Patriot Bremerton
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 34 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
Government shutdown hits Kitsap County hard By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
The shutdown of the federal government at midnight on Tuesday has created huge impacts in Kitsap County. Approximately 3,500 workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility were furloughed Tuesday. Captain James Lee, the Acting Commander at PSNS & IMF, took to Facebook Monday night to warn workers about what was in store following Congress’ failure to reach a compromise to keep federal agencies
funded. “It is difficult for me to give you news of what will occur tomorrow if government funding expires tonight, and I want to make it clear that furlough decisions are directed by law, not the Navy,” Lee wrote. “They are not a reflection of the importance of your work, the hard effort you put forth every day, or your dedicated service to PSNS & IMF and our nation.” Congressman Derek Kilmer bemoaned the shutdown on Tuesday and announced that he will give up his pay for the duration of
the shutdown. “The fact that some in Congress would risk a shutdown in order to score political points demonstrates why Congress is currently held in lower regard than head lice,” Kilmer said. “I’m voluntarily giving up my own pay during this shutdown because I believe in leading by example. Unfortunately, many federal employees in our region unfortunately won’t have a say about losing theirs. They’ll be furloughed and lose pay through no fault of their own. These employees and the folks who depend on their work deserve better.”
Kilmer’s office says that the government shutdown will cause roughly half of the government’s civilian workforce, about 1.2 million employees to face furloughs. Additionally, national parks will close, veterans’ disability payments may be disrupted, and there will be a suspension of approval of applications for Small Business Loans. It is estimated that a government shutdown will cost taxpayers $150 million a day. Kilmer’s office also noted that one of his first actions in Congress was to break with members of his party to vote for a plan called No Budget, No Pay – a
Questions linger following Stevens’ disappearance By SERAINE PAGE and KEVAN MOORE spage@soundpublishing.com and kmoore@ soundpublishing.com
Bremerton school board candidate Wendy Stevens has not responded to multiple requests for comment following her disappearance last week. A missing person report was filed Wednesday, Sept. 25, after Stevens had last been seen at about 9 a.m. that morning, and she was located Thursday afternoon. A Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office mobile search and rescue command post was set up in the parking lot of the Perry Avenue Mall, just a few blocks from Stevens’ home, while deputies and volunteers searched for her Thursday. The sheriff’s office refused to provide any paperwork regarding Stevens’ disappearance, citing an ongoing criminal investigation by the Bremerton Police Department into allegations of embezzlement by Stevens at the Naval Avenue PTA where she has volunteered for years. “The information contained in our report has direct implications to the investigation that is being conducted by Bremerton police,” said Deputy Scott Wilson, a sher-
plan that would withhold pay from Members of Congress if Congress doesn’t pass a budget. The 3,500 furloughed shipyard workers are described as “non-excepted” and they were placed in non-duty, non-pay status and are not allowed to work on a voluntary basis. The effects of the shutdown go beyond the shipyard, though. At Naval Base Kitsap, 97 of 453 civilian employees have been furloughed, according to Chief Petty Officer Daniel Pearson, public affairs officer for Navy Region Northwest.
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
Kitsap County Sheriff ’s Office deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers spent part of last Thursday searching for missing school board candidate Wendy Stevens. iff’s office spokesman. “So, under that caveat of the Revised Code of Washington, the public disclosure requests folks are going to decline to provide you with a report at this point.” Stevens took to Facebook on Monday night and offered a partial explanation for her disappearance. “Thanks to all family and friends for help, support or good wishes,” Stevens wrote. “I am now completing recovery at home from the hospital due to an effect of medica-
tion for a misdiagnosis which caused horrible reactions when cruel rumors began and I wasn’t able to process as I should have. I now know this ‘safe’ medicine effected many action of late and am taking life slowly from now on.” Stevens went on to express her appreciation for those that helped her husband and daughter while she was missing. She also noted that she hopes to begin visiting with friends by this weekend and “likely won’t use Facebook
until then.” According to a Bremerton PTSA Council audit, there were 18 different findings of mismanagement regarding the financial books of the Naval Avenue PTA where Stevens held the president position for three years. Allegations indicate that $9,967.83 is missing, according to the audit. The audit was kickstarted by almost $4,000 in overdue PTA bills that showed up over the summer. Stevens, who See STEVENS, A13
See SHUTDOWN, A13
Port to discuss marina contract By Leslie Kelly
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Employees assigned to fire and emergency services are not furloughed; Naval Base Kitsap has six fire stations and two police stations. At Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, “137 employees will be receiving a furlough letter sometime today,” public affairs officer Leslie Yuenger said Tuesday. NAVFAC NW headquarters is located on Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. The federal shutdown’s impact at the Department of Social and Health Services is still evolving.
A contract with Bremerton Marina consultant Bob Wise is expected to be extended at the next Port of Bremerton commissioners meeting Oct. 8. Port of Bremerton CEO said this week that he sent a statement of qualifications for consultant work at the marina to 28 companies and received only two responses. From those two, he and Bremerton Marina Manager Kathy Garcia chose Bob Wise of the Marsh Anderson Company, Bainbridge Island. Commissioners had approved the statement of qualifications being sent out at a previous meeting. “Marsh Anderson is the best qualified and we have notified Bob Wise of that selection,” Thompson said. “We will negotiate a contract soon and I will bring it to the commissioners for approval hopefully at the next meeting.” Wise has been under contract with the Port of Bremerton for the past five months. During that time he has been able to increase the number of tenants at
the marina and market the marina in a variety of ways including participation in National Marina Day, and by hosting informational booths at boat shows. Port commissioners were pleased with his work which cost $9,000 a month and wanted to extend his contract but could not do that without putting it out for competitive bid. By port regulation, any expenditure more than $50,000 has to be advertised for competitive bid. Wise’s previous work came in under that amount ($45,000) and hence, the port made that agreement without a public bid. Commissioners said, however, that an extension of the marina consulting work needed a bid process, which was accomplished through the request for statement of qualifications. At their next meeting, commissioners are expected to approve Wise to stay on for another six months at the same rate of pay so to have been with the port for almost a year. Commission chairman Larry Stokes has previously See MARINA, A13