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JP Patches clown statue vandalized in Fremont, fans hope to make repairs

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JP Patches clown statue vandalized in Fremont, fans hope to make repairs


Community leaders in Fremont are hoping to repair the statue of Seattle’s most famous clown after it was defaced by a vandal within the past few weeks. 

J.P. Patches was the star of a long-running show from 1958-1981, with many members of the community appearing on the program over the years.  

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The statue was unveiled in 2008 with a street later named after the iconic clown. The picture below shows what the statue used to look like before and after the vandalism.

What they’re saying:

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“I am a long-time Seattleite and I know who J.P. Patches is and Gertrude,” said superfan Suzie Burke, a J.P. Patches statue supporter.

 Burke says during his three decades on TV, J.P. Patches worked to make people happy. 

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But, things took a sad turn after the statue honoring J.P. Patches and his sidekick, Gertrude, was vandalized with black paint. Someone inked out the facial features that made the characters come to life. 

“J.P. Patches was our clown,” she said, pictured below looking at the damage.

“We have to fix it!,” said Burke, pointing to the statue. “His face is supposed to be white, with the red lips and the red nose.”

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Fans of the late clown and the statue say the person who was responsible for defacing the statue wasn’t just clowning around, as the vandalism disrespects the memory of both the clown and the man behind him, Chris Wedes.

“J.P. Patches is a Seattle icon. Any kid that grew up from the 60s and 70s grew up watching JP Patches,” said Curt Hanks, webmeister of JPPatches.com.

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After Chris passed away in 2012, FOX 13 interviewed his co-star Bob Newman during a 2013 street-naming celebration in his honor.

“We could do crazy dumb stuff, you know, and people loved it,” said Newman. “They just loved to be talked to, you know, and we just had a great time.

As for who is responsible for the damage, that’s unclear. For now, Hanks with JPPatches.com says “Patches Pals,” as fans are called, will likely rally to make repairs.

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A restoration fund for the statue is now live on the J.P. Patches website.

“I raised funds for the last restoration of the statue about three years ago, and we raised funds for these pavers at the base of the statue,” said Hanks.

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“We take that pretty seriously, even when it’s a clown,” said Ryan Reiter, managing director for the Fremont Sunday Market, in reference to the vandalism.

Reiter is also hoping to host a parade in Fremont to raise money for the cause.

“We’ve just been spit-balling. We want to find a way to help fix J.P. Patches,” said Reiter.

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He’s hoping to host that parade at the Fremont Sunday Market location. He said he could host the event as early as May 25. He plans to make an announcement on social media soon.

FOX 13 reached out to Seattle Police to see if officers are investigating the vandalism incident, and we are waiting to hear back.

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The Source: Information in this story came from the J.P. Patches website and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

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‘Do you care more about the kids or the drug addicts?’: Jake calls out Seattle for potential homeless shelters near schools – MyNorthwest.com

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‘Do you care more about the kids or the drug addicts?’: Jake calls out Seattle for potential homeless shelters near schools – MyNorthwest.com


After the Seattle City Council moved forward with legislation that would expand temporary homeless shelters without buffer zones near schools, KIRO host Jake Skorheim questioned who the city really cares about.

Jake wondered aloud about what goes on in a Seattle City Council member’s head, assuming they even read the proposal.

“They see the thing, they go like, ‘Well, what do we think about this one here, about school zones?’ They’re like, ‘I don’t know about that. Let’s scratch that out. We can have homeless people around school zones, drug addicts, people who are trying to get their fix,’” he said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

Seattle legislation would increase shelter capacity by 50%

If approved, the legislation would let temporary shelter sites, including tiny home villages, RV safe lots, and tent encampments, increase capacity by 50%, raising the maximum from 100 to 150 residents.

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Approved amendments would require sites with more than 100 beds to maintain public safety plans and around-the-clock staffing. Another amendment would require shelters to establish agreements with surrounding neighborhoods outlining expectations for resident behavior and site management. A final amendment mandates at least one manager for every 15 high-needs residents.

Still, several nonprofits urged council members to pass the bill without amendments, arguing the added restrictions could slow resources to people experiencing homelessness and further stigmatize them.

Jake had a question for city leaders: “Who do you care more about? You care more about the kids or the homeless drug addicts?”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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Seattle beer garden employee found fatally shot inside business

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Seattle beer garden employee found fatally shot inside business


Seattle police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Saturday morning at a business in the city’s Lake City neighborhood, authorities said.

Officers responded to the 8500 block of Lake City Way Northeast after employees arriving to open the Growler Guys, a beer garden and restaurant, discovered a deceased man inside around 9 a.m. Saturday, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said at the scene.

The man, who police confirmed to be an employee in his early 20s, appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, Barnes said.

Seattle Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead.

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Dozens of friends and family members of the young victim spent hours on the scene Saturday, and many were visibly overcome with emotion.

Kelly Dole, owner of the Growler Guys, described the victim as a warm, light-hearted young man.

“He was the type of friend that everybody wanted to have,” Dole said. “His group of friends, which includes my son, are really going to miss him. They’re about as tight as a group of young men can be.”

The victim had been working at the business the night before; however, Seattle police have not confirmed when the shooting happened or what may have led up to it.

“When we have things like this, we have to reevaluate what we could’ve done better,” Chief Barnes said. “How can we make sure that we’re doing everything in our power to bring justice to this family, because quite frankly, they deserve it.”

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Detectives are focusing their investigation on the business and were processing the scene for evidence Saturday. Officers, investigators, chaplains, and support services were present.

The restaurant’s owners are cooperating with police, Barnes said. Dole was emotional while speaking with KOMO News about how the tragic shooting has shaken his neighborhood business.

“He always had a smile; he was so buoyant, you could never get him down,” Dole talked about the victim. “The world lost someone important today.”

Authorities said residents can expect an increased police presence in the area as the investigation continues and in the coming days.

There is no suspect information at this time, and police did not make any arrests. The circumstances leading up to the killing are under investigation.

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Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

The killing marks Seattle’s 12th homicide of the year, according to Barnes.

This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.



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Where to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9

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Where to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9


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Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.

We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Saturday as the Seattle Mariners visit the Chicago White Sox.

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See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox?

First pitch between the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 9.

How to watch Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox on Saturday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

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MLB scores, results

MLB scores for May 9 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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