Patriot Bremerton
Honoring Armed Forces Armed Your May 17 Forces parade guide Inside 66th annual
parade and events “Our annual Armed Forces Parade is the longest running and largest in the United States!”
BREMERTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 10 AM A SUPPLEMENT OF THE NORTH KITSAP HERALD, PORT ORCHARD INDEPENDENT, CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER, BREMERTON PATRIOT AND BAINBRIDGE REVIEW
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 | Vol. 17, No. 13 WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢
Fire chief says levy is critical BY KEVAN MOORE
KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
The Bremerton City Council was set this week to place a six-year emergency medical services (EMS) levy on the Aug. 5 ballot. At 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, the levy is not a new tax, but a replacement or continuation of the current levy which collects about $1.2 million annually. “We’re not going to be getting any more money and if we do, it’s just a slight amount of money more than we get right now,” said Bremerton Fire Chief Al Duke. “This is just a continuation. There’s no increase to it. In talking to the county assessor,
VIVA LA BREMERTON
he thinks there might be a one percent increase in the assessed valuation. So, there might be a slight increase in what you pay.” Duke said that the EMS levy is critical. “Most people don’t even known that your medical, or EMS services, are funded through the levy until a levy comes up,” Duke said. “I think it’s an important levy. It’s one of the most important services that the city provides. Our fire service provides that medical coverage in an emergency.” In 2013, the city’s EMS levy brought in $1,195,563 and ambulance fees brought in $525,716 for a total of $1,721,279. Expenses, SEE EMS LEVY, A9
Armin Jahr fire was likely arson 9/11 Memorial is not ADA accessible
Kevan Moore/staff photo
Young members of the Flokloric Dancers performed this past Saturday as part of the Charleston Business Association’s Third Annual Cinco de Mayo street fair. In addition to the girls’ dance performances, there was a series of wrestling matches, live music performed by Alegres Del Norte and plenty of delicious food.
BY SERAINE PAGE
SPAGE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Bremerton School District Superintendent Aaron Leavell says an April 12 portable fire at Armin Jahr Elementary was the result of arson. “The Bremerton Police Department basically has admitted it was arson,” said Leavell to board members during a May 1 meeting. “(The case) really will just sit there forever. The chances are slim to find the ones who started it.” During the meeting, board members approved the purchase of a new portable to go in the former spot of the destroyed portable. The portable was used as a preschool classroom, stated district officials.
According to a Bremerton Police report obtained by the Patriot, Cencom received notification of a commercial fire alarm from 800 Dibb Street, the location of Armin Jahr Elementary School at 1:54 a.m. on April 12. At 1:55 a.m., B re m e r t o n F i re Department responded to the fire, which was at the northwest corner of the school. Flames on the exterior of the building reached from the ground to the roof, and “flames were spread around on the grass for about a 10-foot diameter from the corner of the building,” states the report. Around 4 a.m., one of the firefighters noted
The City of Bremerton recently put up a sign at the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial at Evergreen Park warning those in wheelchairs, or those who have other accessibility issues, to use caution when maneuvering the twisting path leading to steel beams from the World Trade Center. The sidewalk, designed to invoke thoughts of the flight path of the planes that hurtled into the Twin Towers, is not in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Bremerton Parks Director Wyn Birkenthal said he installed the
SEE SCHOOL FIRE, A9
SEE 9/11 MEMORIAL, A9
BY KEVAN MOORE
KMOORE@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM
Kevan Moore/Staff photo
The City of Bremerton recently installed a sign at the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial urging visitors in wheelchairs to use caution on the non-ADA compliant path leading to the site.