The Kent Police Department has created a website showcasing photos of 160 recovered stolen items including electronics, wallets, purses, backpacks, stereos, baby clothes and even a wedding dress; some of which may have been originally swiped in the White Center/unincorporated South King County area.
According to police, a man and woman who are suspected of breaking into more than 100 cars have been busted. Now, they want to return the stolen items to their rightful owners.
The suspects were apparently caught when they used stolen credit cards at local businesses. Police then followed their trail and recovered the stolen stuff in a storage locker as well as at local pawn shops.
According to the website:
Suspects Mode of Operation:
Type of crime: Vehicle prowls (car break ins)
Method of entry: Break window or force door lock
Types of vehicles: Different types and styles but they favored FORD F-series trucks
Property targeted: luggage, purses, laptop computers, GPS units, assorted tools, backpacks, cameras, MP3 players, I-Pods, cell phones, CD players, car stereos, jewelry, anything of value.
Estimated time range of criminal activity: Past 3-4 months
Focus area of vehicle prowl activity: Kent, Tukwila, Renton, SeaTac, Burien, South Seattle, Unincorporated areas of South King County. Collateral areas that may have been impacted as well are: Des Moines, Federal Way, Auburn, Bellevue.
If you were the victim of a car break-in between Oct. 1, 2009 and Feb. 4, 2010, your stolen items may be in police custody – check this website now and see if you recognize anything; if you do, contact Officer Bateman at (253) 856-5894 or via email: kbateman@ci.kent.wa.us.
The recovered stolen property includes (click on links below to see individual pics):
Is this your Pirate Stuff? The Kent PD might have it...
- Laptops
- Cell phones
- MP3 players
- Car Stereos
- Unusual, miscellaneous stuff like:
Some items have been claimed and returned, but most are still in evidence and awaiting rightful return to their owners – so check out the website here.
The Highline School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night (Mar. 3rd) to move ahead with a federal grant application that would require major changes at White Center’s Cascade Middle School, as well as SeaTac’s Chinook Middle School.
Cascade Middle School is located at 11212 10th Avenue SW in White Center.
Here are more details from a press release sent to us:
The grant opportunity is part of new federal regulations that identify high-poverty schools with large numbers of struggling students. In order to get the funds, districts must agree to restructure the schools by next fall.
Last week, a team of 45 people, including teachers, central office staff, parents, and community partners, gathered for a two-day summit to begin formulating a restructuring plan. Sarah Weir of the White Center Community Development Association, one of the community partners to participate on the planning team, said she left the summit “feeling really optimistic about the passion and commitment of the people who serve our kids.”
“We recognize the need for school reform. We believe all students are capable of reaching their dreams, and we’re excited about the possibilities these changes will mean for our students,” said Chinook teacher Amber Larson. She emphasized that “school staff, central office leaders, the school board, and parents all hold responsibility and need to work together to make changes.”
Theresa Carlson, Cascade teacher and vice-president of the Highline Education Association, agreed, “We need to start climbing this mountain and taking some risks. We are all in this together.”
The school board endorsed the planning team’s outline and directed the district to submit the federal grant application on Friday. Elements of the plan include:
- Increasing accountability of the school board, central office administrators, and parents, as well as teachers; and giving a senior administrator authority to make bold decisions to support the schools.
- Increasing involvement of parents and community organizations in the schools through two-way communication, bi-lingual staff, parent advisory teams, and other means.
- Developing new ways of evaluating staff and providing meaningful incentives for staff and administrators.
- Rethinking the way school is delivered, such as trying innovative ways of structuring the school day.
- Use strategies that have been successful in other high-poverty, highly diverse schools, such as adjusting schools schedules to provide more learning time.
- Setting ambitious goals for student improvement and expecting all students to become prepared for post-high school education and the workplace.
The planning team also calls for the school district to support the restructuring plans through policy, technical assistance, commitment from the school board, and creation of a plan to sustain the changes beyond the life of the three-year grant.
Superintendent John Welch told the school board the plan “builds on the great work that is already happening at Chinook and Cascade.”
The federal accountability program requires school districts to choose one of four restructuring models:
- Closure: Close the school and send students to other schools in the district. The school board ruled out this option for Chinook and Cascade because other middle schools do not have room to accommodate all students.
- Restart: Open the school under a third party education management organization. This option was also rejected since charter schools are not allowed in Washington and the state has not issued a list of approved third parties.
- Turnaround: replace principal and at least 50% of staff. This option was also eliminated.
