West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:39 PM: A driver is in custody on suspicion of hitting two parked cars on 35th SW between Roxbury and Barton. He was found after his damaged Mercedes (photo above) came to a stop on SW Trenton east of Fauntleroy. That scene was dispatched as a “car fire,” and we went there to check it out after hearing the siren while leaving the 34th District Democrats’ meeting nearby; while en route, we started getting reports about the hit-run crash, and learned at the car-fire scene that the two were related. We also talked by phone with a man who says he saw the hit-run happen and followed the driver while calling 911.
The Mercedes reportedly was at least partly on its rims, with blown-out tires, after hitting the cars (photo above) alongside northbound 35th; our photographer says one of its wheels is still at the scene (photo added below).
Police said they are investigating this as a possible case of DUI.
UPDATE, 10:17 AM THURSDAY: We’ve confirmed via police and court records that the suspect was cited – which means, in Seattle Municipal Court, charged, and so we are identifying him. 33-year-old Jesse David Lindsey was booked into King County Jail after being cited for misdemeanor hit and run and DWI. Initial bail, $1,500. State records show no felony criminal history. Lindsey is due to be arraigned this morning so we’ll update when that information is in.
UPDATE, 12:29 PM THURSDAY: Municipal Court records indicate Lindsey has been charged with a third misdemeanor, another count of hit-and-run, which brings his bail to $2,000.
UPDATE, 3:17 PM THURSDAY: The jail register and court documents now show the bail is up to $10,000. Also, the suspect is a West Seattle resident.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With 54 days until Election Day, our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, endorsed State Sen. Pramila Jayapal tonight in her run for the 7th Congressional District.
While the endorsement vote was the night’s marquee event, along with the “mini-forum” with Jayapal and opponent State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw that preceded it, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s appearance made some headlines, so we’ll recap that first:
CITY COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD: First thing – the East Duwamish Greenspace tree-cutting investigation, which has now been under way for almost six months.
(April WSB photo – south end of area where trees were cut)
Her last major update on this was three months ago. Read More
The photo and report are from West Seattle High School athletic director Trevor Leopold:
Congratulations to West Seattle High School golfer Berit Syltebo, who shot a Hole-in-One yesterday at the Jefferson Golf Course. It was the 102-yard par 3, 6th hole.
She did it during the Wildcats’ Tuesday match against Garfield. The golfers play against Roosevelt at West Seattle Golf Course tomorrow (3:30 pm).
From last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting:
SDOT’S ADMIRAL WAY PROJECT UPDATE: SDOT’s Dawn Schellenberg and Sam Woods returned with an update, less than two weeks before the restriping of Admiral Way is set to start. Schellenberg reiterated the goals – to lower speeds, reduce collisions, make it “comfortable” for people to ride bicycles – and that the project has been a year and a half in the making. She recapped the final version of the plan, announced via e-mail in July, including where the center turn lane will be kept and where it will not. Another mailer is going out soon, she said, before pausing for Q & A.
“Why did the city spend money repainting parts of that corridor” before the current striping is set to be changed? asked ANA’s Mark Jacobs. “That seems like such a waste of money – literally within the past month they’ve been out repainting.”
More West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon:
STOLEN CAR: Morgan‘s car was stolen last night or early today – “My car was stolen from my driveway (corner of 108th and 37th Ave SW [map]): 2016 Honda Fit, Cobra Drivers seat (says COBRA on the headrest) and license-frame bracket that says Seahawks Season ticket holder. WA plates — AYZ9219.” Call 911 if you see it.
STOLEN PACKAGE: In a comment following today’s first Crime Watch report, Chelsea reported a package theft near California and Dakota [map] and included this link to images from a security camera.
CRIME-PREVENTION ADVICE: The Southwest Precinct e-mailed two “bulletins” today with general advice on what you can do to prevent/reduce burglaries and car prowls – read them as PDFs here (burglaries) and here (car prowls).
