The family of deceased Burien man Mark Ebinger (pictured, left), 25, who was stabbed to death outside Good Time Ernie’s last November, has increased the reward offered to $10,000 in hopes of generating tips that will lead to an arrest.
Mark and his brother Peter, 24, were attacked outside the Burien bar on the morning of November 12, 2009. Mark died from stab wounds at the scene. Peter was stabbed numerous times, but survived.
Detectives believe there were several witnesses to the attack, and these witnesses might have information that could solve the case.
The homicide occurred outside Good Time Ernie’s Pub, located at 15747 Ambaum Blvd SW in Burien.
As we reported on Dec. 28, 2009 when we attended the family’s first press conference at the King County Sheriff’s office:
Peter recalled the attack, saying that a “few words were spoken to someone who was with us in the bar, and I told Mark we should leave…and as we left a group of guys came out the other door, a bottle was thrown at us, then they came at us with knives.”
“I was just scared, and was trying to get away,” Peter said. He also added that Mark was “kind of far away” from him in the parking lot at the time of the attack.
The Ebinger Family at the Dec. 28th press conference.
Peter also added that “someone else had words with one of the guys in the other group…” and he had no idea what was said, but is certain that the attacker(s) were in that group.
Once outside, “one guy came up in my face and tried to take a swing at me and another guy hit me from behind,” Peter continued. “I got stabbed probably six or seven times in the back…”
Peter said he’s “not planning on going back” to Goodtime Ernie’s anytime soon, “and no one I know is going back…”
Despite numerous rumors, there is no definite word on whether the attackers are part of a gang.
Mark Ebinger's brother Peter was also stabbed, but survived.
“We’re all very upset and angry, and well, you can imagine…”
Mark worked at a printing press and mostly did manual labor.
Regarding Mark’s death, Peter said: “It happened real fast and he didn’t feel much pain…”
The investigation is still ongoing.
“We know that someone out there knows something, saw something, or has heard something,” said Jim Laing. “…and that information might seem insignificant to them but it could be the information that cracks this case and we’re appealing to anyone who has any information to come forward.”
Laing continued: “No homicide case is ever closed until it’s closed, and this will remain open until it’s solved.”
On our original Nov. 12th report, there are now 105 Comments, which make for some very interesting reading – see it here – many comments are in scolding tones to those who were there that night but have refused to come forward to identify the suspect(s). Perhaps this higher reward will change that?
Crimestoppers is also offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information on the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours), or 9-1-1.
Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer
On the busy 12400 block of Ambaum Blvd., a quiet, makeshift memorial stands as a tribute to Mikarah Nasabreo Sanders, the 15-year old girl who was shot and killed by her 16-year old boyfriend on New Year’s Eve, who later shot himself.
Sadly, Sanders died from her wounds and the male suspect is still being treated (and guarded) at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (read our previous coverage here). King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has said that the suspect will likely be charged as an adult with murder in connection with Sanders’ death.
The most recent reports we’ve heard are that the suspect was upset with something he read on Sanders’ MySpace page. Other reports say that the couple argued frequently.
Like most temporary memorials, this one’s got photos protected by plastic sleeves, melted candles and notes, as well as some odd and ironic items like a mysterious, open, black umbrella (we’re not sure of its significance – anyone know? UPDATE: Occam’s Razor called and told us that it was probably placed there to protect the shrine from rain), and an empty peach vodka bottle lying next to stuffed animals – all as a tribute to a life lost way too early.
Scott Schaefer stopped by Thursday morning (Jan. 7th) and shot this Photo Slideshow:
On a personal note, we’re getting kinda tired of seeing these memorials all around the Burien area. Let’s get along peeps!
Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer
It must’ve been the absolute toughest Christmas ever for the Ebinger family of Burien, as they had to celebrate without their son Mark, 25, who was fatally stabbed outside Goodtime Ernie’s Nov. 12th.
On Monday (Dec. 28th), the family held a press conference at the King County Sheriff’s office in downtown Seattle, where they offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) in the fatal stabbing.
Acting Public Information Officer Jim Laing spoke, along with Mark’s brother Peter (who was also stabbed), 24, as his distraught parents, sister and girlfriend sat nearby, solemnly holding back tears; here’s the raw MP3 of the conference:
[display_podcast]
Peter recalled the attack, saying that a “few words were spoken to someone who was with us in the bar, and I told Mark we should leave…and as we left a group of guys came out the other door, a bottle was thrown at us, then they came at us with knives.”
“I was just scared, and was trying to get away,” Peter said. He also added that Mark was “kind of far away” from him in the parking lot at the time of the attack.
The Ebinger Family at Monday's press conference.
Peter also added that “someone else had words with one of the guys in the other group…” and he had no idea what was said, but is certain that the attacker(s) were in that group.
Once outside, “one guy came up in my face and tried to take a swing at me and another guy hit me from behind,” Peter continued. “I got stabbed probably six or seven times in the back…”
Peter said he’s “not planning on going back” to Goodtime Ernie’s anytime soon, “and no one I know is going back…”
Despite numerous rumors, there is no definite word on whether the attackers are part of a gang.
Mark Ebinger's brother Peter was also stabbed, but survived.
“We’re all very upset and angry, and well, you can imagine…”
Mark worked at a printing press and mostly did manual labor.
Regarding Mark’s death, Peter said: “It happened real fast and he didn’t feel much pain…”
The investigation is still ongoing.
“We know that someone out there knows something, saw something, or has heard something,” said Jim Laing. “…and that information might seem insignificant to them but it could be the information that cracks this case and we’re appealing to anyone who has any information to come forward.”
Laing continued: “No homicide case is ever closed until it’s closed, and this will remain open until it’s solved.”
If anyone has any information on this case, they should call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-274-6313.
$4,000 of the reward money comes from the Ebinger family, and $1,000 from Crimestoppers.
Here’s a video report on this case from KING-TV:
Read our previous coverage of this tragic incident here.
Mark Ebinger was just 25 when he was killed outside Goodtime Ernie's Nov. 12th.
The King County Sheriff’s Department alerts us that Peter K. Ebinger, 24, the brother of Mark K. Ebinger, 25, who was the victim of a fatal stabbing at Burien’s Goodtime Ernie’s last month, will hold a press conference on Monday, Dec. 28th.
Peter, 24, will offer a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed his brother, who was 25.