- Transformation: Replace the principal, reform the instructional model, develop teacher evaluations with student growth as a factor, increase community engagement, and extend learning time.
The school board decided last week to use the “transformation” model at both schools.
Highline Superintendent Welch acknowledges that the four federal models take a narrow approach to improving student achievement.
“The models imply that sole responsibility for getting middle school students to grade level is with the middle school teachers and principals,” said Welch. “We know there are other issues that need to be addressed—in elementary schools, in our system as a whole, and in the community. Still, this is an opportunity to gain some resources we haven’t had before to tackle issues at the middle school level.”
The school district expects to know by March 26 if the funds will be granted. The money could start flowing to the schools by April. If that happens, teachers would start professional development this summer. There could also be summer programs for incoming 7th graders. The schools would open in September with the changes in place.
REMINDER: The first in a series of public workshops for Sea-Tac Airport’s “Part 150 Noise Study” is scheduled for Wednesday night (Feb. 24th) at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines beginning at 5:15pm.
So if you have something to say about airport noise, this would be the place to air your thoughts and hope that the Port of Seattle hears you.
Doors open at 5pm, with the program beginning at 5:15pm.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Public workshop for Sea-Tac Airport’s “Part 150 Noise Study” program
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 24th beginning at 5:15pm.
WHERE: Mt. Rainier High School, located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines.
INFO: From a press release:
Are you bothered by airport noise?
Do you have specific questions you’d like answered related to airport noise?
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, please consider attending the Part 150 workshop at Mount Rainier High School (22450 19th Avenue South Des Moines, WA) on Wednesday Feb 24 from 5 to 7 pm.
“Part 150″ is an FAA regulation that provides for airport operators, such as the Port of Seattle which owns and operates Seatac airport, to study ways of reducing airport noise. Part 150 studies are a two year process, with five or six workshops . The Feb 24 meeting is the kickoff for a new Part 150 study, the last Part 150 study wrapped up in 2001.
The “hope” of a Part 150 study is that the airport operator will then actually implement some of these ways of reducing noise. So how do we turn hope into reality? The answer is: citizen involvement and action.
At the first workshop on Feb 24, the Port and its consultant, Landrum and Brown, are committed to listening to citizen requests for what they would like to have included in the study.
So:
1. Please attend the workshop, and bring a neighbor too. (but if you can’t make this time, which is definitely inconvenient for many people, there’s an alternative below).
2. Please bring your questions in written form.
- We anticipate the workshop will include small group breakouts of 15 to 25 minutes. The “facilitators” are not likely to have time for all questions.
So, it is really important to bring written questions. With your written questions:
- Please include your name and mailing address
- Please ask for a written response within 30 days
- Please feel free to send a copy via email or mail to RCAA, the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs.
RCAA is funded by local governments as a resource for airport – related issues. RCAA is tracking the questions citizens are asking as a part of a project monitoring the Part 150 process. There have been times when questions asked of the Port did not get a satisfactory answer. If you put your questions in writing, cc them to RCAA, and send the responses to RCAA as well, there is a much higher chance no one’s questions will fall through the cracks.
RCAA can be reached by email at rcaanews@earthlink.net or by mail at:
19900 4th Ave SW
Normandy Park, WA 98166=======
For more information about Part 150 and the workshops:
–The RCAA blog will have periodic updates. The web address is:
http://latestnewsonairportaffairs.blogspot.com/
It is linked to from the main RCAA web site, at www.rcaanews.org
Note RCAA will be posting some topic areas on the blog you may want to consider for your questions.
The Port of Seattle has a Part 150 web page. The address is:
http://www.airportsites.net/SEA-Part150/
Also remember the Port has a noise incident report form online, available here:
Read our previous coverage of this issue here.
If you read The White Center Blog regularly, you’re probably aware that, aside from providing a much-needed and timely service to the White Center area, we’re growing very quickly in both traffic, content and Advertisers (more info on us here).
And growth can be good, except of course when it starts to overwhelm a very small staff.
Hence, this posting – we’re looking for at least two capable folks to come join our Burien-based team:
- JOURNALIST/EDITOR with Wordpress knowledge (or you’re at least not afraid to learn it). Yes, we need another Editor to collect content, format it, copy edit, add graphics (and do appropriate FTPing if necessary), then push the “Publish” button to update some of our up-and-coming blogs (we currently have 6 total, with more coming soon…).