NEXT WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL MEETING: WSCPC meetings resume this month – they are your chance to come hear about crime trends from, bring neighborhood concerns to, and ask questions of, Southwest Precinct reps, as well as special guests. WSCPC president Richard Miller tells WSB that the 7 pm meeting next Tuesday (September 20th) will feature “Lisa Love, manager, Health Education, Seattle Public Schools, to discuss the topic of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in our schools.” The meeting is at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
(Planned site of Technical Training Center)
Along with what we’ve already previewed, here’s one more event for tonight. While it is happening in South Park, Duwamish River advocates tell us this event is potentially of interest to everyone concerned about the river and its watershed. It’s a Seattle City Light community meeting tonight to talk about its planned Technical Training Center. The center, with classrooms and an outdoor training yard, would be on Hamm Creek, on the north side of SCL’s Duwamish Substation. The plan would include “wetland mitigation … with approximately 4 acres of habitats similar to historic conditions on the Lower Duwamish River,” as well as a walking trail. Tonight’s meeting is scheduled for 6:15-7:45 pm at the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Avenue S.).
If you can’t get to the meeting but are interested in commenting on the plan, SCL is taking comments through next Tuesday (September 20th) as part of its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)-related review. Those comments can be sent to Margaret Duncan, SEPA Coordinator, at margaret.duncan@seattle.gov or by postal mail at 700 5th Avenue, Suite 3200, Seattle 98104.
(WSF photo via Twitter)
Within a few months, you’ll see the next new Washington State Ferries vessel, M/V Chimacum, out on sea trials, now that it’s been christened. That happened in a ceremony this morning at Vigor on Harbor Island. Here’s the WSF announcement:
Sunny skies and a shiny new Washington state ferry graced Vigor’s Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle today as the Washington State Department of Transportation christened Chimacum, the fleet’s third Olympic Class vessel.
In a traditional maritime ceremony, Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the new ferry to the fleet. Gov. Jay Inslee, along with Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, spoke during the event. The Chimacum High School marching band added to the festivities.
The christening marks the Chimacum’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials.
“The Washington state ferry system is among the best in the world. I am so pleased that the Chimacum is being built efficiently, on-budget and ahead of schedule,” Inslee said. “This is great for the state’s taxpayers and our maritime industry.”
“Chimacum joins a hard-working fleet that connects people and communities as part of our state’s integrated, multimodal transportation system,” Millar said. “Washington’s marine highways carry more than 24 million people every year, so it’s critical for us to replace our oldest ferries and plan for the future.”
“This represents a tremendous achievement for the men and women who have helped build this beautiful vessel,” Griffith said. “I am honored to christen our new ferry and I look forward to riding on Chimacum when she enters service next year.”
The 144-car Chimacum will begin its sea trials in early 2017 and will start carrying passengers on the Seattle/Bremerton route next spring. The Washington State Transportation Commission selected the vessel name in 2014 to honor the gathering place of the Chimacum people, which is now the present-day town of Chimacum near Port Townsend.
Chimacum is the third of four funded Olympic Class ferries that replace the aging, midcentury-era Evergreen State Class vessels. The first Olympic Class vessel, Tokitae, joined the Mukilteo/Clinton route in June 2014. The second, Samish, started service on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route in June 2015. Suquamish, the fourth vessel in the class, is under construction at Vigor and will enter service in 2019.
Back in May, WSB’s Christopher Boffoli covered a media tour of Chimacum and the keel-laying ceremony for Suquamish – see his photos here.
Two reader reports:
BOAT AND TRAILER STOLEN: The photo and report are from Alyssa:
A family member’s boat was stolen from the corner of 14th Ave. SW and SW Elmgrove in Highland Park in the middle of the night. [map] It’s a 1966, 14 foot, white fishing boat on an army green trailer. Numbers on the side of the boat are: WN6881SJ and WA license plate # on trailer is: 7574QK. It was locked and had been moved within the last 72 hours … it has great sentimental value.
It’s been reported to SPD – call if you see it.
BICYCLE FOUND: Recognize this?
The photo’s from the finder, who says: “We found this bike in a hedge in an alley at Alki.” (Recognize it? Please comment.)
