day : 08/05/2023 12 results

SPORTS: West Seattle High School baseball team secures state spot with tonight’s Metro tournament win

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

(WSB photos)

With their 20th win, the West Seattle High School baseball team also secured a spot in the state tournament. The Wildcats shut out O’Dea tonight, 4-0 at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, and play Lincoln for the Metro League championship on Saturday night. WSHS pitcher Matthew Henning pitched the complete game, allowing only two hits:

Wildcat Bobby Trigg was first to score a run for WSHS, with a second-inning homer.

They’ll be back at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd, White Center) to go for the league title Saturday night, 7 pm.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Sentencing in Westwood Village Target standoff

May 8, 2023 9:49 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle live

(WSB photo, January 2022)

A King County Superior Court judge has sentenced 32-year-old Timothy Clemans to just over six years for trying to take hostages at Westwood Village Target in January of last year, leading to a six-hour standoff. Clemans represented himself at trial in March, and a jury found him guilty of attempted first-degree kidnapping. Court documents from Clemans’s sentencing hearing last Friday say the only person in attendance besides court personnel was the defendant’s mother. But as we noted last month, the court received a statement from a Target employee listed as a victim in this case, saying that she believes “putting … someone mentally ill in prison for 12+ months is absolutely pointless because you wouldn’t be fixing his problems, you’d just be punishing a sick man.” Prosecutors note that Clemans was found mentally competent to stand trial, and said that although alternatives to incarceration were tried in previous cases, he was uncooperative. His prior felony convictions were for harassment and third-degree assault (backstory here). His 73.5-month sentence is the top of the standard range, 61.5 months, plus a 12-month enhancement for using a deadly weapon (a knife he had taken off a shelf in the store). Judge Marshall Ferguson‘s order also includes three years of probation (“community custody”) after Clemans gets out, and a requirement that he “comply with all recommended mental-health treatment.” He gets credit for the time he already has spent behind bars since his arrest, about a year and a third.

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FOLLOWUP: Spokane Street Viaduct repaving may happen sooner than previously expected

May 8, 2023 7:44 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image)

Discussions of the hole that shut down the state-owned ramp from the West Seattle Bridge to Highway 99 (reopening tomorrow) have swerved into concerns about the condition of the city-owned Spokane Street Viaduct. (That’s the formal name for the east half of the West Seattle Bridge, from Highway 99 to I-5.) Those concerns also came up during the 2 1/2-year repair closure of the west half of the West Seattle Bridge. The eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, not part of the repair project, did close for work including pothole repairs multiple times during those 2 1/2 years, and SDOT did deck scanning for a more extensive assessment. Then in July of last year, the city announced it had received a $5 million federal grant to resurface the entire eastbound side of the SSV. At the time of that announcement, SDOT told us that resurfacing would happen in “the next few years.” So we asked last week where that plan stands, and got this answer today from SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson with a somewhat speedier timeline: “We are currently in the design phase of this project, and anticipate starting construction as soon as next year. The construction work will address the frequent overlay issues that we have been encountering on the eastbound lanes of the Spokane St Viaduct.” The eastbound lanes are on the original 1940s-built SSV structure; the westbound side was built a decade-plus ago to widen it

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RAMP REPAIR UPDATE: Reopening by Tuesday morning, WSDOT says

May 8, 2023 2:52 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Wednesday)

2:52 PM: Six days after that hole forced the Washington State Department of Transportation to close its ramp connecting the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to northbound State Highway 99, here’s the latest:

As reported over the weekend, crews poured concrete on Saturday, and now it’s curing. WSDOT spokesperson James Poling explained why the schedule remains the same as announced last week (which would reopen the ramp by this Saturday): “The concrete curing process requires our offsite materials lab breaking test concrete cylinders from the pour at certain time benchmarks (24 hours after pour, 48 hours after pour, etc.). Once a test cylinder reaches a strength to safely reopen traffic, the bridge ramp will reopen. The timetable remains the same at this time as our crews await a test cylinder to pass that strength benchmark.”