- SALES REP who can call on local businesses to let them know about us. We have nice Rate Cards, fast-growing traffic, solid, original Reporting and Photography, and we’re finding that selling Ads is easy – we just need more feet on the ground!
Here’s some more info:
- We prefer to find local folks who live in the area (and yes, you can work from home!).
- We like people who are involved in their communities (we’re active in ours).
- We like to find people who either read the blog already, or know of us.
- You can work part or full-time (some folks working here now have other gigs).
- You can set your own hours.
- This is a “ground-floor opportunity” and you will be part of a small, growing team.
- These are Contractor (1099) positions, meaning that you’ll be paid on an either per-job/hourly basis or pure Commission. And believe it or not, we also accept Volunteers! There are no benefits other than working with a fun, local, talented team who like to make a difference in their community.
- Your work will be seen not just here on The White Center Blog, but our five other area sister sites as well, including:
Requirements:
- Please have a computer and internet access (we’ll give you an email account).
- Please have a reliable car & valid driver’s license.
- Please have the ability to manage your clients throughout their entire Ad run on the sites (this includes staying in contact with them, renewing them when their contracts expire, etc.).
- You will work as an Independent Contractor, meaning you’ll be responsible for your own taxes, insurance, etc. and there are no additional benefits).
- You dig the internet and are excited about its future possibilities, including new technologies like the upcoming iPad.
- You like Local News, Events, Arts, Entertainment and more, as well as helping out your community(we hold our own Fundraiser Blog Parties about once per quarter, and over our 2+ year lifespan have raised over $13,000 for local charities).
To apply for one of these positions, please email us your resume, links to your online stuff (ie: Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs, etc.), and your interests and availability!
| Mar |
| 11 |
| 6:00 pm |
Together with the King County Sheriff’s Office, Burien and SeaTac Police are continuing their twice-yearly “Citizen’s Police Academy” program with an orientation on Thursday, March 11th, and classes on Wednesday nights from 6pm-9pm.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Citizen’s Police Academy Training
WHEN: Starts Thursday, March 11th and continues through April 24th. Classes are held on Wednesday nights from 6pm to 9pm at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.
Classes will run for 13 weeks, plus a graduation ceremony including a certificate of completion and pictures with police staff. A light meal will be provided for students. There are presentations by many of the Sheriff’s Office Units and several opportunities for hands-on experiences, plus a field trip to the King County Communications Center.
The training sessions are held twice a year in the spring and fall. The sessions require approximately 20 hours to complete. There is a minimal fee for tools supplied to students, enabling them to build their own emergency response kit.
WHERE: Initial meeting is at the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Station, which is located at 15100 8th Ave SW in Burien; subsequent classes will be at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien.
COST: FREE!
INFO: From a press release:
Graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy will have a better understanding of the law enforcement role in the criminal justice system and an appreciation for the many challenges facing law enforcement in today’s complex society. They will also be better able to assist offices in improving their neighborhoods and communities.
The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations or workplaces in basic preparation and response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.
SeaTac and Burien Fire and Police Departments partner in offering this eight-week training held on weekday evenings, with a Practical Fianl Exercise held on a Saturday. Sessions require approximately 20 ours to complete. There is a minimal fee for tools supplied to students, enabling them to build their own emergency response kit.
Training is designed to cover the following:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Fire Safety
- Disaster Medical Operations (Triage, Treating Life Threatening Injuries, and Assessment, Treatment and Hygiene.)
- Light Search and Rescue
- Team Organization
- Disaster Psychology
- Terrorism
Graduates will also be eligible for the Ride-Along program, in which you can spend up to an entire shift riding with an officer.
This course is an unforgettable experience and it’s completely free for anyone who lives or works in the cities of SeaTac or Burien!
There are two sessions each year and they fill up fast, so register early with your local Community Service Officer.
If you are interested in attending the next session and would like an application sent to you by mail, please contact CSO Mechee Burnett at mechee.burnett@kingcounty.gov or 206.973.4917 (you can also download a PDF application here).
- SEATAC: If you are from the SeaTac area, please contact: CSO Eloise Kruger: 206-973-4915 or ekruger@ci.seatac.wa.us
- BURIEN: If you are from the Burien area, please contact: CSO Nicki Maraulja: 206-296-3333 or nicki.maraulja@kingcounty.gov
| Feb |
| 21 |
| 2:00 pm |
The Highline Historical Society will be presenting “Soldiers in Petticoats: The Struggle of the Suffragettes” at the SeaTac City Hall on Sunday, Feb. 21st, beginning at 2pm (and as many of our Readers, know, White Center is considered part of “Highline,” hence this post).
