White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Thanks for the text (206-293-6302 any time). Guardian One confirms via Twitter that it’s the helicopter you’re seeing/hearing over White Center. Flight tracking shows it’s been focused in the southwest White Center/northwest Burien area. G1’s tweet says King County Sheriff’s Deputies are looking for a robbery suspect. We’re monitoring the search via law-enforcement radio but have not yet heard details of the incident. We’ll update if we find out anything more; let us know if/where you’re seeing deputies on the ground. (added) Radio discussion indicates the ground search has been centering on 14th/116th.

The snow got in the way last month. This month’s a go. Just announced by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the plan for Thursday night’s meeting:

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting

When: Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 7 pm
Where: North Highline Fire Station at 1243 SW 112th Street in White Center
(Parking and Entrance are in the Back of the Station)

The Opportunity to Be Informed, Be Involved and Be Heard!

It’s time to have a community meeting. The weather forecast seems to be typical for this time of year so we’re going to get back on schedule. The first NHUAC meeting of 2019 will give us the opportunity to learn how King County intends to increase its outreach to and improve life in North Highline.

Our ability to access parks and green spaces and the quality of our natural environment have strong effects on physical and mental health and the quality of our lives. As he promised in November, David Kimmett of King County Parks will join us to share current information about the Open Space Program and gather community input about the green spaces in North Highline that need protection before they are lost to development.

We will also be joined by John Taylor, the director of King County’s newest department, Local Services. The goal of Local Services is to “develop new and better ways to serve” the people of unincorporated King County. What motivated the change? What’s been done so far? Good decision-making requires good information. What data is Local Services using to assess the needs in North Highline and compare them with the rest of the county? What does the data show? Where can our North Highline community access the information? From garbage to round-abouts and building codes, these are only some of the questions and issues that come to mind. Bring yours to this important discussion about life in North Highline.

NHUAC is always happy to see White Center Storefront Deputy Bill Kennamer, who will update us once again about police activity in our community.

Then … the floor will be yours!

Knowledge is power.

Learn, share and help make North Highline a better place.

March 7, 2019 at 7 pm – Bring a Neighbor!

Just announced by the King County Sheriff’s Office:

It’s been almost three months since KCSO announced Roberts, 24, was being sought in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old Ricardo Villa Senor in November. According to the jail register, Roberts is charged with first-degree murder and his bail is set at $2 million.

The recent snow threw a curveball at registration season for Southwest Little League, so it’s gone into extra innings – with one more chance, 9 am-noon this Saturday (March 2nd), to register in person at the Steve Cox Memorial Park log cabin (1321 SW 102nd). Southwest Little League serves southern West Seattle, White Center, and South Park. Go here for full details on who’s eligible and what to bring to register. If you can’t make it to the park on Saturday, you have two weeks beyond that to register online – go here before March 15th.

That’s the scene in downtown White Center as King County Sheriff’s Deputies investigate gunfire that left shell casings on 16th SW just south of SW 98th.

When we talked to a KCSO sergeant at the scene a short time ago, he told us no one was reported injured (but they’ve given local hospitals the heads-up to be on the lookout in case someone shows up with bullet wounds).

This is the same block that’s seen gunfire take three lives in the past two years – two men in January of last year, one man in May 2017.

No details yet on the circumstances of tonight’s gunfire but we’ll add anything more we find out from KCSO.

FIRST REPORT, TUESDAY: Forwarded by a community advocate who received this invitation:

Join King County Executive Dow Constantine for a special announcement!

Join Executive Constantine and Parks partners when the executive unveils his vision to fund King County’s parks and trails with a renewed levy when the existing one expires this December.

Join us!
Thurs, Feb 21, 2019
Steve Cox Memorial Park
1321 SW 102nd St
Ceremony begins at 10 a.m.

Show your love for King County’s most treasured places and learn about new ones that would be made possible through the Executive’s proposal.

Ceremony is expected to last 30 minutes, and we’ll have hot chocolate and coffee to keep you warm!

We sent an inquiry to the executive’s office this morning, asking for more information, but have yet to receive a reply. Here’s some backstory on the levy that expires at the end of this year, which voters approved by a wide margin back in August 2013.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: We received a media advisory about the event today. Watch for coverage tomorrow.

From the White Center Kiwanis – you’re invited!

Community Fund Raising Dinner

Join us for our dinner on Friday, March 1, 2019

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Steak or Portobello Mushroom, Vegetable, Roll

(also Raffle tickets & Prizes)

Cost = $20 each

LOCATION: White Center Eagles

10452 15th Ave SW, White Center

(Later that evening Eagles will have live entertainment)

For tickets or information, contact Bill Tracy at (206) 248-2441. Tickets also available at the door.

All proceeds will go to WC Kiwanis Youth Foundation (a 501C3), to benefit youth in the White Center Area

School reopens today! The announcement from Highline Public Schools:

Due to weather and road conditions, all schools are on a two-hour delay on Thursday, February 14. Buses will stop at their alternate bus stops–two hours later than normal.

There will be no breakfast, no morning or afternoon classes for preschool and ECEAP, and no morning classes for PSSC. Afternoon classes for PSSC will be on time. All before school programs are canceled, including clubs, activities and in-school daycare. No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district.

Find the alternate stops by going here.

Announced today by the King County Sheriff’s Office:

On November 27, 1995, the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle parked in the 200-block of SW 97 PL in White Center. Upon their arrival, deputies found an African-American male, identified later as Kenneth Ruffer, age 26, shot to death within the vehicle.

