White Center Now: The blog about White Center

With just a few ballots left to count, the Highline School Board race that was almost a three-way tie on Election Night has settled into a clear result: It’ll be Tracy Castro-Gill vs. Aaron Garcia for the District 1 position. Today’s results bring it to:

Tracy Castro-Gill – 6,726 – 34.22%
Aaron Garcia – 6,703 – 34.11%
Michael T. Lewis – 6,124 – 31.16%

The results will be certified next week.

On partner site West Seattle Blog, we’ve been covering the homeward-bound bus crunch for weeks. But it affects people traveling south of WS, too, so heads up – another reroute test is planned for southbound routes this Thursday (August 15th). Details here.

2-6 pm today, Greenbridge Plaza is the place to be if there’s a student in your household. The White Center Community Development Association‘s annual back-to-school celebration will offer free food, entertainment, activities, and raffles.

Two rounds of election results are in now – and one local race is too close to call. It’s Highline School Board District 1, which includes White Center. Any two of the three candidates could end up advancing to the general election. Here are the latest numbers:

Tracy Castro-Gill – 5,039 – 34.44%
Aaron Garcia – 4,765 – 32.57%
Michael T. Lewis – 4,728 – 32.31 %

Next update, Thursday afternoon.

More Night Out 2019 scenes, in photos and a report from Gill Loring:

Thanks to Ron Johnson on the block of 20th Ave. SW south of us we had a great August Night Out Against Crime. Some newcomers including a three week old baby.

The Sheriff’s Dept. showed up with Major Anderson, the new Precinct 4 commander, along with the new Community Engagement Specialist, Tierre Larose, who has been here a month, having moved from Ohio . He does like our weather!

Deputy Hancock can be seen addressing the well fed crowd telling them to call 911 any time you see something out of the ordinary. Of course, the first representative of the Sheriff’s Dept. to arrive was CSO, Peter Truong.

Great crowd, great food and perfect weather. What a great annual event.

Night Out is always the first Tuesday in August – you can start planning for next year now!

The King County Parks Night Out party at Steve Cox Memorial Park is on until 7 pm. We stopped by and caught deputies just before they headed back out on patrol.

Good crowd so far, we’re told!

Just a quick reminder that this is it – you have 3 1/2 more hours to get your ballot in. New this year, you can even register at the last minute, if you do it in person at one of the county’s four accessible-voting centers (where you then can immediately vote). You’ll be voting on King County Council, Highline School Board, and Seattle Port Commission seats, plus the countywide parks/open space levy. Safest way to be sure your vote will be counted is to take it to a King County Elections dropbox – the map and list are here (including the one at the White Center Library). The dropoff deadline is 8 pm. You also have accessible voting options including four centers where you can vote until 8 pm – and that’ where you can register up until the 8 pm deadline too.

We first reported last Thursday on a state Liquor and Cannabis Board raid, with KCSO assistance, in downtown White Center. Today the LCB went public with more information. Here’s the news release:

During an undercover investigation, Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) officers purchased illegal marijuana from a clerk at “Todd’s Trading Post and Compassion Club” (also called “Micael Sow Compassion Club”), an unlicensed marijuana retailer and marijuana club located at 9819 16th Ave SW in White Center. Under state law, marijuana may only be sold from a licensed marijuana retail store, and marijuana clubs are illegal.

Between May and July, an undercover WSLCB officer gained access to the club and made four buys of marijuana. WSLCB officers subsequently obtained a search warrant for Todd’s Trading Post and Compassion Club. In partnership with the King County Sheriff’s Office, WSLCB enforcement officers executed the search warrant Thursday, Aug. 1. The officers located and seized over 26 pounds of marijuana flower, marijuana concentrates, and marijuana-infused edible products. The retail value of the product was estimated at over $150,000.

The owner, Micael Kidane Tsegai, and a clerk, Ishmail Michael Kidane, were arrested by WSLCB officers and booked into the King County jail for the marijuana crimes and firearms violations. The owner of the store has previous felony convictions, and both subjects had outstanding arrest warrants. The marijuana, sales and security equipment, two handguns, and cash were seized as evidence. A loaded handgun was located in a backroom safe with the marijuana and cash. Officers also recovered a stolen handgun that was located in a freezer next to the cash register.

Officers will be recommending felony charges for Unlawful Possession and Distribution of a Controlled Substance (RCW 69.50.401), Conducting and Maintaining a Marijuana Club (RCW 69.50.465), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (RCW 9.41.040), and Possession of a Stolen Firearm (RCW 9A.56.310).

