day : 03/03/2018 9 results

West Seattle weekend scene: Almost-springlike sunset, as two important dates approach

March 3, 2018 11:15 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to James Bratsanos for the view of tonight’s sunset, following an almost-springlike day. Spring is close – two weeks from Tuesday; it starts when the vernal equinox arrives at 9:15 am (our time) on March 20th. Even closer is Daylight Saving Time, which is one week away – 2 am Sunday, March 11th, we “spring forward” an hour.

(We appreciate photos, whatever the season, cool views as well as breaking news – editor@westseattleblog.com or texted to our hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!)

CRIME WATCH: White Center double-murder suspect in jail

8:39 PM: Our routine check of the King County Jail roster tonight shows the current list of inmates includes Merle Buchanan, who’s been wanted for weeks in connection with the double murder in White Center two months ago. The King County Sheriff’s Office announced on January 25th that they were looking for him, almost three weeks after the shooting deaths. He was booked on Friday afternoon, according to the jail register, with bail set at $1.1 million – including $100,000 for a domestic-violence-related warrant. Court records show he is not yet charged in the shooting deaths.

11:18 PM: We asked KCSO’s public-information officer Sgt. Ryan Abbott for more details. He says Buchanan turned himself in to Seattle Police. He is expecting more information on Monday, which is also when we’ll be checking with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to follow the case through the courts.

UPDATE: ‘Full response’ fire call in Westwood, downsized

5:59 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” going to a possible house fire in Westwood, in the 8400 block of 25th SW.

6:04 PM: First units to arrive are seeing light smoke. But the call is being downgraded, with just a few units to remain.

6:07 PM: SFD confirms that the fire is out and was small. Though it was dispatched as a “single-family residence” fire, they say it turned out to be an apartment.

TRAFFIC ALERT REMINDER: Battery Street Tunnel closure Sunday morning

March 3, 2018 5:40 pm
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 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you are headed out of West Seattle tomorrow morning, remember that – as we’ve been mentioning in our weekday morning traffic coverage – the Battery Street Tunnel and part of Highway 99 north of it will be closed for several hours because of the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K. The BSTunnel will be closed both ways between 6 am and 11:15 am; north of it, NB lanes will be closed to North 45th Street until 11:15 am, and SB lanes will be closed from N. 38th southward until 10:25 am. See other downtown closures here.

BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School girls take third place at state tournament

(WSB photo: With the trophy, right after the game)

FIRST REPORT, 2:28 PM: The West Seattle High School girls’ basketball season has just ended with a triumph – they’re coming home with the trophy for third place in the state 3A championship tournament, after a 64-58 win over Stanwood at the Tacoma Dome. What a season it was – they won every regular-season game aside from three at an out-of-state holiday tournament, and they won the SeaKing district title for the second consecutive year. Photos and details of today’s game after we get back to HQ.

THE REST OF THE STORY, 7:06 PM: The Wildcats had made it into the final four at state for the first time, and they were clearly determined to stay there. When they took to the court at the Tacoma Dome this afternoon against the Stanwood Spartans, it was for third place vs. fifth place. So defeat was not an option.

The victory was a combination of various factors – not the least of which was a tour de force by #11 Jasmine Gayles, who led all players with 33 points, triple what she had done sixteen hours earlier in their loss to Gig Harbor.

Speaking of triple, that was another factor – seven 3-pointers for West Seattle today, compared to just two on Friday night. #4 Kelsey Lenzie again had two, plus Gayles had three in her pile of points, #21 Julianna Horne had one, and #22 Jayla Wilson contributed one as well.

Wilson was one of the reserves who got significant playing time in today’s game – not in the classic “put in the backups toward the end” move, but instead, head coach Darnell Taylor had an almost-all-reserve squad on the court toward the end of the first quarter. #23 Braeden Swanson snagged two steals during her 7 minutes on the court:

So let’s get to the rest of how it unfolded:

Stanwood was first on the scoreboard; the Wildcats tied it quickly with Gayles’ first field goal, which she followed with her first 3-pointer two minutes later.

The Spartans were not an easy opponent. They outrebounded West Seattle in the early going, and while the Wildcats held a lead for much of the first quarter, Stanwood went on a run and pulled ahead 14-12 by the end of the 1st quarter.

By two minutes into the second quarter, most of the starters were back on the floor. Gayles tied things up with a basket seconds later; Stanwood answered with a three; then a basket by #20 Grace Sarver (5 points today) cut the Spartans’ lead to one.

But Stanwood was controlling the game for a while at that point, and pulled out to an 8-point lead with 2:08 until halftime. Horne trimmed it with a three.

And this is where Wilson got her three:

And by halftime, the Wildcats were only one point back, 31-30.

They emerged into the second half in roaring style, scoring first and reclaiming the lead with a basket by #32 Meghan Fiso (second-leading WSHS scorer with 12 and top rebounder with 7), who followed it up with another one shortly thereafter.

