West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

43℉

month : 01/2019 292 results

UPDATE: 2 sought after deputy hit by fleeing suspects’ car at Roxbury Safeway
January 7, 2019 4:41 pm
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

4:41 PM: Thanks for the tips about the police response at Roxbury Safeway. King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott says it started as a shoplifting incident and a suspect who was being sought hit a deputy with (updated) her car. Non-life-threatening injuries. More to come.

P.S. Those are TV helicopters.

4:59 PM: More info from KCSO: “1 female suspect in custody, another female suspect intentionally struck deputy with vehicle and fled at high rate of speed.” No description yet of the vehicle/suspect they’re seeking.

10:48 PM: Just in from KCSO, here’s who they are seeking:

The King County Sheriff’s Office has PC [probable cause] to Arrest KHALIA WIMBERLY for Assault 1 and Robbery 1. There is a temporary warrant in the system for Wimberly’s arrest.

The evening of 1/7/19, Wimberly, her boyfriend Davevion Irving, and another associate did a shoplift at the Safeway in White Center. Law Enforcement was called and arrived on scene as they were exiting the store being chased by loss prevention. Wimberly and Irving ran past a Deputy that was on foot and in full uniform, got into a black 1996 Lexus LS 4 door. Wimberly, now the driver of the Lexus, struck the Deputy head-on causing serious/ non-life threatening injuries. The associate was arrested on scene but Wimberly and Irving escaped.

There is NO PC or temporary warrant for Irving but he does have an active felony warrant and misdemeanor warrant for his arrest.

Wimberly and Irving are dating and said to be couch surfing, possibly in the Tacoma area.

Please call 911 if you know where either Wimberly or Irving is or the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206/296-3311.

11:12 PM: A little more information: First, we asked Sgt. Abbott a followup on how the deputy’s doing. Still in the hospital, but in stable condition. Regarding the suspects – Wimberly is 18 years old, 5’3,” 180 pounds, last known address in Top Hat; Irving is 19 years old, 5’10”, 150 pounds, last known address in Kent. The car’s plate is BJX9158.

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BIZNOTE: West Seattle Pizza Hut closing
January 7, 2019 2:47 pm
|      54 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

The staff at West Seattle’s only Pizza Hut (6501 35th Ave. SW) confirms a tip we received over the weekend – it’s closing in two weeks. January 21st is the last day, we’re told. Why? That, we don’t know, and staff declined comment; we have an inquiry out to Pizza Hut corporate media relations. (No redevelopment proposals in the file; county records do show the property had a change in the owner of record last year, not a sale but an estate situation.) This is the latest change of several in the chain-pizza scene in West Seattle – a second Domino’s opened in South Admiral a year ago, not long after the lone West Seattle Papa John’s closed (that site is scheduled to be redeveloped into townhouses). After the 35th SW Pizza Hut closes, the nearest one will be in White Center.

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SEATTLE SQUEEZE: West Seattleite’s request leads to two more ‘corridors’ on the traffic list
January 7, 2019 2:11 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

As part of the preparation for the so-called Seattle Squeeze – starting with the upcoming Highway 99 closure and continuing through years – the city set up mailing lists for traffic alerts on certain “corridors,” as part of the creation of a new traffic-resource website, seattletraffic.org. When we covered the announcement two months ago, the only West Seattle corridor was for The Junction. Highland Park community advocate Michele Witzki contacted Councilmember Lisa Herbold suggesting this area needs more – and she got word from SDOT today that her request has led to the creation of two new “corridor” alerts – one for Westwood, and one for Georgetown. You can sign up for those and/or others by going here. You also can find the current corridor times, and predictions, on this page.

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FOLLOWUP: Final days for Westwood Village Barnes & Noble
January 7, 2019 12:06 pm
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Three months after we reported that the Westwood Village Barnes & Noble would close this month, it’s in its final days. As the sign says, January 12th is its final day – the store staff tells us the hours on Saturday will be 9 am to 9 pm, and then it’s closed forever, after 13 years. No official word yet on the space’s future.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: RV theft and home burglary
January 7, 2019 10:54 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Seen that 24-foot Fleetwood Jamboree motorhome? It was stolen within the past few days from the 3700 block of 38th SW, with its owner’s house broken into at the same time. The plates are Washington ARF9265; SPD incident # 2019-007891. Call 911 if you see it.

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UPDATE: South Seattle College now closed all day
January 7, 2019 8:48 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle school closure | West Seattle schools

Update from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – the power is not back yet so the West Seattle campus will be closed all day, all classes canceled.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-school Monday watch
January 7, 2019 7:02 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents or transit alerts in our area so far.

Toplines:

-Back to school post-winter break
–South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) starts 10 am because of Puget Ridge power outage
–Washington State Ferries now on winter schedule
-Highway 99 closure starts 10 pm Friday (here’s the timeline)

7:10 AM: Not mentioned by SDOT yet but JayDee says there’s a crash on the eastbound high bridge just before Delridge.

8:41 AM: SSC has updated – closed all day.

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West Seattle windstorm aftermath: Power-restoration work continues; late start Monday for South Seattle College
January 6, 2019 11:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle weather

Two notes about the aftermath of the windstorm that hit early this morning:

POWER-RESTORATION WORK CONTINUES: After almost 22 hours without electricity, hundreds on Harbor Avenue SW are back online as of about half an hour ago. They were working in two spots – California/Harbor (photo above) and across from the entrance to Jack Block Park – when we went through the area just after 10 pm. That was the biggest remaining pocket but hundreds are still out in eastern West Seattle, primarily parts of Puget Ridge, and as a result:

LATE START FOR SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE’S MAIN CAMPUS ON MONDAY: As announced tonight:

Due to a power outage, South Seattle College (West Seattle campus only) will have a delayed start until 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7. All classes starting before 10 a.m. are cancelled.

Any other changes, cancellations, delays – please let us know so we can report them too.

MONDAY P.S. As reported here, the college is now closed all day.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle High School Cheer Team headed to state competition
January 6, 2019 9:29 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to the proud parents who were first to share the news: The West Seattle High School Cheer Team has qualified for state competition for the first time ever. Head coach Jasmyne Agregado – who shared the photos and gave us permission to publish them – says the team got first place in both its divisions. She adds, “Not only is a qualification for State an amazing accomplishment in itself, but to make a great accomplishment even greater, our athletes are the second-highest-scoring team this year in our division!” That’s the Non-Tumbling Co-ed division, the coach explains.

The state competition is February 2nd in Battle Ground. 20 athletes are currently on the WSHS Cheer Team; this is the third year Agregado has led the team, and the second year for co-coach Nadine Nguyen.

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Celebration of Life next Saturday for Jim Schultz, 1950-2018
January 6, 2019 8:25 pm
|    Comments Off on Celebration of Life next Saturday for Jim Schultz, 1950-2018
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather next Saturday (January 12th) to remember James “Jim” Schultz. Here’s the announcement:

James was born April 4, 1950 in Seattle, passed away October 28, 2018.

He is survived by his wife Cindy, son Harley, stepsons John and Eric, Eric’s wife Robin, and grandchildren Justin, Draeven, Lydia, Charlotte, and Colton, as well as his brothers John, Norman and his wife Trina, Jeffrey, sister Virginia, nephews Anthony and Aaron, and niece Ashley. He will be greatly missed by His family and friends.

There is a celebration of life on January 12th, 2019, at the Eagles in White Center, 10452 15th Ave. SW, from 2 pm to 6 pm.

(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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UPDATE: The case of the disappearing speed humps
January 6, 2019 6:03 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 6:03 PM SUNDAY: This weekend we’ve heard from several readers pointing out that the Beach Drive speed humps south of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook have been removed, and wondering if they’ll be replaced. The signage is now covered.

Apparently nearby residents were not notified, as some of them are among the readers who’ve contacted us. We’ll be asking SDOT first thing tomorrow, but in the meantime, we’re mentioning it so area drivers/riders are aware and in case someone out there does know what the removal is all about. These speed humps date back to the ’00s and are on a straightaway section that was particularly popular with street racers; Beach Drive then got another set, near Constellation Park, just two years ago.

UPDATE, 12:42 PM MONDAY: SDOT spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg tells WSB the speed humps WILL be replaced, but not for a while:

The speed humps were damaged, and we removed them so that they wouldn’t be a hazard. Multiple maintenance visits had been made and they’d reached the point where we could no longer maintain them. We anticipate replacing them with permanent (asphalt) humps this summer in the same spot and generally the same configuration.

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West Seattle windstorm aftermath: Harbor Avenue closure, other City Light updates
January 6, 2019 1:53 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Post-windstorm updates:

1:53 PM: That’s the reason Harbor Avenue SW is closed by Jack Block Park – as we first reported in a 3:33 am update during our overnight storm coverage, the wind (gusting up to 60 mph) took down a pole and wires. Bicycles and pedestrians were being allowed through when we walked in for the photo a bit earlier. The 300+ Seattle City Light customers out in that area represent the largest outage remaining on the map for West Seattle, but SCL still has more than 9,000 customers out in more than 100 separate outages around its service area, so its crews have a lot of work ahead. Some restoration work might temporarily lead to new outages, SCL explains (which has happened in parts of unincorporated North Highline, including North Shorewood, as crews work on a broken pole that handles three “feeders”).

5:17 PM: More than 500 customers are still out in West Seattle, including the 300+ in the Harbor vicinity, one of 100+ different outages remaining on the SCL map.

8:56 PM: New outage reported in Admiral area; we flickered in Fauntleroy.

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UPDATE: White-nationalist group’s flyers strewn in West Seattle neighborhoods
January 6, 2019 11:42 am
|      142 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

11:42 AM: Thanks to everyone who texted/e-mailed about this: Storm debris aren’t all that people are cleaning up this morning. Someone littered multiple West Seattle neighborhoods overnight with flyers like that one, in plastic bags with small rocks, promoting a white-nationalist group called Patriot Front. So far, we’ve received notes and photos (including the one above) from people in the Alki area and in neighborhoods west and northeast of The Junction. One finder reported it to SPD and tells WSB that police were coming to pick up the bagged flyers and had already responded to at least one other report, with a plan to consolidate the reports in one case. Though we haven’t heard of this group circulating its materials in West Seattle before (at least one other has), web searches show it’s turned up in other Puget Sound communities including Bellevue, as well as other states, such as Texas, where the group is reported to be based, with its founder having been cited there last year for breaking a postering law. The group’s website also lists “actions” such as having vandalized an anti-hate billboard in Tacoma.

1:35 PM: We’ve since heard from multiple sources that this was done last night in Edmonds, too.

11:35 AM MONDAY: SPD confirms the investigation and has just posted about this on SPD Blotter. The post says tips can be called in to SPD’s Bias Crimes Unit at 206-684-5550.

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UPDATE: Worker rescued after fall on Harbor Island
January 6, 2019 11:33 am
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Worker rescued after fall on Harbor Island
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

11:33 AM: If you’ve seen the big Seattle Fire response headed to Harbor Island, it’s for a rescue operation at Vigor Shipyard. SFD reports “a worker who was doing maintenance on a tank in the dry dock … fell in.” Per scanner, the fall was about 12 feet. The worker is reported to have minor injuries but access is difficult because there’s only a small hatch for accessing where the worker fell, so SFD is developing an extrication plan.

11:50 AM: Radio communication indicates the worker – described as in stable condition – has been reached and is about to be lifted out for treatment.

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POST-HOLIDAYS: Christmas tree recycling dropoff with West Seattle Rainbow Girls
January 6, 2019 10:47 am
|    Comments Off on POST-HOLIDAYS: Christmas tree recycling dropoff with West Seattle Rainbow Girls
 |   Environment | Holidays | West Seattle news

No calendar-highlights list today because of the overnight windstorm, but if you check the calendar itself, you’ll see a few events including this – the West Seattle Rainbow Girls‘ annual Christmas tree recycling event at the Masonic Center in The Junction. We just went over to be sure the storm hadn’t changed their plans and confirmed they ARE there in the parking lot (40th/Edmunds), taking trees by donation until 1 pm (that’s an earlier cutoff time than announced) – that’s Laurel in our photo. Unlike curbside recycling, you don’t have to cut your tree into sections to drop it off.