Local actress Tames Alan will return, dressed in full period costume and acting in character, to talk about the struggle of American women to gain the right to vote.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Highline Historical Society’s “Soldiers In Petticoats: The Struggle of the Suffragettes”
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 21st beginning at 2pm
WHERE: Sea-Tac City Hall, located at 4800 S 188th Street.
COST: This is a FREE event.
INFO: From a press release:
In the authentic clothing of a suffragette, Actress Tames Alan returns to talk about the struggle of American women to gain the right to vote. In 1867, the passing of the 14th Amendment defined “citizen” as “male,” thus denying women the right to vote. On this 100th Anniversary of women’s right to vote in Washington State, learn how American women adopted the militant tactics of English suffragettes to earn the right to vote and regain citizenship in their own country. Discover how the suffragettes influenced child labor laws, the use and dispersal of birth control, the Temperance movement, and the right of women to earn a college degree.
This engaging program is free.
It is brought to the community by the Highline Historical Society with the support of Humanities WA.
Immediately followed by a reception for the elected women of Highline.
Tames Alan is an actress, historian, and fashion history teacher who has combined her skills to create Living History Lectures for people of all ages. Since 1986, she has been touring her programs throughout the United States and Canada, where she is known for in-depth research and a lively presentational style. Tames studied theater and history at Willamette University in Oregon and theater at the American Conservatory Theater and the Dell Arte School in California. She taught fashion history at the Art Institute of Seattle, and is a historical consultant to museums, libraries, and historical festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest.
For more information, visit the Highline Historical Society’s website here.
| Feb |
| 24 |
| 5:00 pm |
A public workshop for Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 Noise Study is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24th, from 5pm – 7pm at Mount Rainier High School, which is located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines.
The Part 150 Study looks at ways to reduce aircraft noise impacts on communities. Throughout the study, the public is invited to participate in the solution and recommendation process through active engagement in a series of topical workshops.
For more information, visit the dedicated Part 150 Study website here that has been established as the single location for all documentation connected to the study.
Up to six additional public workshops will be held throughout the Part 150 Study process. This first meeting will introduce and orient the participants to the Part 150 process as well as further “scope” the study itself. In order to do that, the consultants will facilitate small group discussions with the participants to talk about their concerns and what they are hoping to see included in the study. Records of these sessions and the input received will be kept and factored into the study. The Port will soon launch an advertising campaign publicizing the meeting and they will make sure the members of the Forum get additional information.
Public workshops are not the only vehicle that will be used to engage the public. The Port wants to make sure community leaders, such as the members of the Highline Forum, and the general public has ample opportunity to review the status of the project and offer their thoughts and recommendations. The Port will be providing just that at the regular Highline Forum meetings. In addition, the Part 150 Study team will be available to attend a City Council meeting or meet with the representatives of a specific neighborhood or organization.
There will be a public hearing and comment period at the end of the process. More information will be provided at that time when there is a fully developed set of recommended actions.
More info available at these links:
According to the Port’s Part 150 website:
The Part 150 Study process is designed to identify noise incompatibilities surrounding an airport, and to recommend measures to both correct existing incompatibilities and to prevent future incompatibilities. For Part 150 Study purposes, noise incompatibilities are defined as residences or public use noise-sensitive facilities (libraries, churches, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals) within the 65 Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) noise contour.
The purpose for conducting a Part 150 Study is to develop a balanced and cost-effective plan for reducing current noise impacts from the airport’s operations, where practical, and to limit additional impacts in the future.
Among the general goals and objectives addressed by a Part 150 Study are the following:
- To reduce, where feasible, existing and forecasted noise levels over existing noise-sensitive land uses;
- To reduce new noise-sensitive developments near the airport;
- To mitigate, where feasible, adverse impacts in accordance with Federal guidelines;
- To provide mitigation measures that are sensitive to the needs of the community and its stability; and
- To be consistent, where feasible, with local land use planning and development policies.
Specific goals for this Part 150 Study include the following:
- To address noise issues related to the third runway;
- To conduct the process in an open and engaging way; and
- To look for opportunities that have not been thought of versus re-visiting old issues.
This study will identify existing and future flight corridors, develop aircraft noise exposure maps for current and future conditions, evaluate air traffic control procedures that could be implemented to reduce noise exposure over residential areas, consider land use controls that could be established to reduce future incompatible land uses from being developed within high noise areas, and evaluate means to mitigate noise impacts within high noise exposure areas.
