Sports Teens earn praise for response to apartment fire
Where in South Kitsap?
SK has three medalists at Mat Classic
Port Orchard
Independent FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 8 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
BRUCE DANIELSON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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
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). SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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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.
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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
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-
In the future, a day at the beach could look a lot different in Port Orchard.
An Olalla couple who had more than 150 animals seized from their property by the Kitsap Humane Society in November may seek monetary restitution from the nonprofit organization. “We are hoping the other side comes out and does the right thing in this,” said the couple’s attorney, Paul Richmond, about the Humane Society possibly stepping forward with options for restitution. “The judge said (in a pretrial hearing) that you have civil options. We’ll talk and see what our options are.” Simon Bailey and Rosalind YorbaBailey were accused of failing to provide proper care for the animals that were seized from their 5-acre “small scale” farm in November. On Friday, the Kitsap County prosecutor’s office dropped charges of second-degree
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
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
See animals, A14
See hero Award, A2
By BRETT CIHON
Staff Writer
See Waterfront, A12
The most immediate change in store is expanding the port district’s Marina Park, which includes the gazebo where summer Fathoms O’ Fun concerts are held and the popular children’s playground.
Editor
The City Council held a work session Tuesday night that included an hourlong discussion with Port of Bremerton officials about shortterm plans and long-term visions for improving the city’s waterfront.
By TIM KELLY
Independent file photos
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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.
Port Orchard man will be honored at annual Red Cross awards breakfast for rescuing driver from burning vehicle
The port district has funding and most of the required permits to start developing the area east of the park. Two rental houses and more than 100 pilings will be removed, an observation deck will be built above the
Cooperation pledged for plans to expand, enhance waterfront
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Opinion Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Thinking Allowed Obituaries Business
n A South Kitsap school employee also will be honored with an award Page 4A
The good part of a bad situation will be in the spotlight next week at the annual Red Cross West Sound Heroes Breakfast. For his quick action in helping get a man out of a burning vehicle last fall, James Dean of Port Orchard will be honored with the Good Neighbor Award at the event in Bremerton. Dean, 72, has a history of helping rescue people from his four-year stint in the Coast Guard in the 1950s. He was one of the crew on the first steel-hull, 52-foot rollover boat built for the Coast Guard. It was on that craft that Dean patrolled the Pacific coastline, often coming to the aid of fishermen and others whose boats got in trouble on the bars across harbors in Newport, Ore., and other places. But instead of rough water, it was another element — fire — that created peril for Dean on Sept. 13. He was driving past Safeway on Lund Avenue when a Dodge Durango that was southbound on Hoover Avenue blew past the stop sign and across Lund at high speed. The SUV narrowly missed hitting Dean’s vehicle and continued into a driveway before it crashed into a manufactured home. When Dean saw the Durango burst
Port officials, City Council rowing in same direction
Index
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
A hero gets his due
All charges dropped in case involving animals seized by Humane Society
James Dean is shown in September in front of the charred home where he rescued a man from a burning vehicle (below) that crashed into the residence and burst into flames when it ruptured a natural gas line.
Editor
Community
Page A9
Couple may seek restitution for animals By TIM KELLY
Community