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West Seattle weather update: Wind arrives, with ~8,000 hit by power outages
January 6, 2019 12:30 am
|      141 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

12:30 AM: The National Weather Service says the gusts predicted in its High Wind Warning alert for our area are definitely on the way within the next few hours. They’ve already kicked up on the coast. We’ll be on watch as always; updates to come.

1:40 AM: It’s here. “Things are escalating quickly,” the NWS confirms.

1:51 AM: First outage reports are in, from Admiral. (update) 3,100+ customers in NE West Seattle – here’s a screengrab of the outage map:

2:05 AM: Also now 400+ further south.

2:15 AM: The NWS reports a 60 mph gust at Sea-Tac. (Its own HQ in North Seattle lost power and is on a generator now.) … Alki is part of another 4,000+ now out. Part of The Junction too. Updated map screengrab:

Remember that while SCL assigns estimated restoration times, those are in essence just guesses. Going on 50,000 customers now out service-area-wide (about 8,000 of those in West Seattle) so it’s going to be a while. Keep your fridge closed to maximize the amount of time what’s in there will be OK. (Other outage-related advice is here.)

2:51 AM: Top gusts so far around the region, including that 60 MPH at Sea-Tac, are listed here. Meantime, a traffic note: A crash on SB 99 just north of the West Seattle Bridge exit had someone pinned in their car so all SB lanes are blocked for a “rescue extrication” response. 2 people are hurt.

3:33 AM: The period of strongest wind was predicted to be “brief” – it’s been about two hours now, and it sounds a little calmer out there, so here’s hoping it’s peaked. Meantime, another traffic note: EM reports in comments that a pole and wires are down on Harbor Avenue SW by Jack Block Park, which is closed there as a result. … West Seattle power outages holding at ~8,000 customers. If you are awake when yours is restored, please let us know, in comments, or by texting our hotline (206-293-6302) – SCL doesn’t have an online public record of outages so reader reports are valuable for our archives; thank you!

4:03 AM: Power progress – part of the first big outage zone is back on; commenter in Luna Park reports restoration, and what was a 3,100+-customer outage including that area has now dropped to 1,900+. Another note: While we’ve focused on West Seattle outages, points south in North Highline/Burien are out too – City Light serves them, so you can check the same map. And if you’re curious about other areas, such as Vashon, the Puget Sound Energy outage map is here. (While PSE only provides gas service in our area, it’s the electric utility for many other communities.)

5:55 AM: Thanks for the updates! More power restored (see comments); now about 5,000 still out. … SFD has a “full response” headed to a house in the 2600 block of 38th SW, but it sounds like they’re downsizing, not a major incident.

6:05 AM: Most units are being dismissed from that call, now described as likely a “light fixture.”

8:28 AM: Now that it’s light, it’s on to storm aftermath. Looks like about 600 customers are still out, scattered around West Seattle, of 22,000+ service-area-wide. No reports of injuries – haven’t heard yet of any major damage in our area, but if you have any info to share, we continue to appreciate reports/tips, in the comments or whatever other way works for you – thank you! … Here’s a Weather Service explanation of why it got so windy, so fast.

11:44 AM: City Light warns that some people “in the south end” might lose power again for a few hours while they work on a complicated repair involving a “broken pole” where three feeder lines converge.

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BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth boys lose to Ingraham
January 5, 2019 10:44 pm
|    Comments Off on BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth boys lose to Ingraham
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, Chief Sealth #2, Tyrell Moore)

Just over at Chief Sealth International High School, the last of today’s four home games for local HS varsity basketball teams. The Sealth boys fell to Ingraham, 85-57.