It is anticipated that the Part 150 Study will be completed in late 2011. After completion, it will be submitted to the FAA. The review period by the FAA is typically 6-9 months.
Today marks a big day in the lifespan (so far) of The White Center Blog, as we’re proud to introduce our newest section and Advertiser: Real Estate Powered by Prudential Northwest!
This means that you can now access all local real estate listings by clicking on “Real Estate” in the upper navigation menu section between Advertise and Jobs. We’re happy to be working with the local Prudential Northwest office; the entire company consists of six offices throughout the Greater Seattle area.
Techie-types at both PNW and WCB have been working ’round the clock to develop the innovative new “Zero Click House Finding Engine” for real estate listings in the White Center and South Seattle areas. Users will be able to quickly and easily see all of the area’s latest home listings, view by neighborhoods, see open house maps and more just by clicking on “Real Estate” in our top navigation menu. The real estate section is also available on our sister sites The B-Town Blog (Burien), and The Waterland Blog, and soon The Normandy Park Blog.
Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne (sitting, right) explains the 'Zero Click House Finder' technology to the PNW staff.
“To search on a real estate site we wanted to make it easy to use so that every level of user can find what they are looking for,” said PNW Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne. “Just by clicking on ‘Real Estate,’ you’ll instantly have every listing in all of White Center, South Seattle, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines without having to do anything, hence the ‘Zero Click’ technology moniker.”
Want some real proof? Just click on one of the five areas below and see for yourself:
If you click on any of those five areas, on that page is every single listing for that area – and not just Prudential Northwest Realty listings – that is inputted into the Northwest Multiple Listing Services website! Within those five major pages you’ll also find several communities and if you click on a community again just the listings in those communities will be shown without you having to input any search criteria (of course PNW’s standard and advanced searches are still available for the techie searchers, so you can tailor our search site to any criteria that you personally want), but for those of us that need a little help when surfing the web, “This is the simplest sight I have ever seen!”
Hawthorne adds: “Tying into these fast-growing community websites will not only help us showcase the latest listings for these areas, it will also help us serve our communities better. We all love the Southwest King County area and we hope we can help others find out what a hidden gem it is.”
PNW Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense
PNW has been a community player since they first set foot in the area seven years ago. With 56 active Realtors, they outgrew their first location and they’re now located just down the road at 127 SW 156th Street in Burien. Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense has been managing PNW since they moved here; she’s been with them since 1994.
“It is PNW’s mission to help build a better tomorrow by partnering with our communities today,” Lori said.
She talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to PNW’s mission of giving back to the community.
Owned by long-time and well known real estate professional Mike Gain, Prudential Northwest Realty Associates has established itself as an industry leader by upholding the principles of the agent-customer relationship. Their combination of real estate expertise and responsive, flexible customer relations has allowed them to continue to grow and become one of the most influential real estate companies within the greater Puget Sound region. Constantly looking for ways to improve their company, PNW remains committed to the very highest standards of professionalism and service. More info is available at http://www.pnwrealty.com.
Prudential Northwest realty has a total of 450 real estate agents in their neighborhood offices, which, in addition to the White Center area includes Federal Way, Kent, West Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland.
“We’re very excited to have Prudential Northwest Realty as our newest Advertiser,” said Scott Schaefer, White Center Blog Founder/Publisher. “This brand new sponsored section will help inform our local blog Readers for the latest local news, events, arts, entertainment and now – up-to-the-minute local real estate listings.”
Be sure to stay tuned for another new related feature – “Open House Friday,” where we’ll present the weekend’s best Open Houses throughout our coverage area, among other real estate related features.
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
Courtesy White Center Blog Contributor Duane Hobbs (of Andrews/Hobbs Design Company) comes this weekend’s handy-dandy interactive map of area garage and yard sales, from Des Moines to White Center up on through West Seattle, from Friday Sept. 4th through Sunday, Sept. 6th (since Monday is a holiday some may be going on then as well).
To utilize the map, simply click on any of the yellow push-pin styled icons, and a listing of that specific sale will pop up (HINT: if you feel like you’re “stuck” on one listing, just click on another icon):
View Area Sales (9/4-6) in a larger map
Courtesy Reader Duane Hobbs (of Andrews/Hobbs Design Company, 206-248-8410) comes this weekend’s interactive map of area garage and yard sales, as culled from Craigslist and other online listings.
