July 2006

On the first Independence Day weekend of a total fireworks ban in SeaTac, fireworks were blamed for a massive blaze at the old Boulevard Park Elementary School.

The first firefighters pulled up to the school, located at 12833 20th Ave. S., at 8:15 p.m., Sunday, July 2, and the last truck did not leave until 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, according to SeaTac Fire Chief Bob Meyer.

One hundred forty-five firefighters from 18 agencies in King and Pierce counties battled the fire.

Arguing that construction of a third runway would severely impact residents, Highline cities and community groups waged a lengthy, costly legal battle against the Port of Seattle.

But according to the key findings of a recently released telephone survey, "Third runway construction and its impacts are not top of mind for residents of the area."

The survey concludes that only 37 per cent of residents are even aware of the runway activity at Sea-Tac International Airport. The Port operates the airport.

Evans/McDonough Company Inc.

What appears to be lingering confusion surrounding recent events at Water District 49, which serves much of Burien including the downtown area, is expected to be cleared up at the next board of commissioners' meeting.

But only two Water District 49 commissioners will meet Wednesday, July 12, at 5 p.m. in the district office at 4__ S.W. 153rd St.

Jim Henry, the third commissioner, resigned effective July 1 in the wake of their last meeting on June 14.

Representatives of water and sewer districts serving Burien briefed city council members on June 26 about potential impacts that annexation of North Highline by either Burien or Seattle could have on their customers.

If Seattle annexes all of North Highline, customers served by Water District 20, Southwest Suburban Sewer District and ValVue Sewer District could experience negative impacts, lawmakers were told.

According to Dick Swab, general manager of Water District 20, if Seattle annexes the unincorporated area Seattle Public Utilities would assume the Water District 20

Coluccio Construction of Seattle, the general contractor for the First Avenue South Improvement Project in Burien, has begun preliminary work on the project.

Currently, this includes saw cutting the existing road surface and surveying at intersections. Heavy construction activity is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project will take place Tuesday, July 25, at 2 p.m., at Herr Backyard Garden Center at the corner of Southwest 160th Street and First Avenue South.

Take a walk on the wild side when fire dancers, acrobats and entertainers of every stripe transform Olde Burien into a one-of-a-kind summer block party on Saturday, July 15.

From noon to midnight, the Southwest 152nd Street Block Party also features children's diversions galore, competitions to scarf the most sausage or ice cream, spectacular store specials and a $500 shopping spree.

The second annual block party is a thank you from Olde Burien merchants to their customers and the community for their support.

When Southwest 152nd Street in Olde Burien clos

Some of the spending reductions under consideration to balance the Highline School District's 2006-2007 budget include eliminating school resource officers, closing the teen parent program and reducing the school building budget.

The district could also dip into other funding sources, such as bond revenue, to pay for programs that otherwise would be removed from its general fund.

Paring down the teen parent program prompted the most emotional audience reaction during the ,June 28 board meeting.

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, encouraged fellow Republicans attending a party fundraiser in Normandy Park on July 2 "to get a vision for America.

"That vision is freedom," declared Reichert, the former King County sheriff who now represents Washington's Eighth Congressional District.

Reichert spoke at the second annual Take Back King County event, sponsored by 33rd District Republicans at The Cove, which was attended by almost 200 party members.

"We've got to get pumped by being Americans," he continued.

The car of accused murderer Velma Ogden-Whitehead was stolen on July 2 sometime before 2:15 a.m.

Ogden-Whitehead is currently in the King County Jail facing first-degree murder charges for the death of her husband, Ron Whitehead.

Her 18-year-old son and his 17-year-old friend are also charged with first-degree murder in connection with the March 2005 shooting of Whitehead.

Ogden-Whitehead's daughter, who has power of attorney while her mother is in jail, went to her mother's house in the 20900 block of 6th Ave. S. in Des Moines at 2:15 a.m.

Jack Thompson (center), a graduate of Evergreen High School and Washington State University who went on to play quarterback in the National Football League, poses with students and fellow coaches at his recent camp in White Center.