(The humble and ubiquitous Canada Goose – photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Bring your 4- to 12-month-old to High Point Library at 11:30 am for story time! (35th SW/SW Raymond)
LOCAL-BIZ LUNCHTIME MEETUP: Noon-1 pm today, it’s Local Biz meetup time at West Seattle’s coworking/event center Office Junction (WSB sponsor). Everybody welcome to drop in, even if you’re not a WSOJ member. Bring your lunch if you want to! (6040 California SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Just a few more weeks to drop in and get fresh produce midweek at the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
NEW LOCATION FOR ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Wednesday night drop-in just moved to Walt Hundley Playfields in High Point. Still 6 pm. (34th SW/SW Myrtle)
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: First general-membership meeting of the year, 7 pm at the Confucius Center on campus. (2600 SW Thistle)
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA: First general-membership meeting of the year, 7 pm in the school library. (45th SW/SW Spokane)
Anybody else meeting tonight? **All PTSAs/PTAs** are welcome to send us meeting notices for the WSB calendar, which means they’ll also be in these daily-preview reminders! editor@westseattleblog.com
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, tonight’s 34th District Democrats meeting includes a “mini-forum” with 7th District U.S. House candidates State Sen. Pramila Jayapal and State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw. Full agenda here. (9131 California SW)
AMERICAN LEGION POST 160: 8 pm, monthly meeting at the Post 160 hall in The Triangle. (3618 SW Alaska)
MORE OF WHAT’S UP TODAY/TONIGHT … on our complete-calendar page.
If you’re thinking about going to the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) / Southwest Seattle Historical Society “HiSTORY HerSTORY OurSTORY YourSTORY” event one week from tomorrow, your RSVP is needed ASAP. Here’s the video invite from the Y’s Josh Sutton:
It’s happening 5:30-7:30 pm Thursday, September 22, at Fauntleroy Church/YMCA (9140 California SW). The details from SWSHS:
It will be a fun evening to share and hear stories about the YMCA from every era of the organization’s 94-year history in West Seattle.
The evening begins with memorabilia and story sharing and culminates when Clay Eals, executive director of SWSHS, interviews West Seattle locals Larry Pierce, Ann Adkins, Bruce Davis, and Ruthie Waid.
If you have Y memorabilia, bring it along. Light refreshments will be provided. The event is appropriate for children ages 6 and older. Free child care is available for ages 4 weeks to 12 years, with reservations required.
Please RSVP by September 15 to Maria Groen at 206-935-6000 or mgroen@seattleymca.org.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:52 AM: Good morning. One incident of note on the outbound routes right now – a vehicle fire in the right lane of northbound I-5 before the exit to I-90.
7:01 AM: WSDOT says that fire is now blocking two right lanes.
7:13 AM: Those lanes are now clear, per WSDOT.
7:54 AM: Multiple reports that Fauntleroy is backed up big time on the way to the bridge today. There are no obvious incidents – no 911 responses, nothing mentioned by SDOT.
7:57 AM: If you’re thinking about an alternative to Delridge Way, avoid 25th SW in the SW Findlay vicinity – scanner just had a dispatch of police to help a semitruck driver who reports being stuck at that intersection.
8:13 AM: SDOT has nothing to explain the Fauntleroy backup – theorizing the bridge jam overall might be residual effect of earlier NB I-5 incidents. Meantime, do avoid Findlay west of Delridge – SPD, per scanner, is now blocking off Findlay there because of the stuck truck at 25th SW.
8:32 AM: Just went through 25th/Findlay to check on the truck situation – all clear.
8:37 AM: However, heading westbound on Genesee, we note the eastbound (Delridge-bound) traffic is way backed up, almost all the way to the bottom of the hill. And now – Avalon backup almost to 35th. Fauntleroy still looking thick, but flowing with the green light. (If you are going WESTBOUND on Fauntleroy, a double-trailer construction truck is blocking one of the lanes turning toward The Whittaker, just past Trader Joe’s.)
9:10 AM NOTE – THANK YOU! Now that the heart of the commute is over … just a word of thanks to everyone sharing information, whether via comments, via texting/calling 206-293-6302 (provided you’re not driving! thanks to all the bus riders who help out this way), or (if not urgent) editor@westseattleblog.com … we really appreciate it and so do your neighbors who benefit from the info shared here.
9:25 AM: If you’re headed east on the surface, east of the low bridge, note that a crash is blocking 6th S./S. Spokane, per SDOT Twitter and scanner. A semitruck is involved and SPD is looking to dispatch Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
9:47 AM: That one’s down to just one lane of blocking. But now, an incident on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge … someone has been spotted walking on the bridge, with a gas can. So perhaps there’s a stalled vehicle out there somewhere.
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