To utilize the map, simply click on any of the yellow push-pin styled icons, and a listing of that specific sale will pop up (HINT: if you feel like you’re “stuck” on one listing, just click on another icon):
View Burien Area Sales (8/22-23) in a larger map
| Aug ’09 |
| 19 |
| 7:00 pm |
Residents of the Highline area are invited to a community meeting about airport noise on Wednesday, Aug. 19th from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Des Moines City Hall. The meeting will be hosted by local legislators, including Senator Karen Keiser, and State Representatives Dave Upthegrove and Tina Orwall, along with Des Moines City Councilwoman Susan White.
Although the state Legislature does not oversee and has no jurisdiction over Sea-Tac Airport flight operations, the district’s elected officials are hosting this discussion to help inform residents of the decision-making process and provide an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns on issues from flight times to eligibility for noise mitigation projects.
Rep. Dave Upthegrove
Joining the legislators will be the Noise Programs Manager at Sea-Tac Airport, who will be on hand to present information and answer questions. The Noise Programs Office works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, the airlines, and local communities to monitor existing noise programs and develop new ways of reducing airport and aircraft noise.
“As someone born and raised in the Highline area, I’ve experienced airplane noise first-hand,” said State Representative Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines), the meeting’s organizer. “Since operations have begun on the third runway, I have heard from many neighbors and Highline residents with questions and concerns about noise. This meeting will not only be an opportunity to learn more about flight operations and noise mitigation programs, but also get questions answered and share concerns.”
WHAT: Community meeting on airplane noise with state and local officials
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 19th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Des Moines City Hall Council Chambers, located at 21630 11th Avenue South, Suite B
According to The Seattle Times, two counts of third-degree assault were filed Monday (July 6th) against a 16-year-old Burien girl who allegedly sicced a pit bull on two women in SeaTac.
The female suspect remains at large. Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department said a warrant has been issued for her arrest, and that she is being sought by deputies. She is slated to be arraigned on July 14th.
In addition to the Burien girl, the Times also reports that three White Center boys, ages 11, 12 and 13, who were with the girl during the attacks will not face charges because the girl is believed to be responsible.
The suspect, who is not being named because she is underage and is being charged in King County Juvenile Court, had trained “Snaps,” the pit bull (pictured above), to attack, according to charging papers.
Court documents (view/download PDF here) allege that the female and a group of boys were found abusing the animal on June 21st before the two women were attacked by the dog.
A 63-year-old woman says she saw four youths kicking the dog and pulled her car over to see if they were okay. The girl cursed at the woman and told her to butt out.
When the woman threatened to call 9-1-1, the female suspect leaned into the car, grabbed the woman’s hair and took her cellphone. The girl then beat the woman with her own phone, court papers said.
All this was witnessed by a 41 year-old Seattle woman, who followed the group to nearby North SeaTac Park. When the 15 year-old figured out they were followed, she walked up to the woman and head-butted her, then threw punches to her head and body.
Next the dog joined the fray and became increasing violent as the rest of the group egged the dog on. The woman suffered serious bite injuries, including wounds to her head and face, as well as serious gashes and puncture wounds to both arms. Her left forearm was flayed open and the bone could be seen.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found the four nearby, still with the dog. All were taken into custody without incident.
To read the full story, click here. To read the court documents, click here for a PDF file (warning: contains mature language).
Over 150 area residents turned out Sunday to hear lawyers discuss an upcoming class action lawsuit against the Port of Seattle over the third runway.
by Jack Mayne
Big 757s taking off and landing right over your house can jar nerves and rattle lifestyles, yet a lot of people have to live that way every day – and many are ready to fight on in court.
“I can’t sleep at night,” said one person at a meeting Sunday afternoon at the SeaTac Community Center. “It got better for a while, but then they opened the new runway and now I can’t hear people in the room,” said another person, “or what is on TV.” Still another said people had moved from his rental properties and others said the value of their property, already hammered by the faltering economy, have gone lower because of the November opening of the runway. Still another resident of the area told of flashing laser lights that “even after you get used to them, they startle you.”
A spokesman said the Port would like to know more about this because there have been illegal usages of lasers focused at planes recently and it is working with police to find and stop this activity. Anger and resentment is building in the area because people think the Port of Seattle is not keeping their promise not to use the new 8,500-foot runway except in bad weather or as a backup to the other two runways. The Sunday meeting was held so the downtown Seattle law firm of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Kosnoff could explain the class action lawsuit they are drafting that seeks to make the port stop using the runway for daily takeoffs and landings (see sidebar).