The investigation was prompted by complaints from the community alleging that the unlicensed store was competing against nearby licensed marijuana retailers, maintaining a marijuana club, and attracting criminal activity to the area.

According to the county jail register, Tsegai was released from jail after one day, Kidane after two days.

The announcement and photo are from Evergreen Aquatic Center:

In an area surrounded by water, it is imperative that we teach our children to swim. In 2015, the CDC stated that drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. Each and every day, approximately ten people in the U.S. die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.

The Evergreen Pool has been a beacon of hope for so many underserved children and families in our area. Since 2010, we have taught more than 16,400 kids to swim. Most of the kids in our area cannot afford to pay for swim lessons, so we have been working very hard to find ways to help offset this cost.

This year, the White Center/Burien Community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Amerigroup Washington. The Evergreen Aquatic Center is the humble recipient of their $5,000 sponsorship; expressly for the reduced-cost swim lessons program for our community members. This funding will help us provide more swimming lessons to children in our community. While learning to swim, these children will also gain another critical lifelong goal – the benefit of physical fitness. This increased physical activity will help our kids achieve healthier outcomes and build healthy, lifelong habits that can be passed down to future generations.

Amerigroup Washington has been serving our state since 2012, and currently coordinates Medicaid and Medicare benefits for approximately 190,000 residents across the entire state, most being low-income families with children. Amerigroup has made it their mission to improve lives and communities, while making healthcare simpler. Their recent sponsorship is a demonstration of their ongoing commitment to the White Center/Burien Community, as it follows multiple investments made to our community over the past few years ($7,000 in 2016, $5,000 in 2017 and $5,000 in 2019).

The Evergreen Aquatic Center is honored to be a benefactor of Amerigroup’s ongoing support and applauds their commitment and efforts to help our kids stay safe and live healthier lives.

Last chance to see the Highline Bears this year! Tonight (Saturday, August 3rd) is their final game of the season, 7:05 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park vs. the Redmond Dudes. It’s Fan Appreciation Night, too. Need tickets? Go here!

Thanks for the tips. We have some information about the midday law enforcement presence in downtown White Center – the King County Sheriff’s Office tells us they “assisted the Liquor Control Board with the service of a warrant in 9800 block of 16th SW.” While it’s an LCB case, KCSO notes this site, Todd’s Trading Post and an after-hours hookah lounge, was linked to June’s triple shooting. We’ll follow up with the LCB tomorrow.

4:48 PM: While in White Center checking out something unrelated, we happened onto this; KCSO and SPD behind Holy Family. They told us they were investigating a stabbing/carjacking. No other details, not even a description of the car, but we are trying to find out more.

6:15 PM: Additional details from KCSO’s Sgt. Cindy Sampson: “Units responded to a stabbing / carjacking in the 1800 block of SW 96th. Victim was conscious, breathing, and talking to officers when they arrived. He was transported from the scene by ambulance. Officers subsequently located the victim’s vehicle being driven by the suspect. A short Pursuit ensued. The suspect abandoned the vehicle and is on foot in the area of 98th and West Marginal. K-9 Officer is on scene attempting to track.”

ADDED MONDAY: Seattle Police have taken over the investigation. They posted this update:

Seattle Police Robbery Unit detectives are conducting the follow up investigation after an 80 year-old male was stabbed in the back and his van was stolen by an unknown suspect Sunday afternoon. Fortunately the injuries are not life-threatening.

Shortly after 4:00 pm, the victim was in the church parking lot in the 9600 block of 20th Avenue SW. The suspect, described as a male, aged late 20’s or early 30’s, medium build, and wearing dark clothing and a red or orange bandana covering his face, approached the victim and attempted to steal the victim’s van. During the struggle over the vehicle, the suspect stabbed the victim twice in the back before stealing the van.

King County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the stolen vehicle nearby and pursued the van until it crashed on Des Moines Memorial Drive. The suspect then fled on foot toward the Duwamish River.

Despite an extensive search by officers and a K-9 team, the suspect was not located. The victim was transported to the hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery. The van was impounded and detectives continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Seattle Police.

Last weekend’s White Center Library Guild sidewalk sale was a success! The photos are by Gill Loring, and guild president Astha Toda reports, “We raised $385 for the library’s programming, especially benefitting our youth. … The weather was just perfect—sunny with a comfortable breeze. Thanks to everyone who helped make this another productive, fun event to support our beloved library.”

