Seattle Business Owner Faces Hefty Fine Over "Mystery" Sign

SEATTLE - You see them up and down the sidewalks of Pioneer Square, those sandwich boards in front of stores and restaurants. Now, one local business owner is butting heads with the City over his sign that's been there for two decades.

For the last 20 years you could find the Seattle Mystery Bookshop sandwich board on the corner of First and Cherry. But, shop owner J.B. Dickey recently got a rude surprise.

"It was just our bad luck that the inspector was looking at a sidewalk café across the street and saw our signs," said Dickey.

Dickey got a letter from the City saying his sign was a pedestrian hazard and needed to be removed or else.

"A $97 impoundment fee and up to $500 in fines," said Dickey.

The small business owner did yank the sign even though he insists it was never blocking the sidewalk.

"They've never been in the middle of the crosswalks or the wheelchair ramps," said Dickey.

Just like other businesses struggling right now in Pioneer Square Dickey says he has to do whatever he can to get people to come inside, and he says his sign did just that.

"By having our sign board here you catch people coming north and south, people waiting to cross the street and without directing them up the street it's a huge hit," said Dickey.

And, apparently it works lots of businesses in Pioneer Square use the sandwich board strategy.

Dickey does have one sandwich board in front of his store which he says is legal under the city ordinance. But, he says it's not enough to generate sales.

"That's not the sign that's important. The important sign for us is the one that was down at the intersection, half a block away, kicks tourists and shoppers up from First Avenue," said Dickey.

Dickey has gone to Mayor McGinn's Office for help. He figured out pretty quickly that if you can fight City Hall, as the old saying goes it could take months to win, if you win at all. And, with tourism season starting time just isn't something he has.

"I hope someday, something will change and we'll be allowed to use it again, but for the foreseeable future I don't think that's going to happen," said Dickey.

This sign fiasco has people leaving some passionate posts on a pair of local blogs. You've got some people willing to wear the sandwich board to help out the bookshop, while others say it's an ugly nuisance that needs to go.

No Condos Or Strip Malls Donated Land Will Create One Of A Kind Seattle Area Park

SAMMAMISH - Imagine a place where nature has been untouched that's home to 100 foot trees where plants and animals grow free and unfettered. Now, imagine that place in the middle of one of our area's fastest growing communities.

We're talking about 50 acres of the most pristine forest around in the heart of the city of Sammamish. While that community continues to grow with housing developments and strip malls, plans are in place to keep a major part of the Plateau the way nature intended wild.

Sammamish's new park was made possible by one woman's generous donation. For the last 38 years Mary Pigott has been blessed by all of the beauty in her backyard.

"To have enough of it so that you can actually kind of think you're in the middle of nowhere," said Pigott.

Now, she wants to share it with the community. This widow and grandma wants to make sure everyone gets to enjoy a true Pacific Northwest park.

"The idea of using this as a place to learn, all the different kinds of mosses, ferns, and mushrooms and fungi and how they all play a role in making a complete ecosystem," said Pigott.

This year Mary will give the city of Sammamish 15 acres for the park, then in 5 years another 20 acres and when she decides to move the final 15. But, there's a catch she says it has to stay just like it is, no strip malls or condos ever.

"Truly am delighted that this is going to stay the way it is and my grandkids and your grandkids all generations will be able to enjoy this the way I have," said Pigott.

Over the years Mary and her late husband bought 3 different pieces of property and built a 50 acre wooded wonderland complete with walking trails, streams and ponds, plenty of plants and animals and one big boulder.

"It was a rock that was pushed down here by glaciers during the last ice age," said Pigott.

Thanks to Mary it'll stay a true plateau treasure.

"I feel like it's a real privilege to be able to take part in making sure this stay sort of a natural area," said Pigott.

You'll get a chance to see the park for yourself when Mary and the city opens it to the public after the first of the year.

The last thing that's needed for this new park is a name. Mary says she hopes the city will form a committee so it can get suggestions from the community. But, Mary has some ideas on that too and she'll be involved in the process.

Family Escapes Burning Home After Car Goes Airborne Into It

PUYALLUP - A car drove right into their house. A Ford Escort to be exact and didn't stop until it hit the living room. Now, there's a huge mess and one heck of a story to tell.

It was a rude awakening for C.J. Hegstad and his grandmother Helen this morning in Puyallup.

"Pretty much came in airborne and landed about over here in this area and then just hit the deck, just moved it," said Hegstad.

Now, Helen says family is left with an epic mess which looks like a bomb exploded in their backyard.