We’ll have a Reporter and Photographer on the scene Monday and will give a full report next week.
Here’s the text from an email we received from Sgt. Jim Laing:
On 11/12/09 at approx. 1.45 AM a large group attacked two brothers outside Good Time Ernies in Burien. Both brothers were stabbed several times and one died at the scene.
The deceased was identified as Mark K. Ebinger. His brother, Peter K. Ebinger spent several days in hospital but will recover from his wounds.
Detectives believe there are witnesses who have not come forward and that these witnesses have information that would help the investigation.
On December 28, 2009 at 1.30pm Peter Ebinger will speak to the Press and offer a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who killed his brother.
The Press Event will be held in Sheriff Rahr’s office, King County Courthouse, 3rd and James, 1st floor.
The Seattle Times is reporting that the body of a climber found Saturday (Dec. 12th) on Oregon’s Mount Hood was identified as 26-year-old Luke T. Gullberg of neighboring Des Moines.
Gulberg’s body was found around 10am on the Reid Glacier, at about the 9,000-foot level.
Reports are that weather conditions on the mountain are expected to improve, and will hopefully allow rescue personnel greater searching capabilities on Sunday to search for two other missing climbers.
“All three of these climbers were well equipped and experienced,” said Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Detective Jim Strovink.
According to the Times:
Two other climbers were still missing after a daylong search.
The remaining climbers still missing were identified as 24-year-old Anthony Vietti of Longview, Wash., and 29-year-old Katti Nolan of Portland.
Strovink said all three climbers were experienced and well-equipped.
A search is set to resume shortly after dawn on Sunday for Vietti and Nolan. The trio left Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood about 1 a.m. Friday and were reported missing when they failed to return Friday afternoon.
Our own research reveals a Des Moines-based Luke Gullberg on MySpace (“climb4life”) as well as Facebook:
The Washington State Patrol is looking for witnesses to Wednesday morning’s fatal multiple car accident on I-5 in the southbound lanes of I-5 in Tukwila near SR-518.
The fatality was a 43-year old Seattleite who was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser without a seatbelt. A passenger in a Toyota Camry was treated for minor injuries at the scene, while others involved were not injured.
Most of southbound I-5 was closed during the morning rush hour while police and detectives investigated the scene.
If you saw the accident, you are urged to call 425-401-7719 as soon as possible.
Sad scene outside Burien’s Goodtime Ernie’s this weekend, as a makeshift memorial has been built for the young man who was the victim of an early morning stabbing death last Thursday, Nov. 12th.
There is still no word from police on the suspect, and while the victim’s identity was revealed in Comments made on this website, we have chosen to withhold those until his name is officially released.
We’ll post updates as more information comes in, but for now, we encourage everyone to show respect for the victim’s family and friends, and to try and value life just a little bit more.
Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer stopped by not only to take these photos, but to pay his respects as well:
According to King County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart, a bar fight at closing time at Burien’s Goodtime Ernie’s Sports Bar & Grill Thursday morning (Nov. 12th) led to the stabbing death of one man, age 25, while his brother (24) was seriously injured.
The victim died at the scene, and the brother was taken to Harborview with stab wounds. He is expected to survive.
The incident occurred about 1:40am at Good Time Ernie’s, which is located at 15747 Ambaum Blvd in Burien, behind Wizards Casino.
According to Urquhart, a fight inside the bar involving several people spilled out into the parking lot where the stabbings occurred.
A Burien man, age 25, died at the scene, despite CPR efforts from Sheriff’s deputies (Burien Police) and then from fire personnel. A second stabbing victim, age 24, and also from Burien, was taken to Harborview.
The two victims, who are brothers, have not yet been identified.
Sheriff’s detectives interviewed bar patrons and witnesses, but no one was arrested.
What prompted the fight is unknown, and the suspect is still at large.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.
Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer was on the scene this morning around 8:45am, where he spoke with investigators and saw a silver Lincoln Aviator SUV get impounded; he also took these photos (EDITOR’S NOTE: slideshow has been altered & all bloodstain photos have been removed out of respect for the bereaved):
RELATED:
Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer
Welcome to Dia de las Muertes de Burien – The B-Town Blog’s “Day of the Dead” tribute to Burien’s earliest, and sadly, mostly forgotten settlers, who are buried in a place most residents don’t even know exists.
This is the story of the area’s oldest graveyard, a private, historic and rundown place on South 200th called Hillgrove Cemetery.
You won’t find Hillgrove on many maps, because, like its 360 residents, it’s no longer living. It’s private, it’s fenced off, yet once you look at the chain link barrier and barbed wire, it’s obvious that people find ways to get in to do whatever living people do in graveyards full of dead strangers.
We too found our way into Hillgrove recently (how could we not this time of year?), and despite forgetting to wear boots (our Chuck Taylors got soaked but oddly, we didn’t care) yet managing to be very careful and respectful, we took numerous photographs, which we built into a “Sound Slideshow” to a public domain song from 1910, the era when this site was in its heyday.
But before we present our photographic and audio tribute, we’d like to share our personal observations of Hillgrove:
It was a sad place, and not just because it was full of dead bodies – it’s in disrepair, with missing, crooked and broken tombstones, years of neglect and evidence of vandalism.
The oldest grave we found was from 1890.
Historic, old graves with unique stone markers ranging from the earliest burial (at least that we saw) in 1890 to the most recent in 2005. Some tombstones have been restored, while many are clearly without any markings (several we discovered only by stepping into indentations in the grass).
Here’s some info on it courtesy Highline Historical Society Executive Director Cyndi Upthegrove:
Hillgrove Cemetery is owned by the Hillgrove Cemetery Association, comprised of the remaining families that own the property. I don’t believe anyone famous is buried there, but a large number of local pioneer families are. It is in disrepair because the people that remain of those families are quite elderly and cannot physically maintain it themselves, and the city of SeaTac and the Port won’t maintain it because it isn’t theirs. SeaTac has occasionally mowed for them and helped to build a retaining wall at the left entrance when the bank slumped one time and remains started spilling out.
From what I understand, there are about 360 souls there. They consist of veterans from both the North and the South from the Civil War, the Spanish American War, both WWI and WWII, Korea and the first Iraq War. Their extended families are also buried there.
About 12 years ago a teacher at Highline HS teaching at-risk students taught a local history class and they really responded to it. These were very bright students “at risk” of dropping out. So she took them over to the cemetery to show it to them and they told her, “We know about this place. We come over here to drink.” Together with her, the Society acquired a grant to pay for her project. So she got them to clean it up as a class project. They dug up buried headstones, mowed, learned about the people buried there, mapped it and tended it for a couple of years. After they had invested so much time and care into it, they wouldn’t let anyone else go in there and mess with it.
The most recent, from 2005.
Then they graduated and moved on, and she quit teaching that class and things kind of reverted to how they were. We have retained some of the records and the Association has the rest.
Recently a paranormal investigation group contacted me to see if they could go in and look for ghosts. I referred them to the Association and I think they did some kind of investigation there, but we weren’t given their results. Occasionally a Boy Scout will work there building benches, or mowing and grooming the place as an Eagle Scout project.
We did several bus tours of “The historic sites of Highline” a few years ago and Hillgrove was a stop on the tour. People found it very interesting. I have always wished that we could engage the various cities and veterans groups to hold their Memorial and Veteran’s Day commemorations there rather than in schools and community centers, but other heads prevail.
I have always wished I had the funding for the Society to take care of the place for the community, but I don’t.
Walking around a decaying graveyard isn’t really creepy, or new to us – in college we used to visit one that was near our house, and this Reporter has always been fascinated with the dead and how the living treat them. Especially Hispanic culture and their “Day of the Dead” festivities, which involve spending the night in graveyards, setting up elaborate altars, offering food, wearing bizarre (and to me, really cool) costumes, and believing that, for one night on Nov. 2nd, their dearly departed dead relatives and loved ones come back and visit with them.
With those sentiments in mind, here’s our “SoundSlideshow” tribute to Hillgrove Cemetery and the historic people who are buried there, may they Rest In Peace:
Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s SoundSlideshow
Just when you thought that the fun with the skeletons and candy were done, today (Sunday, Nov. 1st) is the official start of Dia de las Muertes, an Hispanic celebration also known as “Day of the Dead.”
We here at The B-Town Blog love this celebration so much that we’ll be at Burien’s only known commemoration starting at 3:30pm, at the Interim Art Space on SW 151st just north of the new Town Square – it’s “Night of 1,000 Pumpkins”!
Sadly, this will be the final event held at B/ IAS before the dismantling begins and the space returns to an empty lot Dec. 31st – all the more reason to come up and celebrate one last time.
In case you’re not familiar with Dia de las Muertes, here’s some info from Wikipedia:
The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls’ Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls’ Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Original Artwork by Danielle Burton. Click image to see large version.
The fun begins today at 3:30pm and goes until dark:
- Bring a carved Pumpkin (or more) with a candle to fill the site with 1,000 lit pumpkins (you can also carve one there)
- Bring something for the community Dia de las Muertes altar (photos of the departed, trinkets, symbols of their lives, etc.)
- Walk through the makeshift cemetery
- Dress up in Day of the Dead costumes/makeup (Calaveras, or skeleton costumes are perfect)
- Pay tribute to your departed loved ones and gather with your neighbor over food, drink and dance
- Celebrate your community, your family and friends one final time at this innovative space
- Face Painting
- Flower Making
- Grand Pumpkin Games
- Sand Painting by artist Amaranta Sandys in the lobby of the Burien Library
- Traditional foods and vendors
- Community created Altars
PERFORMERS:
- 4:30 to 6:30: Trio Lucero del Norte on the B/ IAS Site (Roots Music / Regional Mexican / Folk);
Trío Lucero del Norte play traditional/regional Mexican music from the Huasteca. Specialists in son huasteco and huapango, they are currently the only local group who play son huasteco with the complete ensemble: violin, jarana and quinta huapanguera. Son huasteco is the zapateado style of Mexican son from the Huasteca region. It formed the basis for many styles of huapango that became popular throughout Greater Mexico. The Huasteca region encompasses the plains region of six states: Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Veracruz and Tamaulipas.
In addition to sones huastecos and huapangos, Trío Lucero del Norte interpret sones de costumbre for Day of the Dead and Carnaval, sones and cumbias in Náhuatl and Huastecan regional stylings of polkas, canciones rancheras, boleros and cumbias. The three members: Jose Hernández (violin), Modesto Antonio Hernández (quinta huapanguera) and Kim Carter Muñoz (jarana), met when Kim posted an add in the El Paisano, a Mexican Carnicaría/Grocery in White Center.
Kim traveled to Mexico for several years to study son huasteco and sones de costumbre for her graduate studies in Ethnomusicology. After playing with well-known son huasteco musicians in Mexico, including Los Cantores de Pánuco, Soraima y Sus Huastecos, Trio Chicóntepec, Los Caporales de Pánuco and others, she wanted to form her own trío in Seattle.
- 5:30 to 6:30: Los Flacos At the Burien Library; Join with Los Flacos for a musical celebration of El Día de los Muertos. This Latino music group performs a blend of the traditional sounds of Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. Using a variety of instruments, some indigenous to the Americas and others of European and African origin, they create their own renditions of the songs of Latin America. Gather together with friends at the Burien Library to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died. For More info on Los Flacos.
- 6:30 to 7:30: Pyrosutra on the B/ IAS Site; Pyrosutra is a fire dance collective based out of Seattle, Washington. We combine choreographed bellydance, breakdance and stilt walking with a wide range of professional fire performance techniques and innovative tools.
- 7:30 to 9:30: La Banda Gozona on the B/ IAS Site
Tapetes de Arena or Sand paintings
These “murals” are typically made of sand, sawdust, seeds, flower petals, and pigments. Traditionally, a tapete is made in the home when there is a death in the family. After a period of mourning, the tapete is swept up and entombed with the body of the deceased. Tapetes are also created all over Oaxaca for the Días de los Muertos celebration, and judged along with the ofrendas in the Concursos de Altares de Muertos.
Amaranta Sandys is been collaborating in the making of sandpaintings with Latino artists in Seattle for the last 10 years @ SAM and Tacoma Art Musuem.
We think that if you dig Tim Burton or Danny Elfman, or love Hispanic culture (or even just good ol’ fashioned dead people), you’re sure to enjoy this event (and we can assure you, we’ll be there…).
All pumpkins will be composted through a gift from King County Solid Waste.
Sad news today from King County Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward Dennis Clark – remember the two beavers who made their home (and subsequent dam) in a pond near Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien?
They were euthanized last week.
Previously, we asked Readers what the city should do in regards to the creatures, and the results were:
- 65% voted “Leave them alone, and just deal with the consequences”
- 33% said “Re-locate them safely in the wild somewhere else“
- 2% said “Just kill the dam things before they flood downtown!”
So much for our new campaign to hire a “Beaver Whisperer” to psychically tell them to leave. Oh well.
Here’s an email we received from Dennis on Wednesday (Oct. 21st):
Scott,
I’m sorry to report that last week the beavers were euthanized.
We relied on the expertise of the wildlife biologists at the US Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services Branch to make a determination about whether to relocate or euthanize the animals. Their staff were very concerned about the transmission of disease (both from our animals to other animals and vice versa) and I suspect that was what led to euthanizing the beavers. Their trained staff carried out the removal on behalf of the City.
One of Burien's two beavers that was euthanized last week.
As I mentioned to you before, the key problem was that keeping the beavers would raise the average water level in the wetland as they built up their dams and/or blocked the culverts under Des Moines Memorial Drive. Beaver behavior (not unlike that of the other dam-builders, we humans) is to expand their territory. If they were allowed to do this, there would be little room for the wetland to hold more water before it began to flood the septic drain field and driveways of one or more neighbors. An even higher water level would threaten both homes and the integrity of Des Moines Memorial Drive itself.
This last Saturday, October 17, provided a dramatic example of how the wetland responds to rain. From 8 a.m. to Noon — a mere four hour period — I observed the wetland water level increase by over one foot! Because the beavers had been removed and the water level lowered the previous day, the wetland was able to handle this rise in the water level, which still came just to the level of the nearest neighbor’s driveway.
Fluctuation of the level of the wetland IS a good thing because that is a sign that the wetland is storing water during storms. If the wetland didn’t exist (and the City should be recognized for conserving it through purchase back in 2005) or if there were larger culverts under Des Moines Memorial Drive, the water would otherwise rush downstream, potentially flooding private and public property in Burien and Normandy Park and damaging stream ecology with higher flows (scouring spawning gravel, causing erosion, blowing fish and leaf debris downstream).
I was excited when the beavers showed up this spring because the healthiest streams do include beaver in their ecosystems. I researched whether there were techniques we could apply that would allow us to keep the beavers as neighbors without flooding the human neighbors or undermining Des Moines Memorial Drive. I observed their interaction with the wetland and talked with the neighbors to learn from them.
And I had hours to think on all of this while chest-deep in water each time I cleared out the culverts the beavers had blocked! By the end of the summer, both I and City staff reluctantly concluded that there was not room for beavers in this urbanized stream.
It was a sad outcome for me personally because I came to respect the energy and dam-building skill of these remarkable rodents in addition to appreciating their ecological value. However, I was also reminded each time I had to unplug the culverts or adjust the height of their dams that there’s a reasons we term beavers WILDLIFE. They have their own needs and aren’t amenable to being “managed.” Unfortunately, we could not accommodate their needs in this situation.
- Dennis
So…what do YOU think of the fact that these two dams beavers are now sleepin’ wit’ da fishes?
Please take our poll below, and/or leave a Comment…
Loading ...
Area native Tom Pfaeffle, who was tragically shot and killed in July, will be memorialized on the evening of Thursday, August 13th at The Moore Theater in Seattle.
Doors will open at 5pm, and everyone is welcome.
Pfaeffle, a 1979 graduate of Mt. Rainier High School, was an acclaimed 30-year veteran sound engineer who worked with bands like Nirvana, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Heart and many others.
According to a website set up as a tribute:
We’ll be celebrating the night in the only way Tom would’ve wanted. With great stories, music & friends
All proceeds from the evening will go to the Pfaeffle family. There will be no ticketing, we ask that you donate whatever you can.
We’d like to thank The Seattle Theater Group, Triamp Group and The Art Institute of Seattle for their generosity.
For those of you who are unable to attend, please feel free to use this site as a place to share memories, stories, songs and anything else you’d like to share in remembering Tom, his life and his work.
The site also gives this recap of Tom’s life:
On Friday, July 17th, a loving wife lost her husband, a family lost their father, students lost their teacher and friends lost a smiling face they could always count on. We all lost something that this world has far too few of… a generous, caring, sincere, heartfelt person who gave all he could to those who became a part of his life.
Tom was a great man to many people for many different reasons. We’ve put up this website to honor the memories we have of him and to come together to celebrate his life and contributions to our collective successes, creativity and happiness.
Anyone who knew Tom knew that the single most important part of his life was his family. A trust has been set up in their name to help provide some support. We ask that you give what you can.
Tom’s generosity knew no limits. This is our chance to show that not only was Tom a generous person but he knew how to surround himself with people of equal character and generosity.
We hope the trust not only provides the family with support now but will continue to provide for them in the future.
Here’s a poster with more info:
One year ago today, on June 29, 2008, not long after midnight, hell erupted in a very small place in Burien. At 12:42 a.m., a 911 dispatcher received the first alarm. Seconds later, someone inside the Tara Apartments, at SW 155th Street and 5th Ave SW, yelled “Fire!” The complex was burning, flames already engulfing a stairway. Within a minute, a second 911 call reported the fire.
The June 29th, 2008 Burien arson fire at the Tara and Jenny Marie apartments claimed the lives of three.
Less than two minutes after the first call came in, Engine 28 of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department rolled out the door of the fire station at SW 151st Street and 8th Ave SW, arriving at the Tara Apartments exactly five minutes after that alarm was received.
By the time the first firefighters got there, “it was already fairly involved,” Burien/Normandy Park Fire Marshall Bill Harm recalled last week. The complex was engulfed in flames, which quickly spread to the adjacent Jenny Marie Apartments and threatened nearby structures, forcing fire crews into a defensive strategy from the outset.
Despite the rapid response, 8-year-old Edgar Cisneros, his grandfather, Ramon Cisneros Sanchez, 76, and Lindy Kunimoto, 49 – whose bodies would be discovered later by investigators inside the charred Tara Apartments – were probably dead by the time Engine 28 arrived. Another 14 people required medical treatment, five of whom were hospitalized with serious burns.
A shrine was built to honor the youngest fire victim, Edgar Cisneros, 8, who attended Gregory Heights Elementary.