Meantime, since there was initially much public confusion over who’s accountable for the ramp, and some commenters said they had filed ramp-pothole reports with the city, we asked the Seattle Department of Transportation if they’d received such reports about the state-owned ramp and what happened to them. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson replied, “When the public reports a pothole which is outside the city limits or not on SDOT’s right-of-way, it will be routed to the correct transportation agency. Over the past few months, we notified WSDOT of several public reports of potholes in this location.” We’ll follow up on that, as WSDOT had said previously they weren’t aware of the hole – at least at the magnitude that forced last Tuesday’s closure.

4:28 PM UPDATE: Just got another update – the ramp concrete “has cured more quickly” than expected, and the ramp will be open by 5 am tomorrow (Tuesday).

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FOLLOWUP: City gives approval to zoning exceptions for Alki Elementary rebuild

May 8, 2023 1:05 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Rendering by Mahlum, from last year’s info packet for proposed zoning ‘departures’)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As reported previously, the planned rebuild of Alki Elementary School includes nine zoning “departures” – exceptions – that require city approval. In a decision made public today, the city Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) has granted approvals of all nine. They are, in brief:

1. To allow greater than allowed building height.
2. To allow less than required vehicular parking.
3. To allow bus load and unload off site
4. To allow a curb cut to a service area without parking
5. To allow larger curb city width
6. To allow larger curb cut flare
7. To allow less than required long-term bicycle parking.
8. To allow less than required weather protected bicycle parking.
9. To allow a changing image electronic sign.

The first two, height and parking, generated the most neighborhood concern, including in an environmental appeal that a district hearing examiner rejected. Regarding height – zoning would limit the building to 35 feet, but Seattle Public Schools‘ plan is for 57 feet – the SDCI decision says:

The increased height accommodates important classroom uses, building parapet and necessary mechanical equipment to service the building. The departure is appropriate in relation to the programmatic requirements of an elementary school and the character and scale of the surrounding area and appropriately located on the site. The over height areas will increase the appearance of bulk at the site but is commensurate with the overall scale of the school.

The Director finds that the height departure will not exacerbate existing traffic, noise, circulation, or significant impacts on housing or open space in the area.

The parking-reduction approval is more complicated:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: WSHS threats investigated

May 8, 2023 11:53 am

| 35 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle High School families were notified this morning that “threats to our school” were under investigation. Thanks to the parents who shared the message sent to families by WSHS principal Brian Vance – here it is in its entirety:

Good morning West Seattle High community –

Yesterday we received several notifications regarding social media posts that included threats to our school.

We have reported these threats to Seattle Police and to the school district’s Safety & Security Department.

The most recent update is that the person who made the threats is receiving care now and we don’t believe the threats are credible.

We are ready to welcome students to school today. Thank you to all of you who reached out and to the students who brought this to the attention of a parent and/or school official.

One parent who forwarded this to us says it wasn’t sent until 7:57 am today, shortly before school started for the day. We have a question out to the district regarding why the delay, if the threats were indeed investigated starting yesterday (the police-call log shows an incident number generated just after 1 pm Sunday).

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Summery forecast for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now 5 days away

May 8, 2023 11:34 am

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| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Warm weather is returning and this weekend is currently expected to have summer-like weather – sunny, 80ish! That includes Saturday, which is this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. On the second Saturday every May since 2005 – except for the pandemic years (2020 and 2021) – West Seattle becomes Western Washington’s garage/yard/etc. sale capital for a day. WSCGSD was launched in 2005; we at WSB have coordinated it since 2008. This year, more than 400 sales are registered for the first time, and you can preview the locations via the map/list, which we published this past Saturday – the online version here (be sure to use the plus/minus zooming to see all the sales in specific areas) and the printable list here. Official sale hours on Saturday (May 13) are 9 am-3 pm, but as you’ll see on the list, some sellers have chosen to add hours/days. Starting tonight, as we do each year, we’ll publish some lists – such as benefit sales, block sales, plant sales, art sales – as the countdown continues. (You can also search the map for keywords in sale descriptions – see those hints at the bottom of the map page.)