"I couldn't believe it, but you should see the inside of the house too, it's a total disaster," said Hegstad.

Cops say the 19 year old female driver was speeding down Fruitland Avenue just after 3 AM Sunday, when her vehicle left the road and smashed right through the family's fence and ended up in their backyard.

Helen says she and C.J. didn't realize what had happened until a neighbor called 911.

"They started banging on our windows and doors and by that time the fire department and police were here," Hegstad.

According to Helen seconds later the car burst into flames and the situation got much worse.

"I yelled at him and I came out and this was just a big flame here. I said the house is on fire let's get out of here," said Hegstad.

C.J. and Helen escaped unharmed, the woman behind the wheel also walked away with just a few injuries.

C.J. says the family's home is now unlivable because it sustained heavy smoke and water damage and will require months of work.

"It's kind of sickening actually it's hard to breathe in here," said Hegstad.

This accident is the last thing Helen says she needs right now since she's fighting breast and colon cancer.

"It's going to be bad because I have so many doctors' appointments and everything. It's just unbelievable you never think it's going to happen to you, but you never know," said Hegstad.

Thankfully Helen had insurance so the damage will be covered. But, she and C.J. will have to spend the next two months in a hotel. Cops are still trying to figure out what caused the driver to go into their home, but are looking into if she was drinking.

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Last Victim Of Refinery Explosion Dies Day Before Memorial Service

ANACORTES - In less than 24 hours a community will remember the victims of the Tesoro refinery explosion in Anacortes, and sadly now all seven of them after the last survivor died early Saturday morning.

34 year old Matt Gumbel had been in the intensive care unit since he suffered serious burns in the refinery explosion. It wasn't the news Margaret Mordhorst wanted to learn.

"We're so sad to hear he didn't make it," said Mordhorst.

Overcome with grief friends of Matt Gumbel are remembering the Oak Harbor native as a wonderful and caring person. Jenny Watterson says he will be missed by the entire community.

"It's just heartbreaking the whole situation is tragic you never expect it to happen at home," said Watterson.

Gumbel was seriously burned in the April 2 refinery explosion. He underwent skin graft surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle late yesterday but died early this morning.

Today, the Gumbel family reached out to the community through the social media site CaringBridge.org to express their sorrow over losing Matt. The message read: "Matt was a wonderful person, son, brother, uncle, grandson, friend, and co-worker. We will truly miss him and never forget him."

Jamie Mami went to school with Gumbel her heart goes out to his loved ones.

"I feel really sad for the family they've been through so much since this happened and they're such a strong family," said Mami.

At Anacortes High School the community is preparing for tomorrow's memorial service for now all of the victims. Jamie Mami expects a huge turnout.

"I think people are going to come from everywhere to come back to town to do what needs to be done to pay their respects to say a goodbye," said Mami.

Gumbel is the last of 7 people that have died as a result of the Tesoro refinery explosion. It was the deadliest accident at a U.S. refinery since 2005.

29 year old Kathryn Powell of Burlington was one of the victims. Today on Gumbel's CaringBridge site Powell's family offered their prayers and sympathy for their loss. That deep emotion is felt by others in the tight-knit community like Rawson Mordhorst.

"Empathize with the people, it's very sad," Mordhorst.

Tesoro Company Officials say the seven workers were injured while doing routine maintenance on a unit that processes highly flammable liquid. What sparked the deadly firewall is still under investigation.

Matt Gumbel had a daughter and was supposed to get married later this summer.

The memorial service for all of the refinery explosion victims is happening Sunday at Anacortes High School from 2 PM until 4 PM and is open to the public.

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Seattle Couple Swindled While Searching For Stolen Puppy

SEATTLE - Getting your dog stolen is bad enough, but someone trying to use your loss for their gain is just plain mean. That's what Police say happened to a local couple when a teen tried scamming them to get their puppy back. While the accused robber's been busted, Honey the pup is still nowhere to be found.

The dog's owner Amelia Chavez says honey disappeared from her home on April 13. "She was in the backyard and she got out through a little hole in the fence and within 10 minutes someone said that they saw her in the street and a car picked her up," said Chavez.

Chavez is heartbroken over the loss of her little 17 month old blue nose pitbull. She says someone is a white Lexus grabbed the dog at the corner of 20th and Union.

"We ran around we just thought she'd be running around we didn't think anyone would pick her up and we ran around asking everyone we saw on the streets," said Chavez.

Amelia and her boyfriend Brandon put up flyers offering a reward all over their Capitol Hill neighborhood. That's when 17 year old Ceandrik Davis approached them and said he'd bought the dog from the person who took it.

