Port Orchard Independent, January 31, 2014

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SPORTS Former INSIDE Six competing for teammates reunite Fathoms royalty A8 at WOU A10

SEE YOUR “#12” POSTER INSIDE

Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.

Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting

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

Port Orchard

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014 N VOL. 123, NO. 1 N WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM N 50¢

SEAHAWK FEVER

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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). CHARLOTTE GARRIDO

ll through South Kitsap, signs of Seahawk fever are showing up everywhere. And now it’s reaching epidemic proportions as Sunday’s Super Bowl approaches. From signs and banners at homes and businesses to flags and stickers on automobiles, Seahawk fever is epidemic. The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos square off in Super Bowl VLVIII. Depending on the weather, game time is 3:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Anytime of the day, you can find someone wearing a Seahawk jersey (old or new), T-shirt or sweater. Since the season began many businesses — especially restaurants and bars — are showing support for Seattle, allowing employees to wear Seahawk colors on Fridays and

Sundays. Port Orchard city employees have worn the Seahawk colors each Friday or on game day. Even on the South Kitsap School District’s Facebook page, photos of elementary students showing their support are posted. The same goes for many of the restaurants, bars and taverns in South Kitsap. Many businesses have sign displays showing their support for the state’s only professional football team.

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Editor

TIM MATTHES

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By DANNIE OLIVEAUX

BRUCE DANIELSON

Port Orchard and South Kitsap businesses are using their signage to show support for the Seahawks.

RUNS WILD in South Kitsap

Fans hoping beloved team can bring home the city’s first Super Bowl trophy in its 37-year existence JEANETTE DALTON

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx/Staff Photo

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

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

MANCHESTER — The Kitsap County Coroner’s Office identified the body of a Port Orchard woman found Jan. 23 near Colchester Drive. The woman was identified as Cathy E. Stevens, 42, according to Coroner Greg Sandstrom. Sandstrom said family members positively identified the woman from body marks and tattoos hours after she was taken to the morgue. Stevens’ body was discovered about 4:30 p.m. by people working on a vacant beach house on Colchester Drive, reported the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Scott Wilson, KCSO spokesman, said there was no identification on the body when it was found. Deputies canvassed the area for any possible leads on the woman’s identity. Wilson said there are no “obvious indications of anything suspicious” and foul play is not suspected. When the body was found, it was wet and investigators believe it was due to tidal activity and not from floating in the water. “The woman was dressed for elements,” Wilson said. “Whatever happened to her, happened on the beach.” An autopsy was conducted Monday, Sandstrom said. Sandstrom said his office is waiting for results from a toxicology report to determine the cause and manner of death. Wilson said there’s no connection between Stevens and that of a 46-year-old woman whose body was discovered earlier on Blake Island.

Staff Writer

Editor

SEATTLE vs. DENVER

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

By DANNIE OLIVEAUX

SUPER BOWL VLVIII • FEB. 2, 2014 Jesse Beals/Staff Photo

Dead woman found in Manchester identified 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 Local attorney faces perjury charge A3

Party time Some restaurants, bars and taverns should be packed as patrons gather to watch the game. Some will provide drink and food specials, along with giveaways and door prizes. Everybody’s American Cookhouse and Sport Theater, 4215 Mile Hill Dr., will show SEE SEAHAWKS, A27

Council discusses funding extended foot ferry hours Committee will look whether to fund foot ferry extended hours this summer By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor

With the summer season five months away, Port Orchard city councilmembers weighed in on whether to fund ferry service and if so, what days and hours should it run. Last May, the council approved a joint agree-

ment with the Port of Bremerton and the City of Bremerton for Kitsap Harbor Tours, Inc., to provide additional foot ferry service hours on Friday and Saturday during the summer. Extended hours began May 24 and ended Sept. 2, while Friday and Saturday hours were extend to midnight. The agreement stated the ferry would operate on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., along with Sunday events and holiday service. Port Orchard’s portion of the cost is higher than the joining partners.The City allocated $9,500, while the Port is giving $5,500 and Bremerton $6,500. Cost to operate the ferry is $151 per hour. At the Jan. 28 council meeting, City Clerk

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Brandy Rinearson noted that $6,500 has been budgeted from the Lodging Tax Funds for this summer. She also provided documents on a breakdown of riders on the foot ferry during from May 24 to Sept. 2. Councilman John Clauson said there were some trips that operated late night with no passengers onboard and it cost $37 per trip. “Before I would be comfortable to support this, we need to do a little more homework on whether or not — and I’m only speaking about the late night hours,” said Clauson. “I think the service we SEE COUNCIL, A27


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