FRIDAY, November 2, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 43 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
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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By CHARLIE BERMANT
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-
BRUCE DANIELSON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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).
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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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.
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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
Wes Morrow/Staff Photo
Kitsap County commissioners Charlotte Garrido and Rob Gelder were right back at work in Port Orchard Wednesday morning following election night victories the night before. Initial vote totals released by the auditor’s office Tuesday night showed Garrido, a Democrat, outpacing her Republican opponent Linda Simpson by a margin of 54.29 percent to 47.26 percent. Gelder, also a Democrat, was ahead in his race against Republican challenger Chris Tibbs by a margin of 55.19 percent to 44.6 percent. County staffers congratulated Garrido and Gelder on their previous night’s victories throughout the morning Wednesday. At one point, Garrido was asked if she was especially tired following the campaign and election night.
▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest. kmoore@soundpublishing.com
By KEVAN MOORE
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
‘Truth or Consequences’ and the life of Ralph Rogers
See RALPH, A4
Ralph Edwards, host of the 1950s TV show “Truth or Consequences,” holds Ralph Rogers in Truth or Consequences, N.M.
Courtesy of Ralph Rogers
town derived its name, there wasn’t much to attract visitors. At the time, Ralph Edwards, the remerton resident Ralph E. famous radio announcer and teleRogers, owner of vision producer, was hostTeam Sports in East ing a television show that Bremerton, was born in would transform the little southern New Mexico the town of Hot Springs and day Hot Springs ceased those who lived there. to exist. The name of that While Hot Springs show was “Truth or doesn’t appear on maps Consequences. ” today, if you pick up a Ralph Rogers “ Tr u t h or map from 1950 it will be Consequences” started as visible right there in Sierra a radio program in 1940 and, as County, southern New Mexico. The town was small, with only many successful radio programs one main road and fewer than at the time did, transitioned to TV 5,000 residents. Other than the in 1950. When the show made the water sources from which the switch, Edwards announced a contest for cities and towns throughwmorrow@soundpublishing.com
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out the U.S. The winning community would change its name to Truth or Consequences, and Edwards would personally host the program from the town. Towns around the country submitted applications to the program, but Hot Springs won. Then, on April 1, 1951, two things happened: Hot Springs officially became Truth or Consequences, N.M., and the first child born in the newly named city was named Ralph Edwards Rogers. When Ralph Edwards, the newborn child’s namesake, hosted his show from the newly named town of Truth or Consequences, people all around the nation were watching. According to Rogers, when the episode aired, his aunt in Massachusetts happened to recognize his mother and called to say she’d seen them on TV. By WES MORROW
Port Orchard
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.
Students hear a whale of a tale By WES MORROW
See RESULTS, A13
Jacob Davis, Silas Dobson, Amber Dutto and Colton Norem check out an orca skull at Olalla Elementary School Nov. 1 during Jeff Hogan’ Killer Whale Tales presentation. See WHALE, A5
Incumbent commissioners lead in the election results Jeff Hogan has a way with words and whales. He instructed and entertained fifth- and sixthgrade students at Olalla Elementary School with stories and research on local orca whales on Nov. 1. Hogan is the founder and executive director at Killer Whale Tales. He spends the summers tracking and tagging orcas in order to learn more about their lifestyles and behavior. When September rolls around, however, his real mission starts as he begins traveling from school to school, sharing his love of whales. Hogan’s own excitement is mirrored in the roomful of students, who sit focused on the man up front. When Hogan asks the kids, “Who wants more data?” three long tables of hands shoot into the air. Hogan said teachers have told him, “It’s like going on a field trip but we don’t have to leave or pay for the bus.” Hogan’s two-hour presentation is divided into two parts. He begins by telling the kids where the idea came from for Killer Whale Tales, a process of inspiration that started when Hogan was no older than the kids to whom he now speaks.
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Western Washington benefits from SK grad
American Legion commander honored
Finding Moore success Holiday Cards