The ensuing investigation identified numerous persons who knew Mr. Ruffer. It was ultimately learned that Mr. Ruffer may have been set up for a robbery by a female associate who at the time was 25 years old. A male suspect at the time of the murder was 29 years old, and was named as an accomplice to the robbery-murder.

Collected evidence was examined by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab with a DNA analysis conducted. A full DNA profile was obtained which subsequently matched a reference sample collected from the male suspect.

Although DNA evidence did allow for the identification of a suspect in this case, cooperative witnesses had to be developed. Detectives spent the past year re-examining the case, its evidence, and tracking down and re-contacting witnesses in order to develop that level of cooperation.

On February 13, 2019, the now 52 year-old male and 48-year-old female, were booked into the King County Jail on Murder 1 charges.

(added 2:13 pm)

“Our detectives never give up in their quest for justice for all victims” said Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht. “Today, their tireless work has hopefully brought some comfort to Mr. Ruffer’s family.”

“This case, and others like it, highlight the need for funding of a dedicated Cold Case Unit,” said Sheriff Johanknecht. “The King County Sheriff’s Office has over 300 unsolved cold cases. Our major crimes detectives must balance cold case investigations with a high volume of current cases … Every victim matters, and I will continue to seek ways to ensure those who do them harm are accountable for their actions.”

We’re checking with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see if charges actually have been filed yet, as online files don’t show them – though we’re aware that court/criminal-justice operations are catching up from snow closures.

7:15 PM: Both suspects are charged with first-degree murder, according to documents we obtained from the KCPAO – Christopher Wright and Nichole Asphy. Prosecutors allege Ruffer was shot dead as they attempted to rob him.. We’ll add more details from the charging papers later.

Back in December, we covered the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council getting briefed unofficially on the proposal for Water District 45 to merge into Water District 20. The measure was on today’s ballot. In the first round of results published tonight, it’s passing overwhelmingly – though the number of votes is small:

Yes 211 (86%)
No 35 (14%)

Here’s a map of soon-to-go-out-of-existence District 45.

The snow’s stopped falling but not gone yet so Highline Public Schools are closed tomorrow:

All schools are closed on Wednesday, February 13. Many roads in the north end of the district are still impassable, and buses are not able to access bus stops–even the alternate stops.

No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district. All scheduled activities, athletic events and public meetings are canceled.

District administrative offices are open.

Closed for Tuesday, February 12th:

Highline Public Schools
Holy Family Bilingual School
West Seattle Montessori

8 PM UPDATE – WSB is functioning again so we have resumed updates there. Thanks for your patience!

UPDATED 6:58 PM: While our main site West Seattle Blog is still accessible, a technical problem temporarily has us unable to update its pages. While we work on fixing it, this site runs on a different system so here are important updates beyond what we have up on WSB already:

SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR TUESDAY:
Seattle Public Schools
Highline Public Schools
Vashon Island SD
South Seattle College
Hope Lutheran
Seattle Lutheran HS
Holy Rosary
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Summit Atlas
Holy Family Bilingual School
Kennedy Catholic High School
Taproot School
Community School of West Seattle
Westside School
Fauntleroy Children’s Center

Also:
O’Dea HS

POWER PROBLEMS

Almost 1,000 customers are out in southeast West Seattle

ROAD PROBLEMS
Currently numerous. Buses stuck on Avalon – photo from Gwen:

Delridge onramp to eastbound bridge, tree down across Jacobsen Road, Highland Park Way hill closed. Tree down on 35th SW southbound south of Morgan. Thanks to Brian for this photo:

Utility pole down on California between Dakota and Genesee. Thanks to Jeremy for this photo:

Don’t go out if you don’t absolutely have to. The city will need a while to catch up with this heavy snow.

We’ll add here as needed until we can update WSB links.

No waiting until the early-early-morning hours this time – as the next wave of snow arrives, Highline Public Schools has just joined the list of local districts that have already announced they’ll be closed tomorrow.

Enough snow for you? No? Gill Loring shared the photos of what’s already fallen, as more heads this way.

The current National Weather Service alert is a Winter Storm Watch taking effect Sunday aftternoon.

Could be a few more inches!

Hope you are staying safe and warm! The bulk of our snowstorm coverage is on our partner site West Seattle Blog but we’ll post White Center notes here as we get them. First one, from our business-info list:

WHITE CENTER BARTELL DRUGS: Closing at noon Saturday

Anything to add for WC/North Highline, let us know text or voice at 206-293-6302, our 24/7 hotline for both websites.

More snow on the way! So here’s the plan for Highline Public Schools for Friday:

All schools will be open and start on-time on Friday, February 8. Due to snow in the forecast, buses will stop at alternate stops before and after school.

(Photo courtesy Kevin Bui)

Yearning for late-night food? 9:30-11:30 pm tonight (Thursday, February 7th), the Bok-A-Bok Chicken space in White Center will be taken over by the Sin Reglas pop-up. After hearing about it, we asked the chef for a few details:

Sin Reglas: Late Nights is a weekly series every Thursday & Saturday at Bok a Bok White Center. My name is Kevin Bui, and I cook food that I crave late at night from my travels. It’s from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm, and people should follow the instagram page @sinreglaspopup to see what’s going on. The menu will always have 5 items and 1 dessert. There’s canned beer and canned wine, as well as non-alcohol options for everyone. I do as much as I can by hand, so sausages, pita, falafel, curries, etc.

I’m looking to open a spot in White Center in the future, but right now, it’s about building community.

Address: 1521 SW 98th.

As announced tonight:

Here’s the Wednesday plan from Highline Public Schools: