HIP HOP AT O SPACE A new concert series is aimed at young people. Page 13
NEWS | Studio 101 goes out of business. [3] COMMENTARY | Consider the benefits of eating locally. [6] COMMUNITY | Nonprofit hopes [4] to start a youth center.
ON THE COURT Girls and boys basketball teams snag wins. Page 16
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015
Vol. 59, No. 02
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
75¢
Day care center struggles to get licensed By SUSAN RIEMER Staff Writer
Courtesy Photos
Greg Plancich, left, and Dan Hardwick recently received awards from the Carnegie Hero Fund. They are pictured after being honored by the Coast Guard in 2013.
Island fishermen awarded for heroic rescue in Alaska By NATALIE MARTIN Staff Writer
Two local fishermen recently received prestigious national awards for a harrowing at-sea rescue they helped carry out two years ago off the coast of Alaska. Late last month, Dan Hardwick and Greg Plancich received medals from the Carnegie Hero Fund, which awards civilians who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree saving or trying to save the lives of others. Hardwick, Plancich and two other men were given the honor for their role in helping rescue the crew of a capsized fishing boat during a fierce storm off of Kodiak, Alaska, in 2012. Each award comes with a bronze medal and $5,000. The men also received the Coast Guard’s Good Samaritan award, the highest honor the Coast Guard gives to civilians, last year. “It was very nice, and I certainly appreciate the $5,000 SEE AWARD, 19
Last fall, when Amanda Lawson set her mind on opening a licensed day care center, she had hoped it would be running by Jan. 1 . While that date has passed, the end of what Lawson says has been a difficult process may soon be in sight. Officials for the state’s Department of Early Learning (DEL) are expected to come next week for a site visit, the final step in what has been an arduous licensing process. Still, there are no guarantees that the facility will be awarded a license, as it is still being evaluated, according to Heather West, the Northwest’s regional administrator at DEL. “We certainly want to support all communities, but each site has to meet requirements,” West said. “That’s why we go through the lengthy process — to make sure every area is covered.” Lawson and
Susan Riemer/Staff Photo
Alli Lawson, 2, eats oatmeal while Vashon Children’s Center lead teacher Sandy Gilliam, center, and her Alli’s, Amanda Lawson, right, play with Allie’s sister Ella at the day care. The two women are currently trying to license the facility. Vashon Children’s Center lead teacher Sandy Gilliam trace their experiences from last August, when Lawson first contacted the DEL about becoming licensed, to the pres-
ent, and the picture includes encouragement from some staff at DEL and obstacles that both women say seem like intentionally set roadblocks. Indeed, in late December, Lawson
sent a long email to DEL supervisors and then on to state lawmakers, detailing her frustrations. While Lawson is new to operating child care programs, Gilliam has consid-
erable experience with them, having worked for more than a decade as a child care worker and program supervisor for Childhaven, SEE DAY CARE, 20
Man charged, shooting under investigation after ‘bizarre rampage’ Vashon man handed four charges for various crimes By NATALIE MARTIN Staff Writer
An islander was charged with four crimes last week after what court documents call an “utterly bizarre rampage” where he allegedly threatened others, rammed a patrol car and another car with his truck, was shot at by police and broke into a home to hide out.
Jesse James Mish, 24, was charged in King County Superior Court with felony harassment, second and third degree assault and residential burglary. There were no serious injuries during the incidents last week, which attracted news coverage from the Seattle media. The sheriff’s deputy who fired shots as Mish rammed his patrol car is now on administrative leave per county policy while the King County Sheriff’s Office investigates. According to Sgt. DB Gates, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, a
shooting review board will decide whether the deputy, Richard Ehlers, was following department policy when he fired the shots. As of Monday, Mish remained in King County Jail on $50,000 bail, an amount prosecuting attorney Terence Carlstrom requested, calling Mish a “significant threat to community safety and to the safety of law enforcement if released.” According to charging papers, the string of incidents began at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, when Mish drove his truck at high speed into the boat launch at
Dockton Park and yelled at a King County Parks employee concerning his Mish’s boat and trailer parked illegally at the boat launch. He reportedly said, “You don’t want to get on my bad side. Keep away from my property.” The parks employee notified police. A couple hours later, Mish reportedly yelled at and threatened to kill islander Michael Vayo outside Vayo’s apartment on 97th Place SW, just outside Vashon town. SEE RAMPAGE, 14