Port Orchard Independent, June 29, 2012

Page 1

Display the flag on your window this 4th

FRIDAY, June 29 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 26 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢

Independent

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

Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.

Jesse Beals/Staff Photo

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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.

By CHARLIE BERMANT 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

BRUCE DANIELSON

CHARLOTTE GARRIDO

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TIM MATTHES

JEANETTE DALTON

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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.

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

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

Reporter

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-

See McCormic Woods, A17

Gardner Joe.............A24

the

with

cycle. Problems

are stored in home tanks that the city pumps on a five year

See Library roof, A17

Baby steps in converting McCormick Woods STEP system

By Brett Cihon

Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting

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

Brett Cihon / staff photo

The Port Orchard Library will have a new roof by the end of the year. The Port Orchard City Council Tuesday evening unanimously approved a library roof replacement bid for an amount with a limit of $150,000. The contract was granted to FPH Construction, Inc, to replace the library’s dilapidated flat roof with a pitched, metal roof. Word that a new roof was on the way was great news for library workers. “We’re very excited,” said Port Orchard Library Branch Manager Kathleen Wilson. “We’ve been waiting for this for a while.” The city, which owns the building operated by Kitsap Regional Library, set aside $120,000 in real estate excise tax money last year to pay for the new roof. Two construction companies bid

Benny, 12, and his pal Timothy, 13, both of Port Orchard, jump into the Sinclair Inlet on the first official day of summer. Turn to pages 6 and 7 to see more photos from around the inlet on June 22.

Up to $150,000 for new library roof

First day of summer

Pg. 16

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.

Page A10

Tsunami debris.........A5

Opinion.....................A8

Sports.......................A10

Wig Wam Tavern.....A15

Legals ......................A17

McCormick Woods STEP system are numerous, said Rob Putaansuu, city council member and chair of the city’s utility committee. Effluent from the system is corrosive to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

Port Orchard’s intention to switch sewer service mechanics in McCormick Woods homes is moving — or STEPing — slowly along. Known as the McCormick Woods STEP System Retrofit project, city officials are hoping to gradually convert

Barry Schrempf is optimistic

Brett Cihon /Staff Photo

Pull

Port Orchard

SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890

kindergarten..............A4

Reporter

homes in McCormick Woods from the existing septic tank effluent pumping system to a more manageable grinder pump system. The STEP systems, installed in more than 600 McCormick Woods homes, are a combined storage tank and pump sewage system. Liquid effluent is drawn to a city sewer line while solids

By Brett Cihon

The F

Disp Page A12

Show you colors

Inside this edition

Resident’s face the choice of status quo or paying thousands down the road.

Up front costs covered by city, long-term costs to homeowners

Colo

Show NBA Franchise for Seattle?


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