day : 06/11/2020 9 results

36 weeks now since the Friday night announcement that King County had its first case of COVID-19. Here’s where we are now:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:

*29,997 people have tested positive, 532 more than yesterday’s total

*811 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total

*2,633 people have been hospitalized, 4 more than yesterday’s total

*564,082 people have been tested, 5,288 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 27,423/804/2,573/537,331.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 49.2 million cases, 1,242,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

WHO’S GETTING IT? In her weekly newsletter circulated today, West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold pointed this out from the latest statewide situation report:

On top of being widely distributed geographically, case counts in western Washington have been increasing in all age groups since mid-September. This suggests that no single transmission route is driving rising trends, and the COVID-19 burden is widely dispersed across the population. Growth in cases is particularly pronounced in the 25 to 39 and 40 to 59 age groups.

Also in her newsletter:

If you or anyone you know is struggling to manage stress from COVID-19, call the Washington Listens support line at 1-833-681-0211. Call 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

NEED TESTING? Our weekly reminder – the city-operated testing site in West Seattle – south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) – is open Saturdays (as well as weekdays). Go here to choose an appointment time before you go.

GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Security guard cart-jacked; gunfire followup; more…

November 6, 2020 7:46 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight:

SECURITY GUARD ROBBED: You could call it a cart-jacking. The SPD Significant Incident Report summary says this happened just before 9 am Tuesday:

A security guard for Westwood Village called to report that he was just assaulted and robbed of his security electric cart. The victim was driving a security cart in the Westwood Village mall lot. The suspect ran up to him and started cursing. The suspect leaned into the security cart and punched the security guard/victim in the face, causing injury. The victim got out of the cart and the suspect took a glass object out of his belt and attempted to hit the victim with it. The victim fell to the ground and was injured again. The suspect got into the electric cart and started recklessly driving around the parking lot, narrowly missing vehicles traveling in the area. Later in the shift, officers responded to the 2600 BLK of SW Barton St for a separate assault incident and they detained a suspect who matched the robbery suspect’s description. The suspect was positively identified for the robbery and booked at the King County Jail.

We don’t have the suspect’s name, so we don’t know their status.

GUNFIRE FOLLOWUP: We finally obtained the narrative on last Friday night’s gunfire investigation along SW Holden. Police found 19 casings, 9mm and .40 caliber, and found a positive motive when speaking to a driver whose rear window was shot out. The driver told officers he was southbound on Delridge, driving slowly because of the bumpy road, when a “light-colored sedan” began tailgating him. He pulled over and let the other vehicle pass – but then as he approached SW Holden, the other car pulled over, and he passed it. Shortly after turning westbound on Holden, the driver said, he heard two loud noises, followed by the rear window shattering, and several gunshots. He sped up to get away and eventually lost the sedan, before finishing his drive home and calling police. Besides the shattered window, and the casings on Holden, officers found two bullet holes in the car’s trunk. Neither of the two people in the car was hurt.

DAIRY-THEFT ALERT: David emailed to share an alert that delivery customers along a Smith Brothers Farms delivery route in Seaview are being targeted by theft. He said it almost happened to him this morning: “I had our dairyman text when he delivered. I got the goods in and 5 minutes later a person came up our walkway to steal the order. I yelled at him and he jumped in a car with someone else and drove off with no lights on. We texted to the delivery driver to let him know he was being tailed. He managed to get license plate. White Cadillac Escalade.”

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Cargo ship diverted after mishap at sea

November 6, 2020 6:18 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Today began with a plane making an emergency landing – and included, it turns out, a cargo ship passing West Seattle on the way to emergency repairs. The photo and tip are from Duncan, who saw the ONE Aquila passing Alki Point this morning; this report says it was diverted into Puget Sound while sailing from China to Long Beach, after some of its containers collapsed in stormy weather. The report says it’ll spend at least two weeks in Tacoma for “an emergency survey, repairs and discharge of the collapsed containers.” A customer advisory says it’s then expected to sail to Long Beach, arriving around Thanksgiving.

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NEED TREATS? Two sweet ways to support West Seattle schools

November 6, 2020 4:23 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Sweet tooth? Generous heart? Meld the two by supporting one or both of these school fundraisers:

ROXHILL ELEMENTARY: Candy sale!

Want to stress eat some chocolate and support local underfunded public schools at the same time? Now’s your chance!!!

Roxhill Elementary’s See’s Candy fundraiser is one of the biggest ways we raise money for our school. from chocolate treats to peanut brittle, there’s something for everyone. Place your order online and it will be shipped directly to you. It also makes a great gift. :) Feel free to share the sugar-ey love with your friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives across the country.

Here’s the ordering link.

ALKI ELEMENTARY: The PTA’s inviting you to a One-Stop Thanksgiving Shop (which offers more than sweets):

Our community has come together in so many beautiful ways during this challenging time, and to honor that, we have put together a fundraiser to show our gratitude to you.