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ORCAS: In view from West Seattle again

May 8, 2023 11:09 am

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| West Seattle news | Whales

Another orca visit today – Kersti Muul reports whales are in view “straight out from Alki Point to the north”; they’ve been in the area a few hours and are engaged in a “predation event.”

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WEST SEATTLE MONDAY: 12 notes

May 8, 2023 10:39 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Baby bunny, photographed by Emily Carston at Lincoln Park)

Here’s the list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

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 Seventh Victim.” Free popcorn! Contact SCWS to register in advance.

LOW-LOW TIDE: It’ll be out to -2.8 feet at 1:30 pm.

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm, viewable online – info is in this week’s agenda.

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 PLAYOFFS: West Seattle High School plays O’Dea at 7 pm, Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd), as the Metro League tournament continues – ticket info here.

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

ALKI MEDITATION: Free twice-monthly Dharma Community meditation, 7-8:30 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).

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)

YOGA AND SOUND BATH: 7 pm at Sacred Growing Space (7358 35th SW), $35.

MONDAY MUSIC: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

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

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UPDATE: Man found shot to death in South Delridge (updated Wednesday, victim identified)

May 8, 2023 5:54 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

5:54 AM: Thanks for the tip. Police have taped off part of 15th SW in South Delridge. They’re investigating a deadly shooting reported in the 9200 block, between Cambridge and Barton [vicinity map], just after 3 am. More information soon.

6:09 AM: Police say the victim, a 41-year-old man, was found “lying in the road.” SPD and SFD tried to revive him but couldn’t. No one’s in custody, and there’s no word of a suspect description. They’ve been canvassing the area to see if anyone caught anything on security video. If you have any information, the tip line is 206-233-5000.

(CSI unit’s van at investigation scene)

6:36 AM: Detectives are still at the scene. This comes exactly one month after the last deadly shooting in West Seattle, that of 20-year-old Ka’Don Brown, found dead in the southwest driveway of the Chief Sealth IHS campus on April 8th, a Saturday morning. No arrest reported in that case so far.

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: The Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the victim as 41-year-old Chad Anderson and says he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Monday info, 6th day of closure for ramp to NB 99

May 8, 2023 5:50 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:50 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, May 8th. This is the sixth full day of closure for the ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to northbound Highway 99, after a huge hole shut it down last Tuesday evening:

WSDOT reported Saturday that they’d poured concrete which takes “a few days to cure.” We’ll be asking about a reopening timeline update. Meantime, you can get to NB 99 via the 1st Avenue South Bridge, or by using the eastbound WS Bridge’s 1st Avenue South exit, turning north, and getting onto 99 in SODO.

STREET CLOSURE

15th SW is blocked for a homicide investigation. Separate story on that shortly.

TRANSIT

Metro – Downtown-bound buses that usually take the high bridge to NB 99 are detouring while the ramp is closed. Otherwise, regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening.

Water Taxi – Continuing the spring/summer schedule.

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations on short notice, so check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

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

Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:

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.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Partly sunny, chance of pm showers, high in the low 60s. Sunrise was at 5:42 am; sunset will be at 8:31 pm.

If you see trouble 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!

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UPDATE: Crash on West Marginal Way SW injures 1, takes out tree

May 8, 2023 1:52 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Images from SDOT camera)

1:52 AM: A driver’s headed to the hospital and a tree’s down following a one-vehicle crash on West Marginal Way SW. It happened in the outside southbound lane just north of Highland Park Way SW. The SDOT camera’s video feed shows the driver will be transported by AMR ambulance. Police have told dispatch the tree is blocking the right turn lane, so SDOT is being summoned to clear it.

2:22 AM: The car is being towed: