State to sell its 4 Steel Electric ferries for scrap
SEATTLE — Washington’s state ferry system is selling four retired ferries for scrap.
A Seattle newspaper said the state expects to get about $700,000 for the four Steel Electric-class ferries, which were retired last year amid worries about their damaged hulls. The 80-year-old boats had provided service between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend, in addition to other runs.
State officials tried twice to sell the ferries online without success. Environmental Recycling Systems, a Seattle company, plans to tow the boats to Mexico to be scrapped.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Plan would replace viaduct with building
Transportation officials trying to come up with a plan to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle have a new suggestion to consider.
It’s being promoted by one of the most powerful politicians in the state, House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle.
He said the aging, elevated highway along the downtown waterfront could be replaced by a mile-long building, 90 feet wide and 55 feet high. It would have shops and offices on the bottom, a covered highway in the middle and a park on top.
Planners have scheduled meetings next month to review the costs for various tunnel, surface and elevated highway options. A final recommendation goes to the governor by the end of the year.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Seattle police arrest 22 in ‘Nickelsville’ camp
During an hourlong sweep of Nickelsville, a homeless camp set up on city property this week, Seattle police arrested 22 people for trespassing.
Two dozen officers didn’t handcuff those arrested.
Before Friday’s sweep, the homeless moved about 40 of their fuchsia-colored tents to a state-owned parking lot adjoining the city-owned property.
A senior adviser to Gov. Chris Gregoire says he and the Church Council of Greater Seattle reached an agreement with the city for the homeless to stay in the parking lot until Wednesday.
A police spokesman said those arrested would be interviewed and released unless they had outstanding warrants.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Burien teen pleads guilty to manslaughter
A 16-year-old Burien girl accused of killing a man who hired her as a prostitute struck a deal with King County prosecutors.
She pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter and will serve less than three years in juvenile detention after she is sentenced Oct. 21 in King County Juvenile Court.
Prosecutors say information emerged that the girl may have been attacked or threatened.
The 49-year-old man, Francisco Pena, was stabbed in the chest in April at his home near Kent.
A Seattle newspaper reported the girl’s fingerprints were found on a knife at the scene. She has a record of assault, theft and malicious mischief convictions starting when she was 13.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no:Tukwila inn embezzler sentenced to 3 years
A former general manager of the Residence Inn in Tukwila who pleaded guilty to wire fraud for embezzling $1.4 million has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Brian Fleet pleaded guilty to cashing checks made out to the Residence Inn and depositing them in his own account. He was sentenced on Friday.
According to federal prosecutors, Fleet used the money to live an extravagant lifestyle and traveled to places like Hawaii; Cancun, Mexico; and Sao Paulo, Brazil, shopping at high-end stores such as Armani and Tiffany &Co.
Roy: Former mayor charged with theft
The former mayor of Roy, who was forced out of office after police discovered a felony conviction, has been accused of stealing.
Kim Eldridge was charged Wednesday with the theft of money from her homeowners association. Court documents says she wrote almost $11,500 in unauthorized checks from 2001 to July of last year.
Eldridge served as mayor of the Pierce County town of 870 residents from 2006 to November of last year. Her term came to an end after she filed a police report for a broken windshield and a background check turned up the unresolved felony conviction from 1988.
The Tacoma News Tribune reported she had been convicted of stealing from a store where she worked. She pleaded guilty in January and paid $800 in court costs.
SeaTac: Touch-and-go tests third runway
The rubber has hit the runway at the new third runway at Sea-Tac Airport.
The first plane to test the runway Thursday left skid marks while making touch-and-go landings as part of the Federal Aviation Administration certification.
The Port of Seattle says a widebody plane will test the runway next month. It’s scheduled to go into regular operation on Nov. 20.
It has taken 15 years and $1.2 billion to complete the 8,500-foot runway. It will allow more planes to land during poor visibility at Sea-Tac.
Oregon: College issues Obama effigy apology
Officials at Quaker-affiliated George Fox University in Newberg have apologized for an incident in which an effigy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was hung from a tree on the campus.
“This doesn’t reflect who we are,” spokesman Rob Felton said.
A reference to the Act Six scholarship program that helps mostly minority students was taped to the life-size cardboard cutout.
The university apologized to Obama’s presidential campaign and launched a round of campus discussions.
Board President Barbara Palmer said the incident brought “a lot of sadness and hurt” to the campus. On the positive side, she said, the college community had responded with hugs and other demonstrations of support for Act Six and other minority students.
Associated Press
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