FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 10 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Inserts: Fred Meyer, RiteAid, Office Depot, Best Buy, Staples, Wal-Mart, Valassis
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
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-
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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TIM MATTHES
BRUCE DANIELSON
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
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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
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
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JEANETTE DALTON
Staff Writer
Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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).
The new memorial is at Marina Park on the PO waterfront
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
SEE BMX PARK, PAGE A23
By CHARLIE BERMANT
Wall of Honor recognizes all those who’ve served
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.
Independent
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
By Brett Cihon
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FYI Obituaries Business
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Opinion Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports
yle Olsen worked hard to craft a large pile of dirt at South Kitsap Regional Park’s BMX course from a shapeless mound into a jump. He filled in gaps. He patted the dirt. He shaped the jump’s lip. After awhile, 16-year-old Olsen took a break and leaned against his shovel, frustrated. Not because the dirt he was
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South Kitsap’s BMX track may be leveled by county, riders fear
“We’ve worked about three years for this,” said John B. Weatherill, the Post Commander the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 2669 in Port Orchard. “We’re really excited about it.” Weatherill, a Vietnam War veteran, will be one of many living area veterans who will soon their name, type of service and rank carved into the wall. Differing from memorial walls, Weatherill said the Veterans Wall adjacent to the large gazebo and stage
UP IN THE AIR
Inside this edition
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SEE VETERANS, PAGE A2
molding into the perfect eight-foot long “tabletop” was heavy and hard to move. Olsen was frustrated because, if the Kitsap County Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has there way, all his work would be for naught. “I’ve been coming here every day for the past three years,” he said. “If they tear it down, I guess we’ll just have to build it back up again.” Olsen, a sophomore at South Kitsap High School, is
By Brett Cihon
SK looks to defend its Narrows League crown Photos from Saturday’s memorial service for the slain officer.
A large brick wall under construction on the waterfront at Marina Park has been a long time coming. But area veterans who will soon see their own names carved in brick say the Veterans Wall of Honor is definitely worth the wait.
16-year-old Kyle Olsen catches some no-handed air at the South Kitsap Regional Park BMX course as his friend, Skyler Olson, films. According to Olsen and others, the course could soon be demolished.
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Brett Cihon/ Staff Photo