Update: House fire on 51st SW in Brace Point ruled arson; 1 arrested
(1st photo from scene, by Patrick Sand for WSB)
9:36 PM: Seattle Fire is responding to a reported house fire in the 10000 block of 51st SW (map). It’s on a dead-end street in Brace Point. More to come.
(This photo & next 2, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:45 PM UPDATE: Via scanner, firefighters report they have the fire “knocked down.” Our crew has just arrived and sees some flames from a corner of the roof on the 3-story house. Strong smell of smoke even here in upper Fauntleroy more than a mile north.
10:12 PM UPDATE: Nobody was home when this started, our crew at the scene has been told. Flames are out now. (Added: Video of firefighters on the roof – note the smoke and also the water rushing down the driveway:)
SFD’s investigator is there to try to figure out how it started.
11:53 PM UPDATE: No cause announced yet; the investigation is still under way, per SFD.
WEDNESDAY 10:06 AM: Police have announced they believe this was arson – finding a gas can inside the house – and a resident of the home has been arrested. Details on SPD Blotter.
10:23 AM UPDATE: We’ve checked the background of the 54-year-old woman who is in jail for investigation of arson; she does not appear to have a criminal record.
12:32 PM UPDATE: Since she wasn’t booked until this morning, her bail hearing won’t be until tomorrow, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: Her bail was set today at $100,000, according to the jail register. We won’t have other details from prosecutors until Friday.
Crime Watch: Sketch aimed at catching Roxbury rapist
That’s a sketch just released by King County Sheriff’s Office detectives, in their search for the man who beat and raped a woman earlier this month along SW Roxbury. We reported the attack the day it happened, March 7th; here is the latest from detectives:
On Friday, March 7th, just after midnight the victim was walking eastbound on the south side of Roxbury near 24th Ave. She was approached by a black male who asked her for a cigarette. The victim gave the man a cigarette when he suddenly dragged her to a nearby lot where he punched her repeatedly then sexually assaulted her.
After the assault the man fled, taking the victim’s purse with him. The purse was never located and may have been discarded nearby or possibly given to an associate of the suspect. The purse is very distinctive:
The attacker was described as a younger black male, early 20’s, about 5’9″, medium build, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and jeans. The suspect may have injuries to his hands due to the violent assault on the victim.
If you have information about this man or the missing purse, please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours). You can also be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
West Seattle weather: Right there, over the rainbow
Must have been some rainbow! Thanks to everybody who has shared photos. We start with three – above, from Babs, who says her friendly neighborhood crow Buddy didn’t mind posing. Next, from Buzz Shaw:
From 15-year-old Samantha:
And via the WSB Facebook page, from Debbie:
Now … back to the rain. And wind.
ADDED 9:24 PM: Thanks for sharing more rainbow photos! From David Hutchinson:
A few more to come.
WSB Q/A with Mayor Murray: #3 – About that ‘alley vacation’
Continuing coverage of on our one-on-one Q-and-A with Mayor Ed Murray, one topic at a time: Two weeks from today, the requested “alley vacation” for the 4755 Fauntleroy Way project – aka The Whittaker, and/or the Whole Foods project – goes back to the City Council Transportation Committee, which held a public hearing two weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Last summer, the mayor’s predecessor had told SDOT to recommend rejection of the request. After Mayor Murray took office, we asked for his comment on the situation, and his spokesperson had told us he wasn’t commenting. So we asked during our one-on-one interview Friday; here’s his reply:
The proposal to grant the project’s developers the opportunity to buy the alley land for not-yet-specified “fair market value” ultimately goes to the full City Council for a final vote, possibly as soon as April 14th, depending on what happens at the committee meeting April 8th.
Our next question for/answer from the mayor is also a development issue – his thoughts on the relatively new city rules allowing housing without off-street parking if it’s a certain distance from what’s considered frequent transit, though the city can’t guarantee the ongoing availability of said transit.
Previously:
Question #1 – West Seattle Bridge traffic
Question #2 – SPD’s not-yet-activated surveillance cameras
New Genesee Hill school: No, it’s not demolition time yet
One neighbor reported that it looks like demolition is near at the old Genesee Hill Elementary – slated for replacement with a brand-new school – but it’s not happening yet, according to Seattle Public Schools‘ Tom Redman. He explained what IS happening right now:
We are not beginning demolition yet. We are currently abating/removing hazardous material from the existing building. We are also doing an archeological survey, based on the State Dept. of Archeological and Historical Preservation maps.
Also, per City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, we are doing required testing for pin pile foundation load test, which means we are driving a test pile into the soil and checking subsurface load capacity. This will give us an idea of what the planned foundation pilings can support beyond standard loads.
Background information about the new school is here. The old building has been closed for almost five years.
West Seattle biznote: PB&J Textiles moving to White Center
After almost two years in North Delridge, during which they added promotional merchandise to their original embroidery/sewing business, PB&J Textiles is moving to a new, much-larger location – the former South End Florist storefront at 10728 16th SW in White Center. Co-proprietor Paul Binder tells WSB, “We are excited about our new location as we will double-plus our space. This will allow for more product offerings, better retail space, and easy parking!” They’ve expanded their offerings yet again in preparation for the move and now offer paper printing, banners, promotional products, embroidery, and screen printing, as well as copiers if you need to make quick photocopies. They’re planning to move Friday, April 4th, through Sunday, April 6th, reopening in the new space on Monday, April 7th, and will be tracking the move via Tumblr.
West Seattle Tuesday: Chris Jordan @ World Water Week; stolen-property info @ Block Watch Captains’ Network; more…
We might not see the sun again for a few days, so we’re glad to be able to share David Hutchinson‘s photo from one of last week’s spectacular sunsets. Five highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CHRIS JORDAN @ SEALTH’S WORLD WATER WEEK: Plastic pollution is the focus of this year’s World Water Week events at Chief Sealth International High School – as previewed here – and tonight, you are invited to come to campus for a resource fair 6-7 pm and keynoter Chris Jordan‘s presentation about “The Plight of the Albatross,” at 7 pm – free. (2600 SW Thistle)
‘PARENTS, TEENS, AND SEX: THE TALK, PART 2’: 6 pm tonight at Southwest Branch Library, health educator Katie Acker from the Neighborcare school-based health centers at two local high schools will present information on “the state of sexual health and activity among teens,” as well as strategies for parents to use in “initiating and continuing ‘the talk’,” while reiterating “the critical role parents play in teens’ lives, decisionmaking, and health-seeking behaviors.” (35th/Henderson)
WHAT HAPPENS TO STOLEN PROPERTY? Bring your questions to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting tonight and find out from a Seattle Police detective who works on pawn-shop detail. New precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske also is expected to be in attendance. 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct. (Delridge/Webster)
‘BLUES TO DO’: 8 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), tonight’s Blues To Do extravaganza features the Seth Freeman All-Star Session with Chris Leighton and Scott E. Lind. (6451 California SW)
BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: A unique take on karaoke, 9 pm at Skylark Café and Club. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
You can help: Fairmount Ravine followup event for ivy-cutting
(WSB photo from March 15 cleanup)
After the 22nd annual Fairmount Ravine volunteer cleanup a week and a half ago, coordinator Sarah Schieron mentioned a followup event might be organized to get more of the invasive ivy out of the forested area. The date is set and your help would be welcome:
A group of neighbors is planning a second workday in the Fairmount Ravine. Our trash clean-up (weekend before last) was very successful but we did not make the impact with ivy cutting we wanted.
On Saturday, April 5th, at 9 am, we will meet at the top of the Fairmount ravine just south of the roundabout once again. Wear hardy clothes and bring pruning shears or loppers, if you have them. Work takes place rain or shine.
Before the 5th, I’ll be meeting with a city of Seattle plant ecologist to figure out what is the biggest priority and how to best leverage other plant restoration work taking place in the ravine.
We hope more community members will join us. It will be just as hard and dirty work and the more help we have the greater our impact.
The meeting spot is at Fairmount and Forest, less than a block east of Hiawatha.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: And we’re off! Thanks in advance for traffic-trouble sightings, whenever you can safely report them (after getting to where you’re going, if you’re driving solo) – our text/voice number is 206-293-6302.
7:18 AM: The rain is picking up, so allow yourself a few extra minutes as we all get used to it again.
8:11 AM: Downtown early for a pre-court meeting. Sluggish but nothing unusual.
High-school baseball: First win for West Seattle Wildcats
(Graham French‘s late-inning hit propelled WSHS to victory)
The first win of 2014 is in the books for the West Seattle High School Wildcats. The photos and summary are courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):
A wild “come from behind” game helps West Seattle get its first win of the season.
Lakeside ace pitcher and Stanford commit Andrew Summerville held the Wildcats to no hits thru Five innings as the Lions piled up four runs. But a sixth-inning walk and a failed pickle play got the Wildcats their first run. Things only got crazier from there as West Seattle scored two runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the improbable come-from-behind Victory.
(Kevin Cuddy held Lakeside to one run through three innings)
An excited assistant coach Brian Tupper had this to say: “Crazy game, but that’s the way baseball is. You know you just got to keep grinding. That’s why we play all seven innings; it’s never over till it’s over.”
West Seattle is on the road for the next three games; next home game is April 4th vs. Rainier Beach.
Come support the team @ our Spaghetti Dinner April 5th at West Side Presbyterian Church – meet the players – free autographs and more!
Morgan Junction murder-trial update: Cross-examinations dominate the day
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Morgan Junction murder-trial defendant Lovett Chambers, known to friends as “Cid,” has another nickname that emerged in court Monday: “Cookie.”
The second witness for the defense, the 69-year-old defendant’s 73-year-old sister Betty Wynne, said that’s how she has always known him, since their grandmother dubbed him that for a purported love of sweets.
Her testimony – which will continue Tuesday, in what became an awkward cross-examination today – followed the conclusion of the appearance of the first defense witness, forensic psychologist Dr. Mark Cunningham. He had testified that his time examining the defendant, talking to others, and doing extra research led him to believe Chambers had post-traumatic stress disorder from what he saw and what happened to him during his years in juvenile facilities, jail, and prisons, and that it affected his perception of the encounter that preceded the shooting for which he is on trial.
Prosecutor Margaret Nave was cross-examining Dr. Cunningham as last week’s sessions before King County Superior Court Judge Theresa B. Doyle wrapped up, and that’s where she picked up Monday.
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