Independent FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013 N VOL. 122, NO. 49 N WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM N 50¢
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A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest. By CHARLIE BERMANT Staff Writer
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).
BRUCE DANIELSON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
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
Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
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
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
SEE ANGEL, A31
SEE CHARGES, A31
SEE CRASH, A31
Staff Writer
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
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business. 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-
The boyfriend of one of two teenage girls killed in a single-vehicle crash Monday night has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. Charges were filed against Robert Allen Rundquist Jr., 20, in Kitsap County District Court Tuesday. According to his Facebook page, Rundquist is a student at Discovery Alternative High School in Port Orchard. Court records stated Rundquist was convicted of reckless driving, driving without a license and obstruction of a law enforcement officer in 2010. He also was cited for speeding last year. If convicted of vehicular homicide, the
An investigation continues into a single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two teenage girls Monday on Baby Doll Road. On Tuesday, the roadway was closed again for approximately six hours, until about 4 p.m., as traffic investigators conducted followup work during daylight hours, according to Deputy Scott Wilson, spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The two girls were killed and another was injured in the crash The Kitsap County Coroner’s
Staff report
More than 60 people packed into a Kitsap County courtroom to watch as Jan Angel was sworn in Tuesday as the first Republican woman state senator to represent the 26th Legislative District. The oath was administered by Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes. Angel, who served as the district’s state representative since 2009, defeated Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D-Gig Harbor) in the November general election. The race between the two candidates
was the most expensive senate race in state history at about $3 million. After she was sworn in, Angel and Forbes signed official documents. “I worked really hard to get my name on this document,” Angel said. Angel thanked those in attendance for their support. “This road has been a tough one and it ended up being the most expensive race in the history of the state Legislator,” Angel said. “But every one of you helped get this car over the finish line. And I thank you Editor
Officer identified the victims Tuesday as Rebekah F. Barrett, 18, and Shanaia R. Bennett, 17. Barrett, who lived in South Kitsap, was a former student in the South Kitsap School District and was attending Crosspoint Academy in Chico. Bennett, of Gig Harbor, was a student at Henderson Bay High School in the Peninsula School District. A third girl injured in the crash, Michelle Gregory, 17, was transported to Tacoma General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Jan Angel takes the oath of office during a swearing in ceremony Tuesday at the Kitsap County Courthouse.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
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
A temporary memorial, filled with flowers, candles and balloons, mark the site on Baby Doll Road where two teenage girls were killed in single-car crash Monday night.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Port Orchard man faces vehicular homicide charges
Editor
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
FATAL CRASH CLAIMS TWO SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
Angel sworn in as district’s first GOP woman state senator
Investigation continues into crash that killed teenage girls
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Port Orchard
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 Caldier announces candidacy for Seaquist’s seat A4 LOCAL Rain garden another learning tool for Olalla students A8 SPORTS Callaghan shoots Wolves past Bellarmine Prep A28