day : 23/05/2018 10 results

Two reader reports and four police reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

HIT-AND-RUN: That’s Tom‘s car, after a hit-and-run driver damaged it this afternoon:

Somebody hit my car on 42nd just South of Admiral Way while it was parked on the street. Parking location was just East of Jack in the Box on the West side of the road. Was parked there from 3:30-5 in case somebody in the area saw something. No note or anything like that was left.

We don’t yet have the police incident #.

PACKAGE THEFT: Received from Jesse just a few minutes ago:

I had a package stolen today between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm (in the 6000 block of) Fauntleroy Way SW. Unfortunately I was moving my camera system around so I did not catch the thief! I came back home around 10:30 tonight and thrown against my gate was my open box but inside was what I assume is somebody else’s item.

On to the police-report files, where we found four narratives of interest, now available from incidents in the past week:

ROAD RAGE ON 35TH: Around 8 am last Friday (May 18th), police were called to 35th/Webster after a driver called police to say he was the victim of a road-rage incident and threatened with a gun. He said it started when the suspect almost hit his car while changing lanes on 35th just north of Morgan. The victim honked; “words” were exchanged, and then, the victim said, the suspect tried to get him to pull over, but he continued on to Webster. The suspect apparently followed him, and drove by after the victim parked, showing a handgun and saying, “I’ll shoot your a–.” He was last seen southbound on 34th.

PURSE-SNATCHING TARGET FIGHTS BACK: Last Wednesday just before 2 pm, at Admiral/California, a woman told police, she was sitting on a bench, charging her phone, when a man came up and asked if he could use it. She said no. He then grabbed her purse, which was on the bench; they struggled over it – she retained it, though he grabbed $27 out of it. He also grabbed her phone out of her hand and ran; she chased him. The police report continues, “As they were running, she punched him in the back of the head, causing him to stumble.” She then grabbed her phone back. He got away with the cash.

MORGAN JUNCTION BURGLARY: Also last Wednesday, police were called to an apartment in the 6300 block of 42nd SW after the tenant’s daughter discovered it in “disarray” while her mom was away getting health care. Items stolen, according to the police report, included a handgun, medications, mail, a bicycle, and a “key to (a) car which was also stolen from the street.” Security video showed the burglar had broken in around 5 am that morning. He also left another bicycle in the courtyard.

PUGET RIDGE PROWLER: Busy afternoon last Wednesday for police, who also got a call about a prowler at a house in the 6700 block of 21st SW around quarter till 5. The resident wasn’t home but saw the prowler via a live video feed. The feed showed the prowler, who was smoking, had gone into the back yard and sat down. He was gone when police arrived but they found a cigarette butt and a “Now and Later” candy wrapper.

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Two updates from Seal Sitters

May 23, 2018 9:50 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Uno the harbor seal seems to be attempting a facepalm, having not signed up for training in time)

On behalf of Seal Sitters, a photo and update from David Hutchinson:

All spaces for the June 9th Seal Sitters’ training have been filled. If you were not able to attend this session, but are still interested in becoming a Seal Sitter, please contact us at SealSitters.Outreach@msn.com and we will notify you when our next training has been scheduled.

We have had a seal on the beach twice this week and “pupping season” in south Puget Sound will be starting soon. Just a reminder, if you see any marine mammal on a West Seattle beach, keep back, keep people and pets away, and please call our Hotline at 206-905-SEAL (7325).

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FOLLOWUP: Southwest Athletic Complex work begins

May 23, 2018 6:44 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Westwood | WS & Sports

<(WSB photo substituted Thursday for original district-provided image)

Back in March, we wrote about renovation work planned this spring/summer at Southwest Athletic Complex – and now Derek McCloud from Seattle Public Schools (which owns SWAC) sends word that work has begun:

Construction has started on the track at SWAC … most of the old track has already been torn up. It looks like the installation of the new track will begin next week! Graduation for Chief Sealth (5 PM on the 21st and West Seattle on the 21st @ 8) will still take place at the complex.. After graduation the field, will be torn up, and our hope is it will be ready by mid- to late August/early Sept for high school football practice. We would like to let the public know the field will be closed most of the summer, and to please stay out of the complex (which is locked) during the construction project!

District documents say the $1.5 million project “will include replacement of the existing synthetic turf at football, softball, and baseball fields using cork infill, refurbishing the existing rubberized running track, and associated work.”

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SOCCER: Last round of HSA tryouts Thursday in West Seattle

May 23, 2018 5:33 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thursday night, three age groups wrap up the HSA Select soccer tryouts for this season. Tim McMonigle sends the reminder:

6:15-7:45 pm (May 24th) – Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Ave SW

Boys 06 (U13), Coach Greg Whitney

Boys 07/08 (U12) – This is a newly formed team led by Coach David Unruh

Girls 04 (U15) – We are forming a second team led by Coaches Tony Coronado and Mark Cromett

Online registration is closed. Walkup registration is accepted (fee will be waived). Arrive 20 minutes early to check in and get tryout pinnie.

There’s some backstory on HSA Select in our April preview of the tryouts.

