A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
INSIDE SK Relay For Life kicks off Friday at high school A3
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Port Orchard ▼
By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
Independent
Tensions between two Port Orchard neighbors that erupted after one attempted to open a home business last year led both women to head down to the Kitsap County Courthouse Monday and file restraining orders against each other. Shelia Cronan, 49, said she filed a restraining order against Amber Keehn after returning home from a camping trip Aug. 17 and discovering pellets had been
FRIDAY, May 31, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 21 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
By BRIAN KELLY
Bainbridge Island Review Editor
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
Staff Writer
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CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
Eight people — six from South Kitsap — were arrested and booked into the Kitsap County Jail last week during the course of on-going investigations by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WestNET). According to Deputy Scott Wilson, KCSO spokesman, the investigations focused on two primary activities that typically are interwoven and connected for those involved in the drug underworld — narcotics possession and distribution, along with burglary investigations that lead to possessing stolen property. Wilson said KCSO detec-
tives served search warrants on one residence, three storage units and three vehicles in South Kitsap last week. Ten firearms (three reported stolen), along with power tools, cameras, household items, soft body armor and firearm silencers — all reported stolen in various burglaries — were recovered, according to reports. Deputies arrested and charged the following South Kitsap residents on May 20: • Shane Michael Grinde, 35, of Port Orchard, for delivery of meth; $100,000 bail. • Samanta L. Bernier, 20, of Port Orchard, for possessing stolen property, $5,000 bail. • Joseph Ryan Oddo, 31, of Port Orchard, for possession See arrests, A26
Staff report
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Sports Editor
See state, A30
Editor
Woman appearing on new ‘Let’s Make A Deal’
South Kitsap senior runs fastest 800-meter time in state this year TACOMA — LaForrest Church brought two elements to the state track meet. The right shoes and the right mindset. “I wanted to come in with a come-get-me attitude,” said Church, referring to the 800meter run. “I wanted people to know that I was the person to beat. I was telling myself that I was going to win this.” Church had little difficulty accomplishing that with a first-place finish in 1 minute, 51.82 seconds, at Star Track XXXI on May 25 at Mount Tahoma High School. It was the fastest time in the state this year.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photos
South Kitsap’s Zach Sleigh (left) takes the baton from Adam Gascoyne during the second leg of the Class 4A state track and field championship 1,600-meter relay race at Mount Tahoma High School.
Church, 1,600 relay capture state titles
nab six South Kitsap residents
Expectations were turned on their head in two Kitsap County political contests during Tuesday night’s primary election, as the perceived front-runners came in third and were disqualified in their respective races. Republican Tim Matthes drew the most votes in the South Kitsap commissioner’s race, followed by Democrat Charlotte Garrido. Monty Mahan, who was the first to declare for the seat and earned the endorsement of local mayors, came in third (See related story, page A3).
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
▼
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Staff Writer
and pension rates along with inflation as issues. In addition to the money saved on custodians, Patton said the district will dip into its reserve fund for $1.72 million. She said that’s not all bad because the district saved more than it anticipated in its last fiscal year, which ends Aug. 31. Patton said they also will save through not filling other vacant positions in the district, and through cutting expenses on supplies. The board unanimously adopted the budget. Patton warned in previous meetings that the “hard decisions” likely won’t end
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
activities she reported as stemming from Keehn’s attempts to operate a business out of her home. Weaver said following an April 11 hearing with the city’s Hearing Examiner, certain conditions were placed on Keehn’s permit to mitigate Cronan’s concerns before she would be allowed to operate her business. “(Keehn) has addressed all but one of those conditions, with the last being the letter from the (Kitsap County) Health Department,” Weaver said, explaining that Keehn’s current sewer facilities are
SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
See boater, A26
The South Kitsap School District is a little closer to closing its $2.9 million deficit for the upcoming school year. Terri Patton, assistant superintendent for business and support services, said at Wednesday’s school board meeting that the district won’t replace five full-time custodians who left the district after the last school year. She said that will save the district $250,000. Patton said the deficit stems from unforeseen circumstances when the district presented its last levy to voters in 2004. She cited escalating teacher salaries
chasing it last spring. City Development Director James Weaver confirmed that Keehn received a conditional-use permit to operate a onechair hair salon out of her home, which he described as “pretty innocuous” and something that doesn’t typically reach “the level of intensive use,” as far as impacts on the neighborhood are concerned. However, since November of 2007, Cronan has filed multiple complaints with the city regarding traffic, noise and other
The boater who was rescued off Bainbridge Island early Monday was apparently under the influence of alcohol when he left Manchester late Sunday, a Coast Guard official said. Norman Dormat, 60, was found in his 8-foot boat near Restoration Point off the southeastern tip of Bainbridge just before 6 a.m. Monday. Dormat had been reported missing by rangers at Blake Island State Park just after 1 a.m. Monday, and the Coast Guard launched a search effort. A HH-65D Dolphin helicopter from the Coast Guard’s Air Station Port Angeles found Dormat at about 5:50 a.m. May 27, and a Coast Guard boat from Seattle picked up the missing boater soon after and took him back to the pier in Manchester. Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Jordan Akiyama said the man’s wife called authorities late Sunday and said he was overdue. The boater had earlier spoken with his wife and said he was heading to Blake Island. “He got off the phone with his wife at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday night and said he was on his way back to Blake Island,” Akiyama said. The boater went off course, however, and never made it to Blake Island. Authorities also received reports that Dormat was under the influence when he left Manchester, Akiyama said. “When we found him on scene he was somewhat in
STATE CHAMPS Investigations Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Coast Guard rescues man, possible BUI shot in three of her home’s windows. Cronan, who lives on the 200 block of Flower Meadows Street in Port Orchard, said she believed the attack was part of an ongoing dispute with Keehn, whom she alleges has been running a hair salon out of her home without a business license and in defiance of a city “stop-work” order. Keehn, 30, said she filed for permission from the city of Port Orchard to operate a hair salon out of her home on the 2300 block of Flower Avenue soon after pur-
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Cody Wright from Milford, Utah, got a mouth full of mud and a zero score after falling off Strawberry Delight in the Saddle Bronc Riding competition Wednesday night at the Kitsap County Stampede. The fair runs through Sunday.
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
Inserts: Fred Meyer, RiteAid, Office Depot, Best Buy, Staples, Wal-Mart, Valassis
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
INSIDE From reserve SPORTS Errors police officer to POPD curtail Wolves’ state commander A8 title dream A29
LaForrest Church, who won the 800-meter title, crosses the finish line as SK won the 4A 1,600-meter relay state championship.
The fun-filled game show “Let’s Make A Deal” is back and Port Orchard resident Rachel Denny will be a contestant on the June 5 show. She could take home the fabulous “Big Deal of the Day” or maybe the dreaded “Zonk!” The game show is where audience members dress in outlandish costumes to win cash and prizes by making deals with the host. The one-hour series is hosted by Emmy Awardwinner Wayne Brady at the Sunset Bronson Studios in Hollywood, Calif. Viewers can tune in and watch the show at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, on KIRO (Channel 7) — a CBS affiliate. Charles and Maryls Johnson, of Port Orchard, won a new car on “The Price is Right” earlier this year.
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890