FRIDAY, april 27, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 17 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
Inserts: Fred Meyer, RiteAid, Office Depot, Best Buy, Staples, Wal-Mart, Valassis
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
A10 A16 A16
Sports New parks tax Legals
A4 A5 A6
SK Improv night Science displayed Opinion
▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
By CHARLIE BERMANT
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
SEE Veterans, PAGE A7
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).
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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
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Reporter
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
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-
Veterans living history museum opens downtown
By Brett Cihon
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
A story to tell
City receives $500,000 for pathway project
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
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Brett Cihon/staff photo
Inside this edition
he bought his first piece of military memorabilia 11 years ago. He intended to resell the cadet gray parade uniform he had purchased on the internet auction store eBay, but the uniform didn’t receive a single bid.
Sitting outside the museum next to his dog, Waya, Nitz explained how the Veterans Living History Museum at 825 Bay St. came to be. Nitz, a semi-retired propane delivery driver and Coast Guard veteran, said
Dale Nitz understands that everyone, from the youngest Navy ensign to a U.S. Army colonel, has a story. And stories are what his newly opened Veterans
Port Orchard
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
(Above) Dale Nitz and his dog, Waya, sit outside the newly opened Veterans Living History Museum on Bay Street. Nitz’s museum features war memorabilia from the Civil War through present day. (Left) Memorabilia from caps to pictures of veterans line the museum.
The City of Port Orchard received $500,000 from the state to ramp up the Bay Street Pedestrian Pathway. The money came from the state’s $1.1 billion c apit a l - i mprove me nt budget passed during the recent budget session. The money will be used exclusively to construct a portion of the city’s Bay Street Pedestrian Path, a multi-purpose path beginning at Waterfront Park near Downtown and ending at the Annapolis ferry facility. The Path is part of the expansive Mosquito Fleet Trail, intended to eventually connect Kingston and Southworth along the eastern shore of Kitsap County. The city’s planning director, James Weaver, said the $500,000 will be used to begin construction of Phase 1 of the pathway project. He said the funding for the project was secured through the handwork of the city’s legislative lobbyist, state legislators, the mayor and
Living History Museum strives to tell. “A tank is a tank is a tank,” Nitz said. “But if that was the tank Audie Murphy stood on and got his Medal of Honor, now it’s not just a tank. It’s something special.”
Reporter
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Seagull Cook-Off
the city staff. “Everyone worked hard to keep this in the budget,” he said. Projects that were shovel ready were given top priority in order to better increase job growth across the state, Weaver said. Construction was already slated to start this summer near Marina Park, continuing the trail from the existing boardwalk, and that the money received from the state should keep work going through the fall. He said the construction should continue up to BlackJack Creek. “We should keep working this fall,” Weaver said. “You’ll see major progress.” Weaver said an expansion of the trail over the BlackJack Creek Bridge will be a costly portion of the project, expected to cost upward of $350,000. The city is applying for different grants, including an Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account for $1 million, to secure funding for that portion of the project. “It’s a process,” he said.
By Brett Cihon
52nd Shelton Invitational
Myhre’s Restaurant rebuilds
Wolves face competition Twice destroyed Crafty cooks