Shop Alki’s One-Stop Thanksgiving Shop for locally curated goods https://alkipta.square.site/pie

Pre-order Remlinger Farms Fruit Pies, Macrina Bakery Breakfast Breads and Rolls, Market Flower Bouquets, Gratitude Cards, and more! Items will be ready for drive-thru no contact pickup on Wednesday, November 25th from 11:00-3:00 PM in West Seattle.

By partnering with a local farm, flower grower and bakery, we bring gifts of gratitude and delicious food for around your dinner table this Thanksgiving. Share the joy with one another while sharing the love with Alki Elementary.

Here’s the link.

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WATER TAXI ALERT: Returning to service

November 6, 2020 2:53 pm

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| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(Spirit of Kingston – WSB file photo)

2:53 PM: Since the strong north wind canceled this morning’s Water Taxi runs, we just checked with Metro to see if the passenger-ferry service will resume for the pm. Spokesperson Torie Rynning tells WSB that. looking at the weather, they do expect it to resume service for this afternoon/evening. She adds, “The Spirit of Kingston will replace the Doc Maynard, as the weather prevented the Doc Maynard from accessing the fuel dock this morning.”

3:31 PM: The official announcement is out now, and it includes the reminder that the vessel swap “means the route will be able to carry only 33 passengers per trip compared to 86, given physical-distancing limits.”

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THANKSGIVING & BEYOND: Got something for this year’s WSB Holiday Guide?

November 6, 2020 1:25 pm

| Comments Off on THANKSGIVING & BEYOND: Got something for this year’s WSB Holiday Guide?

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Less than three weeks until Thanksgiving, and we’re starting to get holiday questions. So, this weekend we’ll be working on this year’s WSB Holiday Guide, so we’re inviting you to send information. For starters” Is your restaurant/store selling something special for Thanksgiving – prepared holiday meals? Festive beverages? Or? Please send us the info – what, when, how to order, etc. And we’re happily accepting information for the rest of the season, too – are you having a distanced event? Online event? Sale? Donation drive? Send us that info too! And of course, as we get a little further into November, we’ll be happy to get holiday-lights info, too. Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind and waves

November 6, 2020 11:10 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind and waves

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

11:10 AM: Thanks to Marc Milrod for the photo above – received just as we noticed the wind-fueled waves while passing through Alki. We stopped for a quick clip:

Wild waves at Alki. pic.twitter.com/OnrSHnLf6i

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 6, 2020

This is from the northerly winds that canceled the West Seattle Water Taxi run this morning. The National Weather Service says gusty north winds will continue all day. Also in view from Alki – snow on the Olympics, as photographed by Stewart L.:

And another Alki angle from Marc:

With all this clearing, the NWS says sunshine’s on the way for the rest of today and much of the weekend.

11:56 AM: Two more photos just in – this one from a reader who says, “Our family took advantage of our break during school to learn about weather”:

And from Laurie Johnston:

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VIDEO/AUDIO: About that unusual jet noise over north West Seattle early this morning

November 6, 2020 8:34 am

| 61 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

8:34 AM: Sorry we missed it in real time; we’ve confirmed what caused that startling aircraft noise over north West Seattle in the 4 am hour. First, thanks to David Williams for the security-cam audio – it starts about 20 seconds in:

The online tracker Flightradar24 shows UPS flight 5X958 left Boeing Field headed for Portland about that time – but was diverted back to Boeing Field. Here’s its track:

Boeing Field spokesperson Cameron Satterfield confirms to WSB, “A UPS Boeing 757 ingested birds in one of its engines during take-off at about 4:20 this morning. The cargo aircraft returned to King County International Airport-Boeing Field and landed without incident about 20 minutes later. Airport crews were dispatched afterward to check the runway for debris, but found nothing. The runway reopened at about 5:00 am.”

ADDED 11:28 AM: Thanks to Kevin Freitas for assembling this from his webcamd:

(added) This security-video look and listen is from Joslyn:

We have a message out to UPS about the status of the plane and its cargo. (added) Thanks also to Vlad Oustimovitch for pointing out the LiveATC.net archive of air-traffic-control audio of the incident; he sent this excerpt in which the pilot first reports what happened. We listened to later audio via the site – in addition to what’s mentioned above, the pilot asked airport crews to check the plane’s exterior for damage. A few minutes later, he mentions apparent aftermath of what happened, telling the tower, “You’ll see the murder scene … quite a pile of feathers.”

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Friday 11/6 watch; Water Taxi canceled

November 6, 2020 6:07 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:34 SM UPDATE: Water Taxi canceled because of northerly wind

+++++++++++

6:07 AM: Welcome to Friday, the 228th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

Delridge project: 23rd SW is closed at Delridge this week. The other current work is detailed here.

Weekend work: Both days this weekend, repaving is planned on 16th SW by South Seattle College, and tree trimming is planned along West Marginal Way. Details on both, here.

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way: