November 2008

The Colman Pool caretaker awoke to the sound of breaking glass on Saturday night and found a man climbing into the facility through a broken window. When confronted, the man fled on foot through Lincoln Park. Officers found a truck in a parking lot, which they opened using keys that the suspect had dropped at the pool. Nearby they found a picnic table covered with pornographic magazines. A bit later, a woman called 911 from a residence on SW Cloverdale to report a break-in, with the suspect still inside the home. The suspect, a Level-3 sex offender, was arrested a few blocks away.

After a great season, which ended in a disappointing loss in a shoot out against Bishop Blanchet, 12 seniors from the West Seattle girls soccer team will be graduating, many of which will never play soccer again.

"Season-wise we ended up as one of the most improved teams in the league," said Kevin Fieser, West Seattle first-year varsity coach. "We went nine in two and one and ended up doing really well."

The graduating seniors said they were expected to not be as successful this season after losing several seniors the year before.

All King County employees, with the exception of essential safety and transit staff, will take 10 days unpaid furlough in 2009 under the terms of an historic agreement reached with the King County Union Coalition to help with the unprecedented $93.4 million 2009 budget deficit.

County Executive Ron Sims thanked the coalition for their desire to be part of a budget solution and their recommendation to the rank and file of 15 unions to approve the plan that will save $10.1 million next year.

"This tentative agreement is an act of compassion and strong leadership on the part

Buddy is a Labrador Retriever with a great attitude and a joy for life. Born on Vashon Island 10 years ago he's been a West Seattlite since he arrived here at 10 weeks of age. He could have been a mighty hunter's dog, or worked in the field but instead he became a city family dog. He rode the metro, guarded the house from the mailman, went on vacation, and played with Barbie dolls. Life was good for "Bud". He even had a girlfriend. He was family for his owners Janice and Chris Butler and their daughter Alex.

In a public health emergency, every helping hand can make a difference in reducing illness and saving lives. To kick off National Preparedness Month, the Public Health Reserve Corps (PHRC) in King County is launching a new campaign to recruit volunteers who can serve in a public health emergency.

"Whether you're a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or anyone who wants to help others in times of crisis, signing up for the Public Health Reserve Corps is an important way to serve," said Dr. David Fleming, director and health officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County.

The King County Sheriff's office budget will be cut by over 11 percent next year and that could mean 79 employees will have to leave the department said Sheriff Sue Rahr, who is urging people to complain to county government right now.

Rahr spoke to alarmed North Highline residents recently at a town hall meeting called "Public Safety in Peril" at the Steve Cox Memorial Park log cabin in White Center.

Burien and SeaTac contract with the Sheriff's office for police services, but according to Sheriff's office spokesman John Urquhart, the cuts won't impact the two cities.

Ever since King County announced it was no longer going to fund Mt. Rainier Pool in 2003, the pool has faced an uncertain future.

Des Moines, Normandy Park SeaTac and the Highline School District came together then, forming the Mt. Rainier Pool Coalition as a temporary solution to keep it open.

The cities' contracts to continue funding the pool end in 2009.

PURDY--Brother, was this ever a fun game to watch!

And what set the tone for the Federal Way Eagles to excitedly beat the state’s No. 8-ranked 4A football team, Gig Harbor, via a great game plan from head coach and offensive coordinator John Meagher in a West Central District playoff at Roy Anderson Field Friday.

State is next for the Eagles! They will be playing No. 1 ranked Skyline likely.

It was an odd score for a football game, with Decatur’s 8-3 lead sounding more like a baseball score. Then it got even weirder when the two teams got into a baseball-style benches-clearing brawl.

The fight broke out - and ended - with 43.8 seconds left to play in last Thursday’s action. A Kent-Meridian player ran out of bounds and into the Decatur bench, sparking the incident.

Before the fight was over in the season-ending “crossover” game between the South Puget Sound League South and North Division, both benches were emptied.

Swimmers from Todd Beamer, Thomas Jefferson, Federal Way and Decatur spent time doing well in the water, going against each other and others from competing schools in the South Puget Sound League and Narrows League -- all for a right to go to state out of West Central District action at the Rogers Pool on South Hill Saturday Nov. 1.

The Titans narrowly lost last year to the Gig Harbor Tides in districts. And, the fifth-year local school this year finished the same way - second -- albeit by not as close a margin, 221-169, this time around.