day : 17/05/2019 12 results

A little over a month ago, a King County Superior Court jury found 43-year-old Chayce Hanson guilty of five felonies including rape and witness tampering. Today, Hanson was sentenced to 25 years in prison – 304 months, including a 24-month “enhancement” for committing assault with sexual motivation. The victim, also a West Seattle resident, was an acquaintance; the jury found Hanson guilty of vehicular assault for getting into a crash that left her seriously hurt, and then raping her while she was in such bad shape she couldn’t even yell for help. He was convicted of witness tampering for later trying to get her to sign a document saying he had not raped her. The 25-year sentence is at the upper range of what the prosecution recommended for Hanson, who has served time in prison before, for killing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in Renton in 2000; that case gained added notoriety because a state Supreme Court ruling known as the “Andress decision” overturned murder convictions including his. He then pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He has been in jail more than two years already this time, arrested in April 2017, and that will be credited toward his sentence.

UPDATE: Gunfire at 24th/Kenyon; ‘stray bullet’ grazes spectator at Southwest Athletic Complex

May 17, 2019 8:30 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

8:30 PM: Seattle Fire has a “scenes of violence” headed to the Southwest Athletic Complex vicinity for a report of an injured teenager. More details to come.

8:34 PM: While police have confirmed there was gunfire, apparently the teenager was unhurt. … Officers have mentioned another possibly related gunfire scene elsewhere.

8:44 PM: Police at the stadium tell us a person in the stands watching the track meet that’s just ended/ending was grazed by a “stray bullet” – possibly related to the other gunfire scene, which is reported to be somewhere on Holden (we’re headed that way next).

8:49 PM: We’re just arriving at the other gunfire scene and as a commenter says, that’s actually 24th/Kenyon. No injuries reported.

8:54 PM: Photos added. Those markers show where police found casings at the 24th/Kenyon scene.

9:13 PM: Nearby residents tell us that they heard vehicles take off after the gunfire. They also mentioned a report of a street robbery nearby this afternoon; we’re checking on that.

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CONGRATULATIONS! WAC/101 Club Awards for Chief Sealth IHS student-athletes

May 17, 2019 7:55 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The photo and report were sent to us on behalf of Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:

Congratulations to the Chief Sealth 2019 Washington Athletic Club /101 Club award winners:

Dianne Cardona, Nohea Morrison, Marc Martinez, Kamryn Thomas, Chase Gaither, and Donnie McMillan.

The WAC & 101 Club Awards honor 3 boys and 3 girls from each school who have athletic & academic achievements.

Roll Hawks!

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ELECTION 2019: Final lineups for local City, County Council, and School Board seats

May 17, 2019 6:55 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Filing week is over and nobody else jumped into local races on this final day, so the lists of who’s in the running for three local races are the same as what we published last night, each with the incumbent plus two challengers:

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
Brendan Kolding
Lisa Herbold*
Phil Tavel

KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8
Joe McDermott*
Goodspaceguy
Michael Robert Neher

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6
Molly Mitchell
Leslie Harris*
Crystal Liston

Also of note, though they are voted on King County-wide, the two Port of Seattle Commission positions – #2, which commissioner Courtney Gregoire is relinquishing, has seven candidates; #5 has incumbent Fred Felleman and two challengers.

See the full list of filings for offices around King County here. The primary to narrow fields down to the top two contenders is August 6th.

(Side note: In the first-ever City Council District 1 primary four years ago, nine candidates ran. This time around, D-1 has the smallest primary field, with the other six districts each having a lineup of six to 14 contenders.)

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Avalon, 35th SW road work: Here’s what’s happening next

May 17, 2019 3:13 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:13 PM: If you use Avalon and/or 35th SW between Alaska and Avalon, here’s what you need to know about what’s happening next as road work continues:

The key points are on the map above. Below are SDOT’s newest update with the details, as well as some Q&A:

We are excavating and rebuilding the road on the west half SW Avalon Way in Zone B! Crews are continuing to work on the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Yancy St to SW Genesee St (Zone B).

