Friday, August 23, 2013
www.bremertonpatriot.com
Page A17
Shooting Range
Candidates
CONTINUED FROM A1
CONTINUED FROM A1
sters’ trip to the range all the more unique. “This may be their one and only opportunity to fire a weapon in their lifetimes,” he said. Battin said many of the kids, partly for that reason, often get to Bremerton and ask about visiting the range. “Over the years, it’s been passed down from kid to kid so they usually ask if they’ll get to go to the gun range,” he said. When the students arrived at the range Monday evening they signed in and were outfitted with ear and eye protection. From there, they headed out to a shooting area apart from the main section of the club where they met Marcus Carter, a range officer who went over the ground rules, or “commandments,” for safely handling and firing the weapons. The first rule, Carter said, is to treat all guns as though they are loaded. Rule Number Two is be careful where you point the weapon. “Never allow the muzzle to point at anything you don’t want to destroy,” Carter said. “That bullet, when it comes out of there, is going very fast and it will destroy paper targets and it will kill people.”
different approaches. “I haven’t sponsored any legislation,” Flemister said. “As far as helping the city, one council member, unless you have respect from your professional colleagues, you can bring anything you want across the table. But it takes the full council and administration to get things done. So, I haven’t done anything by myself and I don’t take credit for anything by myself because I’m not accomplishing anything by myself.” Flemister later talked about working with others to minimize the number of jobs lost during her first budget cycle on the council, working through the contentious effort to locate a methadone clinic in downtown Bremerton, the creation of Lillian A. Walker Park and other proud accomplishments. Runyon, meanwhile, agreed it is often difficult to line up people and votes, but cited several examples, including his successful effort to get the council to reduce the mayor’s salary. Runyon also talked about developing the first energy conservation plan of any municipality in the county shortly after taking office and trying to get legislation passed to allow residents to have four chickens within the city limits. He said the latter effort took eight months and the threat of a citizens initiative to make it a reality. He also noted that he helped restore $15,000 in funding to the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance and got money made available for the Kitsap Entrepreneurial Center and the Bremerton Farmers Market. Flemister and Runyon
Budget CONTINUED FROM A1
fund increases, declining enrollment, among other issues. Despite issues out of the district’s control — like enrollment numbers — board member Scott Rahm praised Lindberg for his efforts on working at the budget. “I think you’ve been doing a good job controlling it from a budget standpoint,” Rahm told Lindberg. Boa rd President Carolynn Perkins also agreed, but she said that the budget must be balanced by next year in order to avoid fiscal problems. “We really have to start watching what the state does in January, February and March,” she said. “We have very little reserves to work with next year,” Lindberg agreed. “There’s still a lot of ‘ifs’ out there when you’re dealing with this kind of budget.” Each board member took part in roll call to approve the budget. When it came to board member David Rubie, he heaved a huge sigh before agreeing with his board members by saying, ‘aye.’ “I wasn’t really sure how I was going to vote when I came tonight,” he said after the meeting. “I was really torn.” Central Kitsap Central Kitsap School District (CKSD) board members met Aug. 14 to
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Bremerton Central Lions Club member Bob Battin shows Gehshi Toyota how to load bullets before teaching him how to shoot an AR-15. Carter also cautioned the kids about keeping the weapons low and not aiming or shooting over and above the high dirt mound at the end of the range because there are homes, a park and a school in the area. “Rule Number Three is your finger cannot be inside the trigger guard until your sights are lined up on the target and you’re ready to shoot,” Carter continued. And shoot they did. All three of the kids got to fire a .22 pistol and rifle, a .38 revolver, a .45, a lever action .38 rifle and
discuss various district matters, including the final 2013-2014 budget. “When we started looking at this budget, the hope was that we would have minimal reductions,” said David McVicker, assistant superintendent for business and operations. “That the enrollment or the state dollars would allow us to not have to do what we have done for the last seven years in a row now which is cut programs and people and edges and all those things.” “It’s my first black (number),” said McVicker of the $68,111 balance. Although relatively excited about the prospect of not going into major debt for the upcoming school year, McVicker added, “It’s not very big.” All board members were present for the meeting, including the new superintendent, Hazel Bauman to take a look ahead at the next year’s budget. With issues like struggling enrollment numbers and federal government money not always coming through, the district is taking cautious steps to how money is spent, McVicker said. When Bauman mentioned the idea of working hard to secure K-2, K-5 and even possibly a K-6 reading curriculum, she knew that getting extra money for reading programs likely wouldn’t and couldn’t happen until the following year. “I really want to urge the board to consider K-5 and if not even K-6 in a reading curriculum,” she said. “My
an AR-15. All three youngsters said they enjoyed the experience and would gladly do it again. “That’s more hard than I had expected,” Toyota said. Matsutani said she was surprised by the weight of the guns and various kicks that each one produced when firing. “It is very heavy,” she said, throwing her shoulders back to mimic the kick of the weapons.