(Sealth #10, Cortez Graham)

The Seahawks were only a point back after the first quarter, but lost ground after that, down 46-27 at halftime and 70-40 after three quarters. They are at home again Tuesday night, 7:30 pm, vs. Franklin.

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BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth girls scrap it out vs. Ingraham
January 5, 2019 9:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The third of tonight’s four high-school varsity basketball home games, like the second, had a final score that didn’t reflect how things rolled along the way: The Chief Sealth International High School girls led Ingraham 25-23 at halftime, then fell behind as the second half progressed. The video in our tweet includes the final Seahawk points of the game – a three-pointer by the night’s top Sealth scorer, #4, freshman Simone Lieberman.

Above is another of Sealth’s seven freshmen on the varsity roster, #34 Avoyelles Offord. The Seahawks have a young team, only two seniors. They’re back home at 7:30 pm Wednesday vs. Franklin.

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VIDEO: West Seattle Bike Connections’ ride to prep for #Realign99
January 5, 2019 8:11 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | Transportation | West Seattle news

Six nights until the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes forever. Got your plan for how to get around during the #Realign99 viaduct-to-tunnel transition time? Today was the day West Seattle Bike Connections offered a free guided ride to anyone interested in testing the route to/from downtown. WSBC’s Don Brubeck forwarded the video by Paul Dieter; Don reports, “28 adults + 4 kid passengers. Strong interest in this commute option!” P.S. If you’d like to meet up with WSBC pre-Viadoom, their regular monthly meeting is next Tuesday (January 8th), 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way).

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle boys’ tough loss to Eastside Catholic
January 5, 2019 6:59 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand. Above, #24 Abdullahi Mohamed, top WSHS scorer with 11; at left, head coach Keffrey Fazio)

6:59 PM: In the second of four high-school varsity basketball home games we’re covering on this first Saturday of 2019, the West Seattle High School boys played tough against Eastside Catholic – up 32-20 at halftime – but the tide turned against them in the second half and they finished with a loss, EC 54, WSHS 47.

ADDED: Second-leading scorer was Nuh’Kosi Roberson, above, with 10; below, with the third-most points for the Wildcats, Bille Sheikh, with 9:

Two home games are coming up for the WSHS boys – 7:30 pm Tuesday vs. Blanchet, 8:30 Friday vs. Ingraham.

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Seen off West Seattle: Duwamish Head Race
January 5, 2019 5:22 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips and photos! The sailboats seen off West Seattle late this afternoon are part of the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race. Top photo is by Lynn Hall; below, by John Saalwaechter:

This race had 61 registrants, according to the club website.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle girls’ big win over Eastside Catholic
January 5, 2019 4:29 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

4:29 PM: As noted in our daily preview, this is a big day/night of basketball – four home games for local high-school varsity teams. First one is in the books: The West Seattle High School girls beat Eastside Catholic, 69-27. The Wildcats are now 9-1, leading their division.

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

ADDED: Four Wildcats scored in double digits – above, #32, Meghan Fiso, with 15; next, #11, Jasmine Gayles, and #4, Kelsey Lenzie, with 13 each:

#20, Grace Sarver, finished with 10:

Next up for the Wildcats and head coach Darnell Taylor, three home games this week.

Blanchet visits at 7:30 pm Wednesday, Ingraham at 7 pm Friday, and Port Angeles at 4 pm Saturday.

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WEATHER ALERT UPDATE: Now it’s a High Wind Warning for late tonight through Sunday morning
January 5, 2019 1:30 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

1:30 PM: You know what to do – charge everything; the National Weather Service has announced a Wind Advisory for our area for 10 pm tonight through 10 am Sunday. Read it in full here. The NWS says this could bring “south to southwest wind 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.” And while advisories don’t always pan out, Michael points out (via an emailed tip – thank you!) that even weather analyst Cliff Mass is sounding the alarm, saying “it is highly probable that this will be a major wind event.”

7 PM: A short time ago, the NWS upgraded the alert to a High Wind Warning, saying the gusts could “briefly” reach 60 mph.

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