Crews are scheduled to begin work on the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Manning St to SW Charlestown St (Zone A) on Monday, May 20. During construction, we will maintain access to SW Orleans St. SW Manning St will be closed starting Monday through the next few weeks. Local access will be maintained to the alley.

The west side of SW Genesee St at SW Avalon Way is scheduled to be closed starting this Wednesday, May 22 through Wednesday, May 29. This will allow crews to conduct utility work and pavement reconstruction. Similar to the previous closure on the east side of the intersection, crews will need to work across multiple lanes of traffic in the intersection for a few weeks. We will continue to maintain one lane in each direction on SW Avalon Way.

Crews will begin trenching to lay new water main on the east side of 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St (Zone E). We will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on 35th Ave SW between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St through approximately November 2019. See below for more information about what to expect.

SW Alaska St is scheduled to be closed to 35th Ave SW starting Saturday, May 18 at 5 AM and could open as soon as Monday, May 20 at 6 AM. This will allow crews to conduct maintenance on the water main.

Businesses are open! Please continue to visit businesses on 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way during construction. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Things we’ve heard from the community

Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.

When will work on 35th Ave SW be completed? Can anything be done about commuting times?

Work on 35th Ave SW (Zone E) is anticipated to continue through November 2019. Work on 35th Ave SW takes more time as we are putting a new water main underneath the road and completely rebuilding the road. Our team has been monitoring left turns at the intersection of SW Avalon Way and 35th Ave SW after hearing about delays from the community. We are checking with our traffic operations group to see if we can adjust signal timing at the northbound left turn to see if this will help eliminate delays. Thank you for your patience as we strive to complete this work safely and efficiently!

Will my driveway be impacted?

In order for us to rebuild the road, we need to completely remove the current roadway and repour it with concrete or pave it with asphalt. We will need to temporarily close driveway access in order to pour or pave and allow the materials to cure. We will provide advance notice of this work. Please notify us if you need accessibility assistance.

What do I do if I have questions about the water main work and upcoming shutoffs?

If you have any questions about water main work, if there is an issue with your water, or your water is shut off without warning, you can call Seattle Public Utilities emergency line at 206-386-1800 24/7. SPU will notify you of any project related water shut offs at least a week in advance.

The overall project, expected to be complete next summer, is repaving/reconfiguring all of Avalon Way and repaving/rebuilding 35th SW between SW Alaska and Avalon (with water-main replacement) as well as repaving a block of SW Alaska west of 35th.

4:30 PM: Metro has published reroutes for Route 50, RapidRide C Line, and Water Taxi Shuttle 773 starting early tomorrow morning because of the weekend Alaska-at-35th closure.

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SATURDAY: Why you won’t want to miss the West Seattle Bee Festival

May 17, 2019 1:37 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Photo from 2018 West Seattle Bee Festival)

Sunshine and 70ish temperatures are in the forecast for the 2019 West Seattle Bee Festival tomorrow (Saturday, May 18th), in and around High Point Commons Park (stretching along Lanham Place S between Graham and Sylvan Way). Here are reasons why you won’t want to miss it:

*You can get your daily exercise with the Honey Run around the park as early as 9 am (no timing, no fee, self-led)
*Vendor Fair – 10 am-2 pm on Lanham, which will be closed to traffic for the festival
*Urban Survival Skills Fair – 10 am-2 pm – see our preview
*Performances – Ella-Bella Bee & The Pollinators at 10 am (interactive kid-friendly music and comedy), Laura Love with Terry Hunt at noon
*Parade – Everyone gets to be part of it (kids, grownups, pets …)! Bee costumes welcome, or just “bee” yourself. 11:30 am, follow the Big Bee from the park amphitheater behind Neigbborhood House on the south end
*Beehive Demonstration – Noon at the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north end of the park, where you can also buy honey from beekeepers and enjoy live jazz

Inside Neighborhood House is where you’ll find even more activities such as Woodland Park Zoo‘s Animal Ambassadors, pop-up sewing, and art/science. And there’s even more – see the official festival website. Free, fun, all ages. We’ll be there too, for as-it-happens coverage, so stop by and say hi.

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West Seattle scene: Junction flower baskets arrive

May 17, 2019 11:56 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news

Summer is truly almost here – the West Seattle Junction hanging flower baskets have arrived! It’s installation day, after the greenhouse-grown baskets were delivered this morning:

Right now they’re mostly greenery, but the blossoms emerge and intensify from summer through fall. Again this year, the baskets have been “adopted” by community donors (including us!) so when you’re in The Junction, look for the plaques on the historic light poles holding the baskets.

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6 for your West Seattle Friday!

May 17, 2019 11:12 am

| Comments Off on 6 for your West Seattle Friday!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Downy Woodpecker, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

Before we get too much further into Friday – six highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY SPRING RELEASE: 1-7 pm, you are invited to the Northwest Wine Academy on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus to try/buy the spring releases. (6000 16th SW)

SNACK, CHAT, SOLVE: New program for ages 11-14 at Southwest Library, 3:15 pm. (9010 35th SW)

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION WINE WALK – SOLD OUT! This is just a reminder that The Junction’s Spring Wine Walk is tonight IF you already have your tickets; if not, too late, they’re sold out!

PB & J @ C & P: Live music with this trio at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover; all ages. (5612 California SW)

‘OFFICE HOUR’: Theater for your Friday night! 7:30 pm curtain at ArtsWest; tickets available online here. (4711 California SW)

COUNTRY ROCK AT THE PARLIAMENT: The Tripp Rezac Band, Memphis Radio Kings, Shivering Denizens, 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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West Seattle scene: Bike Everywhere Day 2019

May 17, 2019 10:32 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

It’s Bike Everywhere Day 2019 and again this year, as previewed, West Seattle Bike Connections and partners (including WSB sponsor Alki Bike and Board) hosted a Celebration Station along the path under the West Seattle Bridge. After a stop for treats, repairs if needed, and camaraderie, riders were off to continue the commute:

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2 ways you can still register for Sunday’s West Seattle 5K on Alki

May 17, 2019 9:54 am

| Comments Off on 2 ways you can still register for Sunday’s West Seattle 5K on Alki

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(2018 West Seattle 5K photo by David Hutchinson)

Already registered for Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K on Alki? Awesome. The run/walk starts at 61st/Alki just after 9 am Sunday (May 19th) and raises money for the West Seattle High School PTSA. Not registered yet? Not too late. Your options:

*West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) on Saturday, noon-6 pm
*Alki Bathhouse before the race, starting at 8 am Sunday

If you’ve already registered, you’re also welcome to pick up your bib, T-shirt, and timing chip at Saturday’s WSR event. The West Seattle 5K is co-sponsored by community businesses and organizations including WSB. See you there!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch

May 17, 2019 7:06 am

| 3 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)

7:06 AM: Good morning. No West Seattle incidents or transit alerts reported.

BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY: Riding? Stop by the “celebration station” under the bridge until 9 am.

STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners play the Twins again at 7:10 pm tonight.

SUNDAY ALERT: Alki Avenue will close for about three hours Sunday morning for the West Seattle 5K run/walk.

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WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Settled in?

May 17, 2019 1:03 am

| 42 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Almost three weeks after we started getting reports of sightings, the West Seattle Turkey seems to have settled into the east Admiral vicinity. The latest photos and report are from Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, who sent this on Thursday morning:

It appears that the turkey has made our neighborhood its home.

Every day I put nuts out for my crow friend Rogue and the squirrels. Both often come calling at my front door, and the squirrels will be really pushy and start banging on the window if they don’t get service. I jokingly refer to my house as the Wild Rose Café.

This morning I opened my front door to find the turkey standing right there, looking in, and asking for breakfast. Apparently he had heard the rumors. I’m not kidding, I have photos, and video!

He preferred the bird seed I put out, drank out of the birdbath, and then wandered on down the street where he had a bit of an interaction with two neighbor cats. It was an interesting dance. They were more curious than anything else.

Right now he is back, and warning off the squirrels from HIS pile of food. He puffs up to look really intimidating and has a go at them.

It appears that I may have been adopted by the turkey, and honestly, I am no longer sure he is wild, but he is welcome to stay. He is clucking right outside my front door at the moment.