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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
Staff report
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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).
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
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
KCSO detectives arrest seven in prostitution sting in Port Orchard
SEE KINDERGARTEN, A19
SEE UPSETS, 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.
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR 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
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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SEE SHOOTING, A19
Two Port Orchard police officers involved in 2014 shooting death have been cleared of any wrongdoing, according to a statement by Kitsap County Prosecutor Tina Robinson. Officers Matthew Bell and Nathan Lynch were involved in the shooting of Thomas Daniel Rogers on June 19, 2014, at the Rendezvous Tavern in Port Orchard where he was scheduled to DJ that evening. According to the statement, Robinson reviewed all
By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
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-
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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
Findings show officers justified in action by prosecutor’s office
Two more South Kitsap School District elementary schools will offer free, all-day kindergarten beginning in September. Interim assistant superintendent Bev Cheney said Hidden Creek and Manchester will join Burley-Glenwood, East Port Orchard, Olalla, Orchard Heights and Sidney Glen in offering the program. It is part of superintendent Michelle Reid’s plan to offer free, all-day kindergarten throughout SKSD by the 2016-17 school year. All-day kindergarten will be
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offered at Mullenix Ridge, South Colby and Sunnyslope. Tuition will be $200 per month, or $100 per month for families that qualify for free- and reduced-price lunch. These three schools also will continue to offer free half-day kindergarten during the upcoming school year. Cheney said district officials elected to first award free all-day kindergarten to schools with the most families that qualify for free- and reduced-price lunch. Reid said finances were the impetus behind the gradual all-day kindergarten rollout. She said the program required SKSD to hire 7.5 teachers at a cost of $536,000 during this school year. Reid expected about half of that cost to be covered by the Learning Assistance Program,
Charges have been filed against seven men who were arrested March 26 for solicitation of prostitution. One count each of patronizing a prostitute was filed against Gilberto Juan Zacarias, 18, address unknown; Thomas P. Mendoza, 27, address unknown; Norman Charles Marsh, 63, address unknown; Cody J. Looper, 21, Silverdale; Vitalino Santos Funes, 35, Bremerton; Kelsey Jerel Edgar, 36, Port Townsend; and Dustin Wayner Crawford, 40, Suquamish. All suspects were booked into the Kitsap County Jail on March 25 and bail was set at $10,000. The arrests occurred during several hours at a Port Orchard motel. Kitsap County Sheriff’s detectives, with assistance from area law enforcement agencies, arrested the men during an emphasis
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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.
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Fathoms Queen Charlotte Whitten sits on the floor of the Sidney Art Gallery and Museum March 30 to assist in stuffing plastic eggs for this weekend’s annual Easter egg hunt. More than 50 people were at the art gallery stuffing more than 6,000 eggs.
Sports previews for South Kitsap High boys soccer and girls water polo teams A31-32
SEE KCSO, A20
County launches text-to-911 service A5
Free, all-day kindergarten added at Hidden Creek, Manchester
Three more SKSD schools will incorporate program in 2016-17
Search comes to Port Orchard for doublehomicide suspect A4
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Port Orchard police officers cleared in 2014 shooting death
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
of the relevant evidence in this case, which included witness statements, crime scene evidence, autopsy reports and video surveillance, and found that use of deadly force by both officers was justified. “I’m glad the officers were vindicated in their actions,” said Port Orchard Police Chief Geoffrey Marti. Marti said he was impressed with the investigation. “The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office did a complete and thorough investigation,” he said. “I think from the facts that were developed from doing the complete investigation that the officers acted under the authority of law, and had no other choice.”
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