day : 24/04/2023 9 results

BASEBALL: West Seattle HS vs. Chief Sealth IHS

(WSB photos. Above, Weston Webb of WSHS)

In what was the second-to-last game of the regular season for both teams, West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth international High School faced off tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.

(Sealth’s Isaac Martinez out at the plate, trying to tie the game)

It’s been a good season for both teams – going into tonight’s game, WSHS, coached by Dylan Mclauchlin, led the Metro League at 17-1, while Chief Sealth, under head coach Ernest Policarpio, was <12-7. The Wildcats prevailed, but by just one run, 2-1. Winning pitcher was Miles Chandler, who allowed just 1 run and 7 hits in 6 innings:

On the mound for the Seahawks, Ryan Moore had a respectable night too, 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings. Good turnout to watch the game, which ended under the lights:

WSHS’s last regular-season game is at Kennedy Catholic in Burien next Monday (May 1st); the regular-season finale for CSIHS is against Lakeside this Wednesday, at home at NCSWAC.

JUNIOR VARSITY: We weren’t there for the JV opener but CSIHS shutting out WSHS 6-0, with one Sealth supporter reporting, “Sammy Popelka, freshman pitcher for the Chief Sealth Seahawks, pitched a complete=game shutout (7 innings) to beat the previously 14-1 Wildcats!”

(Thanks to Elise for the photo.)

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: 3 days until registration deadline

Another quick update on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, always the second Saturday in May, which means this year it’s May 13th – 290 sales are now registered, and if you decide to have one too, you have three more days to sign up – registration closes at 11:30 pm Thursday (April 27), to give your WSCGSD coordinators here at WSB enough time to make the map and list so they’re available a week in advance. Sales are happening everywhere – Alki to Arbor Heights, Puget Ridge to South Delridge, as far south as Seola and North Shorewood, as far north as North Admiral. Sellers are promising new stuff, old stuff, name-brand stuff, cheap stuff, big stuff like furniture and appliances, small stuff like jewelry and Legos … The online map will be searchable as usual so if you’re looking for something like “toys” you can search for that term and bring up a list of the sales offering them, for example. So here again are the three key dates:

APRIL 27: Last day to register a sale
MAY 6: Map/list available
MAY 13: Sale day!

Ready to register (be prepared with your up-to-20-words sale description)? Here’s the link!

FOLLOWUP: West Marginal Way SW protected bike lane work ‘nearly complete’

After last weekend’s work, SDOT says it’s “nearly” done installing the 2-way protected bike lane along an almost-half-mile stretch of West Marginal Way SW north of the Duwamish Longhouse – jersey barriers are up and lane markings are painted. We drove alongside it this afternoon for a closer look:

Reminder signage is in place at driveways not only on the bike-lane side but also on the northbound side of West Marginal, where the pre-existing Duwamish Trail crosses. It’s been more than two years since SDOT proposed the bike lane, eventually deciding to hold off on installation until after the West Seattle Bridge reopened last September.

ROAD-WORK ALERT: West Seattle Bridge lane closure Tuesday-Thursday

4:23 PM: Warmer weather brings more road work. SDOT says crews will be working on the shoulder of the westbound West Seattle Bridge for the next three days – Tuesday, April 25th, through Thursday, April 27th – between 7 am and 2 pm each day. The announcement was brief so we have an inquiry out asking what exactly they’ll be doing.

8:44 PM: Just heard back from SDOT: This will be a “lane closure for onsite inspection of the high bridge. We have been doing these inspections since reopening the bridge to make sure the structural behavior of the bridge is in good condition.”

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Leticia Martinez-Cosman’s accused killer charged with second-degree murder

When 36-year-old Brett M. Gitchel appeared in King County Superior Court this morning for arraignment, he also answered to the newly filed charge of second-degree murder in the strangulation death of Leticia Martinez-Cosman. The amended charging documents do not include much new information, but did shine light on why investigators searched the area of Renton where they found her body:

… Brett’s historical cellphone data shows that Brett drove outside of the City of Seattle into remote mountainous regions in King County, including locations along I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass and SE Middle Fork Rd in North Bend, before returning to the Seattle area. Beginning on 04/06/2023, members of Law Enforcement, subsequently assisted by King County Search and Rescue personnel, began to physically search areas of interest for Leticia. Areas of interest were chosen and based upon the actions and locations of Brett Gitchel after Leticia went missing at the Mariners game, as indicated by Brett’s historical cellphone data. One of these areas of search interest was the street of “S 192nd St”, between Talbot Rd S (on the east) and WA-SR-167 (on the west) in the City of Renton. This street was selected because historical cellphone data indicated that Brett was near the far west end of S 192nd St for about 20 minutes on 04/01/2023 at approximately 2230 hours, or about 3 1⁄2 hours before Brett made contact with (Leticia’s son) Patrick.

This location was also of interest because of its lightly populated area, its heavily wooded terrain, its proximity to the location where Brett strangled Patrick hours later, and because records reported that Brett had previously lived in an apartment on this same street.

On 04/11/2023, at about 1204 hours, approximately 10 1⁄2 days after she was last seen alive, the deceased body of
Leticia Martinez-Cosman was discovered during a planned law enforcement search near the far west end of S 192nd
St, on the north side of the road.

