March 2015

Thief threatens security officers with blade, flees

On Feb. 22, Seattle Police Officers responded to shoplifting report at the Ballard Fred Meyer. When officers arrived they saw a man brandishing a knife and fleeing the scene. Loss prevention officers were following the man. Police told the man to stop and to put the knife down. At first he did not respond but finally dropped the knife. Police detained the suspect, but he started shaking. He moaned and coughed. Seattle Firefighters were dispatched, and when they arrived the suspect told them he had taken “medications.” Loss prevention officers told police that they had detained the suspect after they saw him attempting to leave the store with over $200 worth of items. Prevention officers removed a knife from the suspect’s pocket and set it on a desk in their officer. They were processing theft and waiting for police when the suspect grabbed the knife. He said, “I’m not going to jail!!” and ordered the officers out of his way. He told them that he would use the knife on anyone who tried to stop him. The suspect ran out the main entry area and that’s when officers saw the suspect and arrested him.

After a recent drive by shooting in front of Goofy’s Bar in Crown Hill, another drive by in the same area left one woman unconscious, however, bullets were not the projectiles in this incident –--eggs were.

According to Seattle Police, on Feb. 24 a woman was knocked unconscious by a flying egg outside a Crown Hill bar at Northwest 85th Street and 15th Avenue Northwest. The egg was one of many thrown by individuals in a passing truck.

The egg struck the woman behind her ear, and, luckily, her friends caught her before she hit the ground and rushed her to a nearby hospital. The woman was not the only one hit; the egg-volley struck her friends, bystanders and the building.

The truck containing the eggers was described as small, black or green pickup with a canopy and dark-tinted windows.

Egging is common vandal prank for many young people, but when eggs are used as a weapon, perpetrators can be charged with assault.

During the week of Feb. 23, Erik Nielsen of Seattle served as a page in the Washington State Senate. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, sponsored Nielsen’s weeklong experience in the Legislature.

“It was great having Erik here this week,” Kohl-Welles said. “He is a sharp student and eager to learn more about state government.”

During the week pages assist senators and staff, attend lectures with guest speakers and go to page school where they create their own bills in a mock committee setting. Nielsen and a fellow page drafted a bill that would change Washington’s state flag to any state major league team’s flag, for two weeks, if they went on to the championships. The bill passed through committee. “It was a fun bill,” Nielsen said. “And a unique idea.”

Nielsen had toured the Capitol and learned about the page program through one of the tour guides. “I like government. I’ve been to D.C., and I thought it would be a fun and educational experience,” Nielsen said. “Plus, it looks good on college applications.”

The most interesting parts of the program for Nielsen were paging on the Senate floor and sitting in on committees.

Evergreen HS Boys Baseball Fundraising Breakfast
White Center Eagle Club
10452 15th Ave. SW
Sat., March 7, 9-1 p.m. Support the Evergreen High School Boys Baseball Team - The Wolverines. Because of recent thefts of equipment and lack of funding, the team is in desperate need of basic equipment and field improvements, so they can field a team this season. Team members and coaching staff will help serve breakfast. For more information: contact the White Center Eagles at 206.248.1400

Duwamish Native Foods ~ Now & Then ~ Spring Greens
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
4705 W. Marginal Way S.W.
206-431-1582 or www.duwamishtribe.org

By Tim Clifford

Boozy gunman on Delridge
Death threats and gun brandishing killed the vibe at a bar located on the 9400 block of Delridge WY S.W. just after 9 p.m. on Feb.18. The suspect is described as a white male in his early 40’s, standing about 6’2, with dark blonde hair, an east coast accent and a penchant for wearing black beret hats.

Earlier in the evening the suspect had come into the bar, already drunk, and went from customer to customer aggressively challenging them to step outside. At least two patrons were challenged to a fight and threatened that if they refused they would be attacked at the bar. One witness told police that the suspect had briefly sat next to him and confided in him “I’m a hired killer” and “I just cut them up”.

The bartender overheard the suspect’s threats and stories and told him to leave the bar immediately. After a short argument the suspect stepped outside and seemed to be leaving peacefully.

By Pat Cashman

I was walking around a couple of days ago when someone shouted from over a block away. I turned and saw a distant figure waving wildly and running my way. It was an acquaintance I hadn’t seen in years. “Cashman!” he yelled, as he got closer. “I knew it was you! I’d recognize that dumb walk of yours anywhere!”

I too recognized him immediately. I’d know that tactless, insulting boor anywhere.
But he was right. I do have a bit of a dumb gait. It’s not quite similar to a chicken, but rather more like a duck.

My feet tend to flare out at slight angles when I stroll. If they were hands on a clock (or, in this case, feet on a clock) they’d point at ten o’clock and two o’clock. So I’m about twenty minutes short of a normal stride.

Worst of all, I’m also somewhat knock-kneed---which also affects my sauntering. As a kid, I didn’t know what ‘knock-kneed’ meant. Then I heard a comedian tell a joke on a TV show: “Yesterday I saw a knock-kneed woman telling a bow-legged man to go straight home.” The audience guffawed---but I didn’t get it.

By Kathryn Kingen

Most vegetables are friendly. They have bright colors, smooth shapes and are delightful to pick and prepare. They are friendly, even gregarious — but not the artichoke. This standoffish veg doesn't want to be sociable at all. Its rough exterior is full of self-protecting thorns. If you didn't know any better you might want to ignore this curmudgeon altogether. But not us, we know that underneath that ill-mannered rough exterior lies some tender leaves and a soft-hearted center. Take a look at Chef Jeremy's ideas on how to kindly cook an artichoke and you'll see what I mean.

By Chef Jeremy Maclachlan

Every time my wife says she wants my artichokes, I cringe inside and then look at her and say, "Yes, dear."

This amazing and earthy vegetable can be really hard to clean and you may prick yourself, but your hard work is soooo worth it, especially considering their nutritional value as food-blogger Kathy Kingen explains in Love the Curmudgeonly Artichoke.

My favorite way to enjoy an artichoke is simply steamed and then dipped into a simple lemon mayonnaise. My wife likes them pan-fried and finished with lemon and butter.

This month I am going to give you my tricks for cleaning artichokes and an easy way to preserve them.

Artichoke Tips
Feel the Choke! An artichoke is the flower of the plant so it is very important that it is picked before flowering starts. When buying artichokes you can determine its quality by feeling the leaves to make sure they are tight. Squeeze the bottom heart of the vegetable and if it's soft leave it on the shelf.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

State tournament draws including four area basketball teams were made at the office of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association office Sunday.
The West Seattle High School girls team drew a 2 p.m. date with Lynnwood for its Class 3A tournament opener Thursday.

The tournament runs through Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, as does the 3A boys tournament that includes Kennedy Catholic of Burien.
The Lancers drew perennial state power Garfield for a 5:30 p.m. opener Thursday.

One quarter of the boys Class 1B tournament field at the Spokane Arena is from the area as well.
Seattle Lutheran of West Seattle opens with a 3:45 p.m. game against Cusick and Shorewood Christian of White Center drew Curlew for a 9 p.m. game.

The eight-team 1B tournament also runs through Saturday.
All of the openers are state quarterfinals.