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Port Orchard
Independent FRIDAY, June 1 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 22 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Witness in Trooper Radulescu killing convicted for helping shooter
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Mollet Guilty
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A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
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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-
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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
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
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
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
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. 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
Miracle Ranch has rested next to Horseshoe Lake for more than 50 years
Legals ................................................................................. A12
See Camp, A7
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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Contributed photos
Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
(Above) a camp councilor stokes the joy of attendees at the Miracle Ranch in one of the 50-year-old camp’s western-style buildings. (Left) a summer camper a the Miracle Ranch enjoys a dip into Horseshoe Lake.
Reporter
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
Camp provides old West feeling
but did anticipate filing an appeal. He also said Mollet A 19-year-old Port was devastated after the Orchard woman who sentencing. “She was pretty upset,” witnessed the killing of he said. Washington State Patrol During the trial, Trooper Tony Radulescu was found guilty on May Morrison contended that Mollet 25 of renonly lied dering to police c r i m i n a l “She lied for Joshua officers assistance because Blake.” in the first she feared degree. – Tim Drury, Kitsap Co. for her Megan Deputy Prosecutor own life, Mollet not to was also actively hide Blake from convicted of making a false statement to a public the police. “She was in the wrong servant in Kitsap Superior place at the wrong time,” Court after a jury took less he told jurors. than a day to deliberate Kitsap County Deputy following a four-day trial, presided over by Kitsap Prosecutor Tim Drury County Superior Court alleged that Blake and Mollet were friends, and Judge Leila Mills. Mollet faces up to when she told police offiten years in prison and cers she didn’t know of a a $20,000 dollar fine man named Joshua Blake, for lying to a Kitsap she was doing so to hide County Sheriff ’s deputy someone she cared about. “She lied for Joshua about whether she knew Blake, ” Drury said. 28-year-old Joshua Blake, After the trooper was Radulescu’s killer, the morning after Radulescu shot, Blake and Mollet fled to a residence at 3700 was killed on Feb 23. Sentencing for the trial Schofield Road in Port is June 5, said Jonathan Orchard. It was there that Morrison, Mollet’s defense Mollet lied to the Kitsap County Sheriff ’s deputy, lawyer. Morrison declined to after Blake had already left speak much about the case the scene. By Brett Cihon
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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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Crimes and thefts in Port Orchard................................... A2
Sewage for gardens.............................................................. A3
SK student to perform ........................................................A5
Opinion.................................................................................A6
Go past the entrance for Horseshoe Lake County Park down a private unpaved road with a variety of live animals fenced in on the right-hand side of the 80-acre plot. After passing the horses grazing in the meadow, several old Western-style
Schedule might not
Vets bury their own unclaimed comrades
Inside this edition
who founded the camp in 1960, had a specific image in mind when he created it. “Our founder was looking at how to work with youths in the Seattle area,” he said. “He settled on a Western-town look. We like the feeling of taking
Senior Reporter
buildings are featured at the Miracle Ranch on Sidney Road on the outskirts of South Kitsap. Signage for the “Dixon County Bank,” “Shoo-Fly Hotel” and “Miracle Ranch Chamber of Commerce” is clustered together in a setting that gives the feel of a small town from the 1800s. Doug Chase said Jack Geer,
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Canton staff to stay the same A solemn ceremony