Even the youngest customers were happy!

Just a week and a half until Night Out – and if you’re not having your own block party, here’s a big White Center party where you and your family are welcome:

The annual King County Parks Night Out Against Crime family event is back on Tuesday, August 6th from 5-7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd). King County Parks has participated in the National Night Out event for over a decade and is thrilled to be hosting families in the park for the annual event. This year’s activities will feature Super Hero themed crafts and games in honor of the Spider-Man movie night coming up at DTMP on August 10th. Confirmed guests of honor include Deputy Bill (Kennamer) from the White Center Storefront, Teen Librarian Devon from the White Center Library, and a popular caped crusader.

Night Out at SCMP is once again sponsored by the teens and staff of the White Center Teen Program. The WCTP offers free recreational, educational and social enrichment programming to over 1400 culturally diverse participants ages 12-19 each year. The program operates five days a week, forty-eight weeks a year and provides structured recreational classes and programs, homework assistance, educational and computer resources, leadership training, volunteer opportunities, special events, field trips, and drop-in activities. Teens and staff will be providing super hero themed crafts, games and hot dogs between 5-7 pm on the evening of the 6th.

Just a reminder – 6 pm at Seola Gardens is the North Highline version of the King County Comprehensive Plan briefing and Q&A, as first noted here in early June. Even if you can’t go to the meeting, you’re still invited to comment on proposed changes – find out more here. The major WC-related amendment we’re seeing is one related to the planned affordable housing/nonprofit-organization “hub” project at 8th/108th.

… we went out looking but Guardian One had moved on and we were unable to locate deputies on the ground. G-1 has since tweeted that it was assisting in the search for a hit-run suspect near 2nd SW and SW 102nd.

Thanks to Gill for sending the photo and word that he had noticed the Blu Grouse (9839 17th Ave SW) open during Jubilee Days weekend. We went by today to check on it and found out that was just a sneak preview of sorts for the bar/restaurant that’s moving to White Center after closing in Georgetown. The crew we found there said they still have a few weeks of work to do before they’ll be ready.

More from today’s White Center Jubilee Days parade, starting with the awards list, courtesy of parade coordinator Terri Robison:

Best Classic Car– REVA:

Best Antique Car– John Michaud

Grand Marshals Award– Eagles Solo Cups:

Mayors Award– Furry Faces & Car Smash:

Judges Award– Grand Marshal Princess London:

Favorite Marching Band – Jr All City Band

Favorite Floatish– McLendon Hardware

Best Drumline –Washington Diamonds:

Favorite Drill Team – Washington Diamonds:

Best In Show Motorcycle -Jolly Rogers

Best in Show Car– Ted Kuhn

Community Spirit Award– Parade of Mayors:

President’s Award– Rat City Roadents

Other parade sights:

Above, that’s Miss Sheryl’s Ballet; below, County Councilmember Joe McDermott walking with the 34th District Democrats:

Also on the political front, Highline School Board candidate and community advocate Aaron Garcia:

Still a few more to add!

11:11 AM: Just passing 107th on 16th SW the start of the White Center Jubilee Days Parade is under way! The WC Eagles’ “walking flag” led off.

11:42 AM: The end of the parade – North Highline Fire District Engine 18 – has passed the reviewing/announcing stand just north of 107th, headed for the parade route’s end.

We’ll add more photos, and some video, later!

JUBILEE DAYS PARADE: Start your day by watching the parade! More than 30 entries, heading north on 16th SW from SW 112th to 100th starting at 11 am.

CAR SMASH: Right after the parade, Furry Faces Foundation invites you to this first-time event, 1 pm at 16th and 100th::

Come on out to Swing and Smash for the animals! White Center Jubilee Days Board has bestowed the honor of ‘Signature Event’ on Furry Faces Foundation’s first-ever CAR SMASH! They are featuring us as the last parade participant so you can follow us to the car smash arena, beer garden (21+), Root-beer garden – all ages; AND animal-related activities for children.

Our Leader’s 1999 Subaru Legacy Station Wagon finally bit the dust and we are sending it out in classic Furry Faces Foundation Style! Beer Garden! Frito smothered in chili! DJ Ray! And more! Can a Sunday afternoon get any better?

A HUGE shout-out to Cascade Heights Veterinary Center, our sponsor and partner!