preliminary assessment of the resources that we have for this area is that it’s a need and that we put this into next year’s budget … I’d love to do it this year, but I just don’t think we can.” Bauman estimated the cost of implementing a reading curriculum would cost between $500,000 to $1 million. Funding increases impacted several areas of the new budget, allowing the district to focus on increasing transportation, materials, supplies and operating costs, full-day kindergarten for Woodlands and
class size support for K-1 at Woodlands, Jackson Park and Clear Creek Elementary Schools. Additional impacts on the $115.6 million budget include an increase in retirement costs by 2.34 percent, declining enrollment and federal sequestration reductions. However, savings by making recommended budget adjustments such as position reductions and energy conservations will save the district nearly $380,000 for the 2013-2014 school year. The final budget will be adopted on Aug. 28.
also differed when it came to answering questions about government transparency and accountability. Flemister said she thought it was important for voters to weigh in on an amendment to the city’s charter that would allow the council to meet outside of Bremerton’s city limits. Runyon, on the other hand, urged voters to reject the proposal. Flemister said that the city’s website, procedure for public records requests and public meeting structure lend themselves to open government. “I think we’re already focused on being transparent,” she said. Runyon, though, said that a voter-approved reduction in the number of council districts, disbanding a parking committee and allowing the council to meet outside of Bremerton all lead to reduced transparency. If re-elected, Flemister said some of her biggest priorities will be continuing work at Lillian Walker Park, maintaining a sustainable budget and road maintenance. “I intend to win the election to continue what I have started,” she said. “I think the city council needs my voice and I think I bring integrity and honesty and transparency to that board. I think I’m a value player. In order for this game to be won, if we can call it a game, I need to be one of the starting players.” Runyon also expressed optimism about his chances in and laid out four pledges. He said he will improve Bremerton’s quality of life; enhance the business climate; control the cost of government; and champion open, transparent and accountable government. “I do my homework and I hold people accountable,” he said. “If that frightens you, don’t vote for me.”
We Deliver On-Base & Off Base! Silverdale
9800 Silverdale Way NW #101
Order Online at PapaJohns.com
360-662-1300
FAST & FRIENDLY SERVICES Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sunday 11am-5pm
Fast, Friendly Service Walk-Ins or Appointments Available • Haircut..................... $20 • Military/Senior ..... $17 • Buzzcut ................... $12 • Neck ............................$5 • Camo (Tint)............ $30 • Beard...........................$8 • Kids Cut................... $17 Downtown Bremerton 517 4th Street
Serving Washington for over 8 years.
30% OFF with Military I.D.
360-782-2263 www.acmebarbershop.com
Labor Day Clearance Sale Sunday September 1st 11am-3pm
25% to 50% off
on almost everything. Come by and save
BIG BUCKS!!!!
“Biiig Daddy’s Hot Dawgs” will be on site serving up the best darn dawgs in Kitsap County for your pleasure.
A Little bit of This & That
Trinkets, Toys and Treasures, A Quality Thrift Shop 4621 NW Merideth St., Bremerton • 360-801-1886
www.thisnthat.lucaswebz.com
Veteran owned business