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Alki Point Lighthouse tours start this weekend – but only one day per week this year

May 23, 2018 3:47 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(2015 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)

We just confirmed with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary that Alki Point Lighthouse tours will start this weekend, as is customary. But there’s one big change this year – they’ll be offering the free tours only one day per weekend, on Sunday afternoons. The time window will be 1-4 pm as usual, and you need to be there by 3:45 pm to get in before the day’s tours end. New here? The lighthouse is right on the point, just before Alki Avenue SW turns into Beach Drive SW [map]. Check the lighthouse website before you go, in case of cancellation (and we’ll update our calendar when we get word, too). Last scheduled tour of the season will be Sunday of Labor Day weekend (September 2nd). P.S. For the lighthouse’s history, check the story we published when its centennial was celebrated five years ago.

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Memorial service June 2nd for Olive Wise Spannaus, 1916-2018

May 23, 2018 2:44 pm

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

A memorial service is planned June 2nd for Olive Wise Spannaus, whose family is sharing this remembrance with the community:

OLIVE WISE SPANNAUS
January 23, 1916, St. Louis, Missouri – May 10, 2018, Seattle, Washington

Longtime West Seattle resident Olive Wise Spannaus — child of God, friend, mentor, mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, community volunteer, human rights activist, women’s movement pioneer, longtime member of Hope Lutheran Church, recipient of the Carrie Chapman Catt award of the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County, hymnwriter, and line dancer (beginning at age 80) — died peacefully May 10 at her home for the past five years, Providence Mount St. Vincent.

Olive was predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years, the Rev. Ruben Spannaus, her three siblings, and one grandchild. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Boots Winterstein and husband Paul of West Seattle; Edward and Nancy Spannaus of Lovettsville, VA; Timothy Spannaus and Collette Pariseau of Lathrup Village, MI; and Fredric Spannaus and Connie Requarth of Decatur, IL; nine grandchildren; 13 grandchildren; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and their families.

A memorial service to which all are welcome will be held 12:30 pm Saturday, June 2, at the Pigott Chapel, Providence Mount St. Vincent.

Olive supported many worthwhile causes (just ask her postman!). Memorials may be made to: Education Fund, League of Women Voters Seattle-King County; Mary’s Place; Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Compass Housing Alliance; Hope Lutheran Church organ fund; Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation; or an organization of your choice.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: 1 year later, Alki murder remains unsolved

May 23, 2018 11:52 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news

(May 23, 2017, WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

Tonight marks exactly a year since 23-year-old Jordan D. Thomas was shot and killed at Alki Beach. It happened around 9 pm at 62nd and Alki. In the days after, police said they believed that the victim was targeted – and that to date remains the only information made public about the case. We just checked with SPD again and they say the murder remains unsolved but still an “active and ongoing investigation.” Information is still welcome via the SPD Homicide Tip Line, 206-233-5000. At the time, some were concerned it could mean the start to a long, violent summer at the beach, but no other Alki incidents followed; the rest of the year’s West Seattle violence, including a deadly shooting and deadly stabbing, happened in other areas.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Highland Park Action Committee, music, more!

May 23, 2018 10:12 am

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| West Seattle news

(Ducklings in Longfellow Creek, photographed by Lindsi Griggs)

Four options for your Wednesday:

COMPUTER CLASSES: Taught by Seattle Public Library staff at the Senior Center of West Seattle:

1-2:30 pm. Email Basics. Email is everywhere, but managing your email can get overwhelming quickly. Come learn about: options for setting up a free email account; recognizing your “inbox;” reading, sending and deleting messages; organizing your messages; and creating your address book.

3-4:30 pm. Technology Futures: Communication. Mobile phones and tablets are quickly becoming the default tools for communicating and conducting life’s business. Come to this class for tips and resources on how to select a new device, how to get started with a new device, and an overview of the most common communication apps.

(4217 SW Oregon)

HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club. This month’s meeting includes an SDOT update about the long-proposed HP Way/Holden roundabout; the full agenda is in our calendar listing. (1116 SW Holden)

CONCERT AT HOPE: 7 pm at Hope Lutheran, it’s the school “Sounds of Spring” concert, all welcome. (4456 42nd SW)

OPEN MICROPHONE: The Skylark‘s famous weekly open mic has signups at 7:30, music at 8:30. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

FOR TOMORROW AND BEYOND … see our complete calendar!

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Brown water in Upper Fauntleroy

May 23, 2018 9:15 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

For all the times we’ve written about what to do if your tap water is brown/discolored … this time it’s happened at WSB HQ. So in case anyone else in Upper Fauntleroy or vicinity is experiencing it, we did call Seattle Public Utilities – which wants to hear from you if it ever happens where you are – at 206-386-1800. They say hydrant use in the area has stirred up sediment. (Here’s SPU’s complete “what if my water’s discolored?” page.)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

May 23, 2018 7:02 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7:02 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

TRANSIT ALERTS: Nothing current but for the record, Metro sent an alert at 6:15 am that the 6:25 am Route 56 wouldn’t run.

7:18 AM: Now another Metro alert – the 7:43 Route 55 won’t run.

7:27 AM Per scanner SPD is responding to a ‘disabled vehicle” blocking EB lanes of Roxbury at 22nd.

9:24 AM: Trouble on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge at Delridge. First SDOT reported a “disabled vehicle” in the center lane; now SFD is headed there on an aid call, apparently a different vehicle with an unconscious driver, per scanner.

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