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
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Have A Safe & Happy Holiday Season!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 ✮ VOL. 123, NO. 47 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
Wolves pin down Blazers in Narrows action A14
The Dec. 26 edition of the Independent may be delivered later than usual because of holiday deadlines. You should receive your edition by 7 a.m. the following day.
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
Dec. 26 edition may be late
TIM MATTHES
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE SANTA, A30
JEANETTE DALTON
Simpson started paying Santa while with the Kiwanis Club. “We were helping the South Kitsap High School Key Club raise money,” Simpson said. “I was playing Santa and they were taking Santa photos at the old Holiday Extravaganza in Port Orchard.” Then, Simpson had to color his beard with white shoe polish or wear a designer beard. Now he uses bleach. “I still do bleach my beard periodically,” he said. “My hair is still not white enough and I have to bleach it regularly all year. I’ve been bleaching about seven years now.” Even after the holiday season, people recognize him as Santa. “I look the same 24-7, 365 days a year,” Simpson said. “I’m stopped in the grocery store and shopping malls constantly during the summer.” He carries a card with him he gives to children. The card — with Simpson’s picture on it — says, “Making a list, checking it twice. Don’t be naughty, always be nice.” He said playing Santa gives him a chance to bring some joy to peoples’ lives. “The thing about playing Santa is the joy of seeing people smile and bringing some fun into their lives,” Simpson said. Simpson said he doesn’t recall many
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).
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
SEE AWARDS, A28
ennis Simpson has put on his red and white suit and produced smiles on thousands of children’s faces for the last 36 years. Simpson, a retired teacher, plays Santa Claus for about a month each year from after Thanksgiving until a few days before Christmas. “I typically start doing something the weekend after Thanksgiving,” he said. Simpson, 66, said he’s not a “mall Santa,” but does events in the Bremerton-SeattleTacoma area. “I don’t sit in malls, but I do a lot of corporate and private parties, home visits, schools and community events,” he said. Simpson will be in Tacoma and Lakewood this weekend. In his years as Santa, Simpson has had thousands of children sit on his lap and give him their requests for Christmas. “I was at one home party recently and in less than 45 minutes more than 100 pictures were taken,” he said.
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Bremerton Patriot
On a rainy, windy evening more than 200 people gathered in Port Orchard to hear Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer and Sheriff-elect Gary Simpson present the annual departmental awards and recognitions. Among those who were honored Dec. 11 were Deputies Ben Herrin and Kurtis Lont, who were given the Medal of Valor for their efforts during a New Year’s Eve Day incident on Dec. 31, 2013.
Editor
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
By LESLIE KELLY
D
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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
Deputies honored for efforts on New Year’s Eve shooting in SK
Retired SKSD teacher transforms info St. Nick during holiday season
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
Sheriff’s office honors staff with annual awards
Kitsap Santa By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
SEE COUNCIL, A30
Courtesy Photo
Dennis Simpson, right, has brought joy to thousands of children while portraying Santa. His wife, Michele, left, sometimes joins him at events as Mrs. Claus. Staff Writer
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
Several Port Orchard City Council members expressed their concerns over a recent decision by Mayor Tim Matthes regarding their email accounts during the Dec. 16 work study session. Matthes directed staff that all city employees are required to correspond “You made a unilateral with elected officials decision to cut us off using city-assigned email at the knees to do it accounts. Matthes said he was you way or no way ... concerned about public That’s not working with records act violations after the council, Mr. Mayor. Bainbridge Island settled a nearly $500,000 lawsuit and That is absolutely not the resignation of a council working with us.“ member. “It was levied against – Jeff Cartwright, council them because council mem- member bers used their personal email accounts and the city was not able to produce the emails to comply,” Matthes said. He said eight months ago that the council said they prefer to use their personal email accounts. “That’s not an accurate statement,” said Councilman Rob Pataansuu. “We all said the system we have is arcaic and we
Angel blasts Inslee’s plan to fix state highways, bridges A3
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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-
Council members say mayor took action without input from council
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
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
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
Mayor’s email action draws ire from council