Port Orchard
Independent FRIDAY, November 2, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 43 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Port looks at private sector for Bremerton Marina Inside A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
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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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CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
See Levy, A8
a little different as district of-
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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
Dennis Box/Staff Photos
School district looks at levy with a twist
Coloring Halloween
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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
Bremerton Patriot
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
By KEVAN MOORE
ficials hope to generate enough funding during the next South Kitsap School District four years to address several overdue capital projects. Some officials say maintenance of those include projects no longer the replacement of can wait. failing roofs at Olalla According and Sidney Glen to school board elementary schools president Kathryn and South Kitsap Simpson, that is High School. the reason behind Last month, Simpsome of those son said the school facilities upgrades Kathryn Simpson board discussed the being included in possibility of placing the maintenanceand-operations levy renewal to a capital improvement bond provide local funding to SKSD before voters, possibly as soon as 2014, which could have schools through 2017. entailed replacing a pair of the The measure will be on the district’s lowest-rated buildballot in February. SKSD last passed a four-year ings — South Colby Elementary and Cedar Heights Junior levy in 2009. But this one is
Ryan Sylvia, 20 months, above, works on coloring her Halloween poster at the Manchester Library Story Times for Little Ones Tuesday led by Heidi Larsen, youth services librarian. Emily Young, 4, reacts to a story and Chloe Peabody, 3, plays the xylophone. Check the website, www.portorchardindependent.com for a slide show.
See PORT, A5
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.
Page A10
rina in media reports. “If we’re presented with a business proposal and we don’t look at it, we are remiss of our responsibilities,” he said. Zabinski said that the marina is a huge asset to Bremerton and a great “doorstep to Kitsap County.” He, too, was highly complimentary of port staff and said that considering outside proposals to run the marina in no way should be construed as a criticism of their work. Zabinski also acknowledged that he doesn’t know what a private firm running the marina would look like, but it is worth finding out. Port of Bremerton CEO Tim rates in an effort to boost and must be run using occupancy, saying that good business practices.” any such move would Stokes said that contrary be bad for the long-term to any rumors, the port has financial health of the no intention of closing the marina. Other marinas up marina or letting the qualand down Puget Sound, ity of service at the facility meanwhile, sit full of boats deteriorate. Roger Zabinski Larry Stokes Axel Strakeljahn and many of them have “I’d like to ask every one, waiting lists. if this was your marina and Commissioner Larry your money, would you not Zabinski and Axel Strakeljahn. Stokes said he was approached try everything possible to stop the All three commissioners lauded about a month ago by a private busi- port staff and the marina itself, but bleeding?” Stokes said. ness offering to take over operations said that looking at proposals from Strakeljahn said that no decisions of the marina. During Thursday private firms is the responsible thing about outsourcing the management night’s meeting, Stokes said that out of the marina have been made and to do. of fairness, he would not disclose exploring that possibility is not a “Some will take this personally,” the name of the interested party, reflection of port staff. Strakeljahn Stokes said. “Some will be hurt and which he said has also had discusalso said he was tired of negative blame will be passed from here to sions with commissioners Roger press and the portrayal of the mathere, but the marina is a business Port of Bremerton commissioners decided unanimously Thursday night during a special meeting to seek proposals from private businesses to take over operations of the Bremerton Marina. The $34 million marina opened in 2008 but sits mostly empty with a vacancy rate that hovers around 60 percent. In addition, the marina’s annual $1 million expenses outpaced revenues by about $365,000 last year and it is on track to run a similar deficit this year. The facility itself, funded with a 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation tax, is now paid off. The port has decided not to lower
Wolves doomed by turnovers game at CK
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS SUNDAY Don’t forget to turn back the clock! Wolves Loose 21-14
Renewal would allocate about $4 million to facilities projects By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Senior Reporter