“The Port says they are operating within the law, but that is not true if it (negatively) impacts you,” said law firm partner Darrell Cochran to an estimated 150 to 200 people at the Sea-Tac Community Center Sunday afternoon. “We will be filing a lawsuit – June 15th is the estimate (when the suit will be filed).”
Area residents, some who have fought the Port and the runway for two decades or more, have complained of a variety of impacts, but what most infuriates people is that the third runway now is a main runway.
“What we hear is that the port has not told the truth on the third runway’s use as a backup,” said Cochran. “Every landing since it has opened has landed on it. We have seen documents that it will be in fulltime use – that the Port will continue to use it as a fulltime runway, even though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was told it would be a backup runway.”
A Port of Seattle spokesman said there has been a temporary six-month closure of the airport’s longest and oldest runway because it needs to be rebuilt. The third and newest runway is now being used only in the interim fulltime. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said Monday the project is costing $52 million in federal funds. The work is being carried out during the spring and summer months so that it is completed as quickly as possible.
A brand new control light system is being installed on the first (eastern most) runway because all planes using the other two runways need to cross it.
“It’s going to be noisier for a six-month period,” said Cooper. 
Statistics by the Port on their Sea-Tac website show that prior to April 13, the number of landings and takeoffs on the new runway were close to the number of uses the Port had estimated in its Environmental Impact Statement.
“You’ll see that the runway use is virtually equal to the Environmental Impact Statement projection,” Cooper said, adding that the traffic on the third runway is up during the winter months when more separation between active runways is required.
“In the summer, those days drop off dramatically and would expect to lower the yearly average as compared to the winter numbers.” Cooper said.
When asked by nearby residents on Sunday if the suit should be against the FAA instead of the Port, lawyer Cochran said the Federal Aviation Administration “has immunity” because the decision to build the third runway where it is was a decision by the Port and not the government agency.
The Federal Aviation Administration controls the runways planes use for landing and takeoffs.
“The Port does not operate the runways,” Cooper said. “We built it and maintain it, but the actual operation of the runway, takeoffs and landings, etc. is controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration.”
He says the Port “has been a proponent of the area community as soon as complaints were made and we went to the FAA and worked with them to make sure the operation of the runway has been consistent with the projections from the Environmental Impact Statement. That step also brought us to create the website with the usage statistics.
Members of the Federal Aviation Administration came to a recent Highline meeting to hear the community’s concerns, Cooper said.
The lawsuit lawyer, Cochran, said Sunday that people who felt they had personal injury cases against the Port should be gathering evidence to support their claim. For example, Cochran said people should take photos of soot on cars and surfaces from planes taking off or landing on the runway. They should document evidence of increase illnesses or other negative effects.
People should do this even if they have not yet decided on making a claim or filing a suit.
So, what do YOU think of this class action lawsuit against the Port of Seattle? Please answer our poll:
Loading ...PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Third Runway Litigation Meeting Is This Sunday
- Port Of Seattle Hears From Angry Residents
- Angry Residents Accuse Port of Seattle Of Lying
- Highline Forum 3rd Runway Meeting Is Jan. 8th
- Upset About 3rd Runway Noise? Meet Jan. 10th
- Third Runway Noise Discussion Is Dec. 19th
- Third Runway Noise Problem Not Fading Away
- Has 3rd Runway Increased Noise In White Center?
Jack Mayne is a freelance writer and editor and may be reached at jgmayne@gmail.com
| Apr ’09 |
| 19 |
| 2:30 pm |
Residents in the path of Sea-Tac Airport’s third runway, negatively affected by increased noise and toxic fumes, are meeting with attorneys on Sunday, April 19th to prepare a lawsuit against the Port of Seattle.
The meeting will be held at 2:30pm, Sunday at the SeaTac Community Center, located at 13735 24th Ave. South in SeaTac. Area homeowners are invited. Trial attorneys Michael Pfau and Darrell Cochran, known for a string of successful, high-profile verdicts and settlements, are partnering with Seattle personal-injury attorney Will Dixon.
Sunday’s meeting is a discussion of homeowners’ rights, and potential remedies available under the law. Concerned residents living near the third runway’s flight path first contacted and met with attorneys on Jan. 10th.
Sea-Tac Airport’s third runway went into use Nov. 20th, 2008. Originally, Port of Seattle officials stated in planning documents, such as the environmental impact statement, that the new $1 billion runway was needed to reduce delays during poor weather. But in recent public statements, port officials have said the third runway was always intended to be used at high-traffic times and 365 days a year.
