601 SW Kenyon)

‘FINAL AND MOST IMPORTANT’ WSHS PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR: That’s how the announcement of tonight’s meeting is headlined in the latest Westside Weekly newsletter, edited by Bev Corey, who reminds us this is happening tonight:

Please come to the last PTSA meeting of the year … at 7:00 pm in the school library. Come to recognize the wonderful volunteers and educators who’ve won Golden Acorn awards. And, we’ll be adopting next year’s budget and voting for officers. We’ll have important updates on the West Seattle 5K and auction. And some other good stuff too.

(3000 California SW)

Exploring your career future? One event tonight:

CAREER NIGHT AT PRUDENTIAL: 6 pm at the Jefferson Square offices of Prudential Northwest Realty (WSB sponsor), find out if a real-estate career is for you. Details in the calendar listing. (4700 42nd SW, Suite 600)

To find all tonight’s nightlife listings, check the calendar. Here’s an event that happens just once a month:

POEMS AND STORIES: The fourth-Wednesday poetry/storytelling showcase at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is tonight, 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

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