The narrative adds:

… The circumstances necessary to have caused Leticia’s death by strangulation is a manifestation of Brett’s extreme indifference to her life and was the ultimate cause of her death. Brett used premeditated intentional lies and deception to lure Patrick into a situation in a vehicle where Patrick would be susceptible to Brett’s strangulation. The facts and evidence of this case supports the conclusion that Brett also used premeditated and intentional lies and deception to lure Leticia into a situation in her vehicle where she would be susceptible to Brett’s persistent strangulation, ultimately resulting in her death.

… Brett Michael Gitchel exhibited injuries consistent with the assault of Patrick Cosman and denied going to the Mariners’ game with Leticia and claimed to not recognize her, until he was shown a photograph of them together that he could not deny. Brett’s statement that Leticia met someone at the end of the game and left with them is also not true based upon the T-Mobile Park video of them leaving together. Brett repeatedly lied to law enforcement in his interview until the point where he could not deny the truth any longer and chose to instead end the interview. Brett is depicted alone in multiple videos with Leticia’s vehicle and at her home after her disappearance. Brett’s historical cellphone data provides evidence to support his involvement in the criminal activity listed above.

A text message string between the phones of Brett Gitchel and Leticia Martinez-Cosman was recovered during the search warrant of Brett’s phone. The exchanged messages confirm that Brett did not know nor have any relationship with Leticia prior to her meeting him at Costco on 03/19/2023 and going to the Mariners game on 03/31/2023. Leticia arranged to meet Brett near the home plate entrance of T-Mobile Park before the game. There is no history or evidence to support that Brett had ever been inside Leticia’s car, or had ever been invited to her home, before their meeting at the Mariners game on 03/31/2023.

The narrative concludes that investigators still have not found any evidence of the victim being alive after leaving the Mariners’ game that night with Gitchel around 10:30 pm. He is now charged with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree unlawful gun possession, second-degree arson, and first-degree theft, as well as with second-degree burglary in the March 28th West Seattle case. He remains in the King County Jail, bail set at $5,050,000, and his next court date is set for May 15th.

YOU’RE INVITED: Patsy Whitefoot to speak at West Seattle meeting this week

April 24, 2023 12:07 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU’RE INVITED: Patsy Whitefoot to speak at West Seattle meeting this week
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

What do you know about Native American issues “Beyond Land Acknowledgment”? That’s the topic on which Patsy Whitefoot, Yakama Nation elder and board member of the National Indian Education Association, will speak when the West Seattle Democratic Women meet this Thursday online. The 11 am April 27th event is already in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, but the WSDW wants to ensure everyone interested knows about this guest speaker, providing “a rare opportunity to hear about tribal issues from the perspective of a Native woman,” in time to make their registration deadline, which is tomorrow. Email Ann Martin at martinhtam (at) gmail.com if you are interested in attending.

Crosstown baseball and more on the list for your West Seattle Monday afternoon/evening

(Surf Scoters off Alki, photographed by James Tilley)

Here’s the list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BABY STORY TIME: Baby Story Time is back, noon-12:30 pm Mondays at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

MONDAY MOVIE: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), “Terry’s Greatest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of,” today featuring “The Harvey Girls.” Free popcorn! Contact SCWS to register in advance.

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm, online or at City Hall – here’s the agenda.

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Free Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.

FIRE TACOS’ ANNIVERSARY: 4-9 pm, Fire Tacos on Alki (2738 Alki Ave. SW) is celebrating its first anniversary with 99-cent tacos and live mariachi music.

SOCCER: 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle), West Seattle HS hosts Rainier Beach.

SOFTBALL: 4:30 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), Chief Sealth IHS hosts Lincoln.

CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

OPEN MIC: Weekly BedHead Open Mic at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), 6:30 pm – info in our calendar listing.

D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, even first-time players. $5.

BASEBALL: 7 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle): Chief Sealth IHS (12-7) vs. West Seattle HS (17-1).

MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

PLAY TRIVIA! Three options on Monday nights for playing trivia – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 thefts – red CR-V(update: found), pink skating-gear bag, baby clothes/toys

Three reader reports this morning:

STOLEN RED CR-V: From Kerry – “Unfortunately my 1999 red Honda CR-V was stolen again last night between 11:30 pm and 7:50 this morning. The police report incident number: 23-110240. Plate number AOZ7418.” If you see it, you also can text 206-245-8720.” TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Found.

STOLEN PINK BAG WITH SKATING GEAR: From Lily in Morgan Junction:

This morning I found my car (which was parked by my fence) with the passenger window broken and it had clearly been rummaged through.

The only notable thing stolen was a pale pink duffel bag with a pink skating helmet strapped to the outside containing roller derby gear (skates, pads, mouth guard). No idea when it happened, but a neighbor said they’d seen a suspicious truck driving past a few times overnight.

(added 9:54 am) CLOTHING TAKEN: Just received from Madyline in Highland Park:

We have a family member staying with us and her car was robbed last night. She lost a bag of baby clothes and toys, 2 coats (Eddie Bauer- pink, brown & teal color blocked/ old navy black & white) and Steve Madden white platform tennis shoes. If anyone sees any of those things dumped, we would love to get them back to her!

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Monday starts warm-up week

April 24, 2023 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Monday starts warm-up week
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, April 24th, starting a week that might finally bring warm weather.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Cloudy, chance of more rain, high in the upper 50s. (Possibly the 60s by Wednesday, 70s by Friday!) Sunrise 6:04 am, sunset 8:12 pm.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).

Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday night runs.

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – looking southwestward toward it:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!