Local homeowners believe the situation will only worsen as departing planes – not just incoming flights – use the new runway. Also, the port plans to shift more traffic to the third runway as it rebuilds the eastern runway.
There are at least two potential lawsuits that are likely to be filed by homeowners. The first, a class-action lawsuit, would focus on the legal principle of inverse condemnation. Basically, plaintiffs believe the fair-market value of their property has been diminished by government “takings” or damages – in this case, by the dramatic increase of planes flying the area for third runway take-offs and landings. Plaintiffs would seek to recover just compensation for damages based on measurably diminished property values.
The second case would be a nuisance or damages lawsuit representing individuals seeking compensation for personal injuries. Local homeowners say throughout the day, big commercial jets are flying over their homes, coating their lawns with jet fuel particles and leaving a wake of toxic fumes.
Michael Pfau and Darrell Cochran are partners at the law firm of Pfau, Cochran, Vertetis, Kosnoff. Pfau and Cochran have years experience in personal injury and class-action lawsuits. In February, Pfau and Cochran secured a $14.2 million settlement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and a New York-based Catholic order on behalf of two dozen men, who were sexually abused at a Kent orphanage, the Briscoe Memorial School, during the 1950s and 1960s. In 2007, Cochran secured a $13.5 million settlement on behalf of thousands of Washington state students affected by the abrupt closing of the now-defunct Business Computer Training Institute (BCTI).
Earlier this year, Cochran and Pfau left their longtime law office of Gordon Thomas Honeywell to open their own firm, with offices in Seattle and Tacoma.
Will Dixon is a seasoned lawyer with more than a decade of legal experience representing clients in numerous multi-million dollar cases in Washington state and federal courts. Dixon focuses on personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial litigation. Dixon also worked in Gordon Thomas Honeywell’s trial group with Pfau and Cochran before opening his open firm. (Dixon Law Firm, http://www.dixon-law.com)
The meeting will be held in the Banquet Room of the SeaTac Community Center, which is located at 13735 24th Ave South:
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The King County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that they have arrested the fourth and final suspect in last week’s brazen shooting in SeaTac, with all alleged shooters now in custody.
The 21 year-old Kent man showed up at the jail Saturday night (April 11th) accompanied by his lawyer.
The shooting that precipitated these arrests occurred about 4pm on Tuesday, April 7th when a 2000 Cadillac was ambushed as it waited at a red light at South 188th and International Blvd. At least 20 rounds were fired into the car from an AK-47-type rifle as the gunman stood near the sidewalk. The driver was critically injured and the front seat passenger sustained serious injuries from several gunshot wounds.
The driver remains at Harborview, clinging to life.
The first to be arrested was the getaway driver, age 20 from Seattle. He was hit by a pistol round-to-the-groin as the car left the scene. Detectives believe he was shot accidently by one of the other persons in the car. He was released from Harborview and booked into jail on April 9th.
Another suspect was arrested in Burien on April 10th. He is a 21 year-old SeaTac man.
A 21 year-old Seattle man was arrested in central Idaho, also on April 10th. He is awaiting extradition.
Charges for all four are expected next week. In the meantime, bail was set at $2,000,000 each for Attempted Murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
The King County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday that they have arrested three of the four persons they believe are responsible for a brazen, rush-hour shooting in SeaTac on Tuesday April 7th.
One suspect, age 21, was arrested Friday morning nearby in Burien by detectives.
Two people were wounded in the shooting, one critically.
The driver of the getaway car, age 20, was arrested that day after he was dropped off at Riverton Hospital shortly after the incident. He had sustained a “very serious” gunshot wound to his groin area inflicted when one of his cohorts accidentally fired off a pistol he was holding.
The third suspect, 21, was detained in Idaho just before noon by local authorities. Sheriff’s detectives are currently in route to interview him.
Detectives are still investigating the case in hopes of positively identifying and locating the 4th suspect.
The shooting that precipitated these arrests occurred about 4pm on Tuesday, April 7th when a 2000 Cadillac was ambushed as it waited at a red light at South 188th and International Blvd in SeaTac. Numerous rounds were fired into the car from an AK-47-type rifle as the gunman stood near the sidewalk. The driver was critically injured and the front seat passenger sustained serious injuries from several gunshot wounds. Both remain at Harborview.
Three people were seen on this security video getting into the Taurus, driven by a fourth man, immediately after the shooting:
Charges for those arrested are expected next week.