She and her teammates shot well in the second half, with 52 percent accuracy, after a chillier 35 percent in the first half. They held the lead for the rest of the quarter and then some, fighting harder to keep possession when it was in jeopardy – one sequence at 2:52 to go in the third was especially memorable, with WSHS hanging on despite players taking a fall and frantically rolling the ball toward teammates. The quarter ended with WSHS ahead by five, 49-44.

Stanwood got a fast basket at the start of the quarter; Wilson responded with one of her own. Then a Stanwood three; then a Lenzie three, and at 5:35 the Wildcats were still up five points, 54-49. But then things got a little dicey, and the Spartans briefly took the lead, 55-54. Then Gayles continued her heroics, with the next three West Seattle baskets all hers, and Westside never looked back, up six points, 64-58, when time ran out. Here’s how the game ended:

After that, the trophy ceremony, and photo-op time:

None of the West Seattle starters are seniors – so head coach Taylor and assistant coaches Karyn Golgart and Tommy Wiltzen have a promising 2018-2019 season to anticipate.

–Tracy Record (words) and Patrick Sand (pictures), WSB co-publishers

COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018 registration is one month away!

March 3, 2018 1:44 pm
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 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

It’s sunny, it’s almost warm, and thoughts turn to spring … which brings us another chance to mention that West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018 is coming up!

The big sale day – hundreds of sales of all sizes, all around the peninsula – is Saturday, May 12th, exactly 10 weeks from today.

We always open registration in early April, so we’re just a month away from that, too – watch here and westseattlegaragesale.com for the announcement as soon as it’s signup time.

This will be the 14th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by WSB since the fourth one in 2008 – looking forward to another fun day of person-to-person recycling around the peninsula.

CONGRATULATIONS! Chief Sealth IHS Mock Trial team heading to state competition

Congratulations to the Chief Sealth International High School Mock Trial team! A team member’s parent, Richard Staudt, sends us word of their accomplishment (and shared the photos, too):

Just wanted to let you know that (Thursday) night, for the first time, the Mock Trial team representing Chief Sealth International High School qualified for the State championship tournament.

You can find more information about the Mock Trial program, sponsored by the YMCA and the Washington State Courts (here). … The caliber of competition here in Washington is very high. Chief Sealth team will be going up against, amongst others, teams from Franklin High School and from Seattle Prep, who have each won National Championships in prior years (2000 and 2014).

The state competition is set for March 23rd-25th at the Thurston County courthouse complex in Olympia.

Ways to enjoy your West Seattle Saturday, morning through night

(Red-Breasted Mergansers, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Welcome to the first Saturday in March! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and archives, here are highlights of what’s up:

KID-STUFF SALE: As previewed here last night, the big annual West Seattle Cooperative Preschools-benefiting Kids Sale is 9 am-1 pm at the VFW Hall in The Triangle. Clothing, gear, furniture, toys, more – here’s some of what they were sorting when we stopped by last night:

More info here. (3602 SW Alaska)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: First weekend of the annual sale! Multiple locations around West Seattle where you’ll find Girl Scouts and cookies starting at 10 am – go here and enter your zip code.

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST: The Pacific Northwest Mahonia Evaluation Project’s next work party at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is 10 am-noon today – find out here how to join in. (6000 16th SW)

FREE TAX HELP: No appointment needed – drop-in help at West Seattle Food Bank, three days a week including 10 am-2 pm Saturdays through April 19th. Our calendar listing explains what you should bring. (35th SW/SW Morgan)

BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School girls’ state-tournament finale is at 1 pm at the Tacoma Dome, playing for 3A third place vs. Stanwood. Ticket info is on the right side of the brackets page. (2727 E D St, Tacoma)

TRYOUTS: Metro Elite basketball tryouts with Coach Tony Pryor, 5 and 6 pm at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym. (4100 SW Genesee)

WOMEN’S CLOTHING EXCHANGE: 5-8 pm at Admiral Pub – you’re invited even if you don’t have anything to swap. Details in our calendar listing. (2306 California SW)

WES SPEIGHT: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

AT KENYON HALL: Guitars for Vets Benefit Concert at 7 pm, benefiting program providing guitar lessons to veterans with PTSD. Performances by Cabin Fever, Roo & the Few, Abby K, Canote Brothers, Honeyville Rascals, Bruce Blood Band, Burgundy Pearl, and 3 Play Ricochet. Tickets $20. (7904 35th SW)

SOUTH SOUND TUG & BARGE: 8-11 pm at West Seattle Brewing in The Triangle, no cover. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FLASHBACK: “Sounds of the 60’s: Beatles, Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues and so many more. Bringing love, peace & music to Great American Diner & Bar.” 8-10:30 pm, no cover, no minimum. (4752 California SW)

THERE’S MORE! on our complete calendar.