This was Burien’s worst residential fire in nearly 20 years – and when King County Sheriff’s Office arson investigators determined that it was intentionally set, this became a case of murder.
One year later, the triple homicide and arson remains an unsolved mystery. But, King County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said last week, “This is not a cold case. It is not on the back shelf.” The case remains “under active investigation” by KCSO homicide detectives.
Urquhart said they have “at least one person of interest,” but could not comment further because the criminal investigation is open and ongoing. A man who had been heard shouting, “You can all burn in hell!” to a resident of the Tara Apartments a few days before the fire was interviewed by detectives during their initial investigation and released.
Arriving a minute after Engine 28 that deadly Sunday morning was a battalion command vehicle. One minute later, Ladder Company 29 pulled up. Engine 18 and Engine 19 and the first Medic One to respond were close behind. Over the next 20 minutes, multiple alarms summoned additional Burien firefighters and crews from the North Highline (Fire District 11), SeaTac, Tukwila, Port of Seattle, and Renton fire departments, South King Fire & Rescue (Des Moines/Federal Way), and Kent Fire & Life Safety.
“We had a very rapid response. You can’t get a much better response time, especially to a fire in the middle of the night,” Harm noted. “It was a chaotic scene … we did a good job.”
Part of the incident report details what the scene was like.
Despite their best efforts, the fire, which was burning out of control by the time the first firefighters arrived, destroyed the eight-unit Tara Apartments and heavily damaged the Jenny Marie Apartments.
Both buildings had smoke alarms but no sprinklers. Still, witnesses said later, they were shocked at how quickly the fire moved through the two adjacent complexes. Some 50 low-income residents were left homeless. The total loss, including personal property, was about $1.75 million.”
Agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) joined the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and King County Fire Investigators in the investigation.
Today, both the Tara (above) and Jenny Marie apartments have been rebuilt and are ready for occupancy.
A $10,000 reward is still being offered for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible. Anyone with information about the arson can call the Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.
“This was a trying fire for all involved,” Harm recalled. “We got good assistance from the public afterwards.”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- 3-Alarm Fire Kills Three, Leaves 50 Homeless
- Fire Victim Gets Surprise Gift Thanks To Local TV Station
- Burien Fire Victim Checks In With The B-Town Blog
- Fatal Apartment Arson Fire Was One Month Ago Today
- Fire Victims Donation Center Closed + Some Shout Outs
- Burien Fire Apartment Victims Suing Landlord
- Some Auction Items For Wed. Fundraiser At Mick Kelly’s
- Burien Fire Victim Fundraiser Coming July 16th
- How You Can Help Burien Fire Victims, Phase 1
One year ago Wednesday (May 6th), Ben Laumea, a father of six, passed away from injuries he suffered after being shot in the head with an AK-47 at the then-MVP Sports Bar in Burien.
A BTB Reader emailed us, asking why flowers had been placed on the doorstep of the establishment, now called Twigg’s, so we went over and took these photos:
As you can see in the closeup photo, candles were lit in the shape of a heart on the porch, along with about eight flower bouquets.
The shooter, Bruce Sivao Matagi, remains in jail on a first-degree murder charge.
Also, here are some Comments left on The B-Town Blog about this tragic incident:
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PPL JUS WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT. MY UNKO WAS A GREAT MAN WITH A BIG HEART…HE WAS THE BABYY IN THE FAMILY. AND TO THE GUY WHO SHOT MY UNKO YOU BETTER BE VERY THANKFUL THAT LAW ENFORcEMENT GOT YOU 1ST……MAY YOU REST IN LOVE UNKO BEN ALWAYS IN OURS HEARTS AND ON OUR MINDS. I LOVE YOU FOREVER UNTIL THAT DAY WE MEET AGAIN. IA MANUIA LOU MAGALA. I LOVE YOU UNKO B……………………..
i’m going to miss you unko B. You were everyones favorite and you will never be forgotten. To you monk i hope you get released early on good behavior. when you get out i’ll be waiting for your punk ass.
iiM MiiSSiiN yOOh LiiKe Crazy uNko beN yOoh Was LiiKe a father to everyone but yea who eva did that to yooh will pay the priCe but its all good your in a better plaCe now unko ben muCh love to yooh Rest in harmony…
Here’s a video we found of Laumea’s memorial service:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=35283795Monday morning, the King County Sheriff’s Office announced that the driver of the Cadillac who was shot last Tuesday at South 188th and International Blvd. in SeaTac, died overnight at Harborview Hospital.
On Saturday night, the fourth and final suspect, 21, turned himself in. Previously the other three had been arrested.
Charges for all four are expected this week.
In the meantime, bail was set at $2 million each for First-Degree Murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Fourth, Final SeaTac Shooting Suspect Turns Self In
- Three Out Of Four SeaTac Shooters Arrested, One In Burien
- VIDEO: Security Cam Footage From SeaTac Shooting
The male suspect in a shooting death of a man outside a Boulevard Park apartment pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning, according to The Seattle Times.
The suspect, Cesar Trochez-Jimenez, 28, is accused of shooting and killing Mario Batiz-Castillo, 25, on July 7th.
He was arrested a few days later in Vancouver, B.C.
Batiz-Castillo was shot four times and died inside his SUV, which was parked at the Willow Terrace apartments in the 1100 block of South 99th Street in Boulevard Park.
Prosecutors say that the shooter believed the victim was having an affair with his girlfriend, which was the likely motive.
Read the full story here.
On Wednesday, a judge turned down an attempted stay of execution for Cal Coburn Brown, a man convicted of the 1991 rape, torture and murder of Holly Washa, 22, of Burien.
Brown carjacked Washa, then held her against her will for two days in a SeaTac motel, raping and torturing her before slashing her throat.
According to court documents, Brown suffered from bi-polar disorder, but has been medicated since 1994.
Barring any other last-minute decisions, Brown will be executed via lethal injection just after midnight Friday at Walla Walla State Penitentiary.
He will be the first King County prisoner put to death since 1993, with the state of Washington reinstated the death penalty.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Our own Gina Bourdage took the photos above at the scene of the crime late Wednesday afternoon, where a man’s body was found inside the Burien Jewelry and Loan building in the 200 block of SW 152nd in downtown Burien (map below).
According to KOMO News, a gun was found near the body, it’s being considered “suspicious” and no identity has yet been released.
As Bourdage was on the scene, the Medical Examiner pulled up.
The investigation is continuing.
According to numerous news sources, the Washington man scheduled to be executed March 13th has a bad Burien connection.
Cal Coburn Brown was convicted in 1993 of the 1991 murder of Holly Washa, a 22-year old Burien woman.
He carjacked her near SeaTac Airport, held her captive for 34 hours at a motel, raped, robbed, tortured and slashed her to death, then left her body in the trunk of her car.
Brown will be put down on March 13th at the state Penitentiary at Walla Walla.
The Washington State Patrol is seeking help from the public in finding the driver of a white Toyota RAV4 who struck and killed Robert Windom, 54, of Burien early on Jan. 1st.
Windom was hit just before 3:30am on New Year’s Day on northbound I-5 near Boeing Field. The suspect driver fled, but a driver’s side rear-view mirror broke off, which has been matched to the RAV4, most likely made between 2005 and 2008.
It’s reported that Windom was a passenger in a car when he got out because he was feeling sick; he apparently wandered into the northbound lanes, where he was fatally struck by several vehicles.
So, if you know anyone driving a RAV4 or similar vehicle with damage to its left side, including the rear-view mirror and possibly headlight, fender, hood and windshield, please call WSP detectives at (425) 649-1530 immediately.
As you’ve probably heard by now, a shooting inside Tukwila’s Westfield Southcenter Mall on Saturday Nov. 22nd left one young man dead and another seriously injured, the gunman still at large, and the mall locked down for a while before being evacuated.
Police are still searching for the suspect.
We’ve managed to gather several videos related to the shooting:
KOMO News:
KIRO-TV:
KING-TV:
CELL PHONE VIDEO NEAR VICTIM:
TWO YOUNG WOMEN STUCK IN PARKING GARAGE TRAFFIC:
KID’S YOUTUBE COMMENTARY VIDEO:
A shooting inside Tukwila’s Westfield Southcenter Mall Saturday afternoon left one man dead and another seriously injured, the gunman still at large, and the mall locked down for a while before being evacuated.
We know you don’t read the B-Town Blog for this kind of news, but we had to post it anyways since Burien is less than five miles away.
Here are two videos related to the incident – the first taken on a cell phone by someone who walked up to and near the victim, and the second from two young women stuck in traffic trying to get to the mall:
For full coverage of this terrible incident, we recommend reading:
by Janet Grella
It is often agreed that most people over five years old and living in the United States on November 22, 1963 will remember exactly where they were when they found out that President John F. Kennedy was killed by an assassin’s gunshot in Dallas, Texas.
Today is the 45th Anniversary of this event that robbed us of our first Catholic president. The BTB thought we’d look back at this common memory through the eyes and memory of a local man who was there.
I met Tim Leahy at the Des Moines Legacy Foundation’s 9th Annual Bayside Brunch at Anthony’s Homeport recently. He was the Auctioneer, I was a volunteer. Through the course of conversation, I learned that he not only had lived in Dallas with his family, he was at the actual parade.
His Dad Richard took Tim (6th grade), sisters Cathy (8th grade) and little sister June (5th grade) out of class to see the first Roman Catholic President. Mom Patricia was home with his two younger brothers. From their vantage point they saw the presidential plane landing and Love Field. The Leahy family were very excited as the Presidential Lincoln Convertible drew past their spot real slow. Dad was taking home movies on an 8mm camera. Once they passed, Mr. Leahy got the kids in the car and drove them to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Local resident Tim Leahy was in Dallas when JFK was shot.
In what Tim said was “no longer than 10-15 minutes, we walked into the restaurant; everyone was gathered around a radio, weeping. A waitress told them the President had been shot. Dad rushed over to St. Monica’s Catholic Church to pray for the president, his family and the country.”
Although they had planned to go back to school at St. Monica’s, they were taken home to start what would be a three-day television broadcast.
Like all viewers on Saturday morning, Tim and his family watched Jack Ruby kill Lee Harvey Oswald in the garage of Dallas Police Headquarters surrounded by policeman and detectives. Let the conspiracy theories begin!
Walter Cronkite of CBS News broke into the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns” to tell the nation President Kennedy had been shot about 12:35pm CST and rushed to the hospital – here’s a video clip of that very moment:
At 1:38pm CST Mr. Cronkite was back on screen to tell American that our 35th President of the United States had died, about 38 minutes ago at 1:00pm:
BTB wants to know where were you when Kennedy died, and what were you doing?
Email us or post a Comment below…
Photo of Dick Dahlgard taken by Maureen Hoffmann at the 2005 Highline High School Homecoming game. Maureen says: "Dick was very committed to contributing to this community in many ways. His touch on Burien will be missed."
Just a reminder that the memorial service for Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard will be held Saturday, Nov. 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166 (map below).
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:
Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166
In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video of tributes and memories of Dick from some of his peers:
View Larger Map
| Nov ’08 |
| 15 |
| 3:00 pm |
Richard “Dick” Dennis Dahlgard passed away Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 in his home in Burien, WA.
He was 73.
Dick was born in Pierre, SD, the first son of Dennis and Hazel, the oldest of four. They moved to Seattle in 1942 where Dick attended Sunnydale Elementary and Highline High School and graduated in 1954. Following high school he went to work for Tall’s Camera and the Washington State Patrol. In 1958, Dick joined the Army as a cryptographer where he served in Hawaii and the Pentagon.
Following his military service he moved to Seattle and worked for Tall’s Camera. In 1969 he opened Dick’s Camera and Sound which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006.
He is well known among the community for donating his time and talents as a photographer. He was an avid philanthropist and over the years dedicated his time to the Highline Historical Society, Highline Medical Center Foundation, the Hi-Liners, Discover Burien, and Merchants of Burien. He was an active member of the Burien-White Center Rotary for over 46 years.
He is survived by his son Nels Dahlgard of San Diego, daughters Cathy Chambers of Newport Beach, CA, Julie Faugeroux of Portland, OR, and Paige Dahlgard of Seattle, WA, sister Karen Dahlgard of Kirkland, WA, brother Daryl Dahlgard of La Conner, WA, and sister Kristin Galante of Mukilteo, WA.
He will be forever missed and loved.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:
Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166
To view a special video with memories of Dick, click here.
Below are some comments we’ve received from Readers:
Knew Dick for over 50 years. Friend at Highline Hich, co-community worker through Burien Chamber of Commerce, Highline Community Hospital Foundation Board, 4th of July Parade, Miss Burien Scholarship Pageant, Political volunteer, but most of all a shared love of Burien and young people. He was truly a giver and he gave out of a sincerely giving heart. Never expecting or wanting anything back. I draw comfort knowing I’ll see him again at a much bigger reunion.
- Joan Dehn
According to The Seattle Times, police have arrested two suspects in the shooting death of a 15-year old boy in Boulevard Park on Thursday, Oct. 30th.
The two teens, from Kent, include a 14-year-old believed to be the shooter and a 15-year-old alleged to be the driver.
Both are accused in the Oct. 30th shooting death of James Jametsky during a marijuana sale in an apartment building parking lot.
According to police, Jametsky was at a Boulevard Park apartment babysitting his 3-year-old nephew when he went outside to talk to someone in a car, who then shot him dead.
Story and Video by Janet Grella
Dick Dahlgard passed away Wed., Nov. 5th
With the passing of Dick Dahlgard on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, Burien has lost one of its most passionate supporters. So passionate in fact, that he was often referred to as “Mr. Burien.”
While working in sales at the Highline Times, I passed many informative hours sitting in Dick’s very cluttered office at Dick’s Camera and Video on First Avenue in Burien. He’d share Burien’s history and historical artifacts with me and tell me endless stories about the old days. Like most people in Burien, I bought my first camera from Dick (I was over 50, and it was a digital!).
And like most people in Burien, I considered Dick Dahlgard a friend.
As a 1954 graduate of Highline High School, Dick was a treasure-trove of information about the school and area. When we last spoke, he was busy planning the 55th Reunion of the class of ‘54 which will take place next summer. The only time he was away from Burien was while he was in the service after high school. He was proud of his kids and their service to our country. Daughter Paige served in the Washington Army National Guard in Baghdad, Iraq, while son Nels is a Marine currently stationed in California.
A photographer at Highline High School, Dick turned his passion into his business.
Among many venues of community service, Dick was the official photographer and promoter of The Hi-Liners from its very beginning; a board member of Discover Burien and past president of Merchants of Burien; and a board member and volunteer of The Highline Historical Society.
He was always proud of his 46-year association with Rotary International, especially the Burien/White Center chapter that meets every Thursday at 12 noon at Angelo’s of Burien. He was so devoted that he never missed a meeting in his entire 46 years.
Wanting to pay tribute to Dick, I caught up with a few local Rotarians Thursday prior to this week’s meeting, tragically the first missed by Dick in 46 years. Many members were just hearing about his passing when they entered the weekly gathering.
We at the BTB cannot put into words what Dick Dahlgard meant to this community. Here’s what some of his fellow Rotarians and a few community leaders had to say about Dick:
If you’d like to share your thoughts on Dick, please do so in our Comments section below.
NOTE: to prevent spam comments, we kindly ask that if you haven’t yet registered, please register or log in to post a comment.
We dropped by the Dia de los Muertos celebration going on at the Burien Community Center Saturday and took these photos:
This altar was created by Spanish II students at Highline's Global Connections High School (formerly Tyee).
The altar is aimed at African children who died in conflict.
You'll see sugar skulls at many altars, as an offering/treat to tempt the dead to come back for a visit.
The exhibit/celebration continues Sunday from 10am-6pm, there’s no charge and everyone’s invited to come make or add to an “offrenda” or offering to the dearly departed.
The Burien Community Center is located at 425 SW 144th Street in Burien.
| Nov ’08 |
| 1 |
| 10:00 am |
| Nov ’08 |
| 2 |
| 10:00 am |
A special Dia de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead” celebration will take place Saturday and Sunday Nov. 1st through 2nd from 10am to 6pm at the Burien Community Center, located at 425 SW 144th Street (map below).
This is a first-time collaboration between Burien Parks, the Highline Historical Society and Para los Ninos, and it should be a fun and interesting time for all, both living and dead.
Everyone is invited to help commemorate their deceased loved ones with “offrendas,” or offerings through alters that include fanciful foods, symbols, photos and even artifacts that honor that person’s life.
According to Mexican legend:
Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living.
People will go to cemeteries to communicate with the souls of the departed, and will build private altars, containing the favorite foods and beverages, and photos and memorabilia, of the departed.
The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.
Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.
Here’s an interesting video that shows some of what this fascinating day is all about:
A Burien man was sentenced to more than 97 years in prison for shooting and killing his boss and two others more than five years ago.
Tony Smith, 29, was convicted of three counts of first degree murder for the shooting deaths of Francisco Santos-Rojas, 24, his 16-year-old nephew, Edgar Santos and Ruben Fuentes, 24.
The three were slain Jan. 3, 2003, in an SUV parked on the West Valley Highway in Kent.
SOURCE:
According to several news sources, a man was found shot to death in his car near SeaTac Airport early Monday morning.
The man, in his 30s, was found slumped over the wheel in a car near the intersection of International Blvd (aka Highway 99) and State Route 518 just after midnight.
The shooter remains at large.
Apaprently, SR-518 was closed down for a while as police dogs and a helicopter searched the area, causing backups for drivers headed to or from the area.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
Video of the story available here.
SOURCES:
| Sep ’08 |
| 21 |
| 12:00 pm |
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of our Advertisers – Rich Higginbotham of E.B. Foote Winery passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 15th from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.
He was 61.
As a tribute to Rich, a special wine will be bottled and labeled next year. Called “Remembrance,” the label for this red table wine will include Rich’s photo from above. When released, 50% of the sale price will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.
An open house will be held at E.B. Foote Winery this Sunday, Sept. 21 from Noon – 6pm to share memories and celebrate his life. At his request, in lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Alzheimer’s Association for further research into this dreaded disease.
To donate online, click here, then select the third choice, “Tribute/Memorial donation (to honor someone)” and enter Rich’s name where appropriate.
Our condolences go out to Sherrill, Rich’s family, friends, co-workers and the entire E.B. Foote Winery family.
Here is his obit as provided by E.B. Foote:
Rich is survived by Sherrill Miller, his wife of more than 34 years; his sister Betty Brabban; in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was born and raised in Nitro, West-by-God Virginia, a small town outside of Charleston.
He would often tell stories about his growing-up years — being in Cub Scouts, parking cars for events at the town Moose lodge, mowing lawns to make money, painting the local water tower with high school buddies, sneaking out of the house after dark, lifeguarding during summer vacations at Lost River State Park, playing in the high school marching band, and his time in the Army during the Vietnam era. He was discharged from the Army in 1971 at Fort Lewis and decided to stay in Seattle to experience life on the other coast. He met Sherrill in 1972, and that same year he went to work at the King County Jail in food service. After a short time he became the Food Service Supervisor, planning menus and ordering food for more than 1500 inmates and staff.
In 1991 he and Sherrill decided to buy E. B. Foote Winery in south Seattle. They had never made wine before, but they learned together. They were making award-winning wine by their second vintage. In 2001 he retired from King County to become a full-time “wineaux.” The winery was growing and he was passionate about winemaking, striving to make the best possible wines.
In 2003 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. He and Sherrill worked together to keep the winery going. As Rich became less able to do “wine work,” Sherrill gradually took over more and more responsibilities. Even when he was unable to help at all, he still enjoyed being at the winery and listening to Sherrill speak to groups about the winery’s beginning. In May 2008 he needed more help than Sherrill could provide, and he went to live in an adult family home until his passing.
The Seattle P-I reports that a 59-year old Burien woman was killed Saturday night after being struck by an SUV near Renton.
The accident occurred just before 9pm on SR-169 near 196th Avenue Southeast, which is between Renton and Maple Valley.
The driver of the SUV is a 52-year old Lynnwood woman.
No identity has been released, and the case remains under investigation.
SOURCE:
John Ogden, 20, was found guilty by a jury today in the murder-for-hire shooting of his stepfather, Ron Whitehead, 61, of Des Moines.
Ogden was just 16 at the time of the murder, which took place on March 18, 2005 at the intersection of SW 188th and 8th Ave SW near SeaTac Airport (map below).
Prosecutors claim that Odgen and his mother, Velma Ogden-Whitehead, hired one of his friends to kill his stepfather for inheritance and insurance.
One interesting aspect of this trial was that the car in which Whitehead was driving when he was shot and killed was actually re-constructed last Thursday inside the courtroom (story here).
Velma Ogden-Whitehead was sentenced June to 22 years in prison.
Ogden’s accomplice, Wilson Sayachack, accused of hiding in Whitehead’s trunk and pulling the trigger, is still awaiting trial.
Ogden faces more than 30 years in prison when he is sentenced.
SOURCE:
Jared Storer, son of Mark Storer and brother of Brian, both of whom died last week when their floatplane crashed, wrote the following message about yesterday’s memorial service on his blog last night:
Thanks to everyone who attended Mark & Brian’s Memorial Service today. It really meant a lot to the entire family to see so many supporters of our loved ones.
Both men would be extremely proud of the service.
Thanks to all volunteers of Church by the Side of the Road, John Knox Presbyterian Church, Normandy Christian Church, Maars Hill, Riverview Community Church, and all other groups for helping organize the service and reception.
As for the procession, a special thanks to North Highline Fire District, Bellevue Fire Department, Burien/Normandy Park Fire, Washington State Patrol, King County Sheriff’s Office, Port of Seattle Police, all towing companies in attendance, as well as security agencies, and other friends that drove in the procession.
Your overwhelming support is appreciated by the Storer family and was a true honor to Mark & Brian.
We estimate approximately 700 people in attendance at the service and 150 vehicles in the procession, primarily emergency vehicles.
Memorial Service Coverage:
Donations to the family of Brian Storer are currently being accepted at Sterling Savings Bank locations. The Storer Family Memorial Fund will benefit the 2 & 1 year old boys who lost their father.
More info at http://jaredstorer.blogspot.com/
TUKWILA – Burien Towing’s Mark and Brian Storer, killed last week when their floatplane crashed near Shelton, were honored today with a memorial service here.
The procession was highlighted by dozens of tow trucks (several vintage ones that Mark collected) in a procession that started at the Burien Towing offices on SW 149th, along with an honor guard and hundreds of mourners in the Church by the Side of the Road at this afternoon’s service.
More info:
| Aug ’08 |
| 7 |
| 2:00 pm |
Dan Packer, the East Pierce County Fire Chief who was tragically killed last Saturday while surveying a forest fire in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, once worked for the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.
Packer, 49, worked for the local fire department from 1981 through 1994, when he left to work for Bonney Lake as Battalion Chief; he was soon promoted to Fire Chief for East Pierce County.
Packer’s quick rise through the ranks of B/N.P.F.D resulted in being promoted to Lieutenant, then being named “Firefighter of the Year” in 1992.
Many of his old co-workers and friends in the area are very saddened at the loss, and we here at the B-Town Blog wanted to make sure that everyone knew of his local ties, as well as the upcoming memorial service.
According to Doug Luedeman of the B.F.D., Packer was instrumental in the development of the “Children’s Fire Safety House” trailer which was ironically displayed at the Burien Strawberry Festival June 28th, where a young 8-year old boy named Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez visited it the day before he was tragically killed in the June 29th arson apartment fire.
Packer leaves behind a wife, four daughters and two grandchildren.
Memorial for Fire Chief Dan Packer
- When: 2 pm Thurs. Aug. 7
- Where: Christian Faith Center, 33645 20th Ave. S., Federal Way. The public is invited to the service.
- Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made at any Washington Mutual location to the Fire Chief Dan Packer Memorial Fund. Checks can also be mailed to:
East Pierce Professional Firefighters
PO Box 7500
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
We’d like to take a moment to reflect and commemorate that it was exactly one month ago today that an arson fire blazed through the Tara and Jenny Marie apartment buildings in the 400 block of SW 155th Street, killing three (Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez, his grandfather Ramon Cisneros Sanchez and Lindy Kunimoto) and injuring six.
To date, no arrests have yet been made, despite a $10,000 reward.
According to Jared Storer’s blog, a fund has been set up to support the family of Brian Storer, who was killed last Thursday in a floatplane crash near Shelton along with his father, Mark.
Brian and Christy Storer were married three years and have two young children, Toby & Sam, ages 2 and 1 (pictured at left).
The “Storer Family Memorial Fund” is accepting donations at all Sterling Savings Bank locations.