"The entire time he was I have your dog. So, you give me the reward and I will give your dog back," said Chavez.

Brandon agreed to get into Davis' car with $800 in reward money. But, Amelia was suspicious and told a Seattle Police Officer that was patrolling the area. Even after the Officer warned Brandon he stayed in Davis' car.

"They had a selected area where the dog was, they went there and then when they got there said he was going to go get the dog and be right back," said Chavez.

According to Amelia, Davis and Brandon parked in front of a Central District home to get the dog. Prosecutors say that's when Davis threatened Brandon with a gun and walked off with the cash.

"Bad things happened and we never got the dog back," said Chavez.

Police eventually caught Davis in downtown Seattle the next day. They recovered a gun but the reward money was gone.

Amelia is worried sick about Honey. She says the puppy needs its shots but most of all needs to return to the people who care for her.

"She is loved, she does have a home, and we just want her back," said Chavez.

Ceandrik Davis will be formally arraigned in court on May 3 on charges of first degree robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. King County Prosecutors have decided to charge the 17 year old who has a length rap sheet as an adult.

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People Baffled By Strange "Humming Noise" Coming From Seattle Area Island

There's a new mystery in one local community. Dozens of people on Vashon Island are baffled by a strange humming noise. Neighbors can't figure out where it's coming from or what's causing it.

For the last four years Cindy and Jeff Hoyt have been hearing that strange sound around their island home. Cindy says it typically lasts for about 10 minutes at a time.

"It's all encompassing, you go outside and try to isolate it directionally and you just can't do it," said Hoyt.

Neighbors say the humming sound is pretty widespread on Vashon Island people hear it at the beach and in the woods too.

Jeep Brockway says the hum is irritating his family.

"But, my daughter it drives her nuts, drives my son in law nuts, so they hear it all the time," said Brockway.

While Q13 Fox News was interviewing Brockway our crew picked up some strange humming sounds from around the home.

Could it be coming from power lines, radio or cell-phone towers, airplanes, ferry traffic? People are baffled.

University of Washington Oceanographer Jim Thomson says it's not the water.

Cindy Hoyt says the hum isn't something you hear every day.

"Definitely doesn't sound like wind or a freighter or a plane or anything like that," said Hoyt.

Puget Sound Energy says it's not their equipment either.

Island Intuitive Lorna Cunningham believes the hum is a spiritual sound.

"Truly it's a message from source that Earth is here with us," said Cunningham.

Jeep Brockway wonders if it's connected to a UFO people say crashed near here 63 years ago.

"They think it could be something that was left behind, who knows, lots of crazy theories on the island," said Brockway.

Whatever it is, Jeff Hoyt doesn't believe the "Vashon Hum" will be going silent anytime soon.

"I think it's cool that there is this weird sound out there, but I do want to find out what it is," said Hoyt.

Scientists believe one way to figure out what's causing the "Vashon Hum" is to record the sound and perform frequency analysis to determine the pitch and pinpoint where it's coming from.

Second Time In Week NW Child Hit And Killed In Driveway

A 5-year-old boy was killed in Newcastle Friday when his Father accidentally ran over him while he was backing up a car.

With heavy hearts loved ones of the boy gathered near the spot where the 5 year old was hit and killed by his Father's black SUV. The boy's death came as a shock to everyone in the quiet Newcastle neighborhood.

Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine says the boy's Dad was backing out of his driveway in the 8200 block of 118th Avenue Southeast about 3:30 PM Friday when the accident happened.

"Child was going to be picked up on the corner and for whatever reason ran back," said Irvine.

The Fire Department tried saving the child but his injuries were too serious.

The Newcastle Police Department and the King County Sheriff's Office are working together on the investigation. The Sheriff's Office's Major Accident Response and Reconstruction Team is trying to figure out what went wrong today.

This deadly accident is the second one of the week involving a child being hit by a car in a driveway. A University Place 3 year old girl was hit and killed by her mother's fiancé while riding a tricycle on Monday.

Chief Irvine says these accidents are a reminder that parents need to be careful when pulling out of a driveway.

"Especially in larger vehicles where it's difficult to see it's important to know what's around the vehicle," said Irvine.

Neighbors say they remember seeing the child playing in his yard and say he was a fun loving boy. Geoff Dewitt feels terrible for the boy's family.

"I feel sorry for the family's loss and everything," said Dewitt.

Police did not take the boy's Father into custody and investigators believe charges will not be filed against him.