Reporter Central Kitsap
STATE CHAMP
Kelsey Crane brings home the gold Page 8
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 | Vol. 28, No. 10 www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
County prosecutor considering marijuana cases
United We Stand
Kitsap County voters approved marijuana Initiative 502 by 56 to 42 percent on Election Day By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Kevan Moore/Staff Photos
The fairgrounds pavilion in Silverdale was packed for a Veterans Day event Monday. Seen here, clockwise from left, are 4-year-old Jayden Dietzman, a group of Marines and sailors, Capri Morgensen, 18 months, and Uncle Sam.
Charter schools clear electoral hurdle After fourth time on the ballot I-1240 approved by state voters by a slim 50.8 to 49.2 margin By WES MORROW staff reporter
After a hard-fought battle, the charter schools measure, Initiative 1240, has squeaked through in Washington state 50.8 percent to 49.2.
See marijuana, A3
Charter school legislation has appeared on Washington to implement legislation allowing for the creation of charstate ballots four times since 1996, three times as initiatives ter schools. and once as a referendum. All three times in the Exactly what effect 1240 will have on the more past it was denied by voters. This time, however, than 1 million students in Washington remains the measure was able to pull enough votes for a unclear. narrow victory. Greg Lynch, Central Kitsap superintendent, said Bruce Richards, legislative representative the district doesn’t currently have any plans in place for the Central Kitsap School District, said he regarding the new initiative. personally doesn’t approve of I-1240. He said he “What we’re going to be waiting for is some state would rather see the funding and opportunities level guidance about what that’s going to look like in go toward school districts. Washington state,” Lynch said. Greg Lynch “I’d much rather see all students get an opporThe passing of I-1240 allows for no more than 40 tunity,” Richards said. such schools to be opened over the next five years, The majority of voters in Kitsap County voted in favor of with no more than eight opening per year. the initiative, 52.1 to 47.9 percent. Public schools are funded and operated by the state Richards said he doesn’t believe the measure will have Superintendent of Public Instruction. The schools are much of an impact on Central Kitsap. The passing of I-1240 makes Washington the 42nd state
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A couple dozen Kitsap County pot cases will likely go up in smoke in coming days. Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge said that his office is in the midst of reviewing misdemeanor marijuana possession cases to figure out which ones can be tossed following the passage of Initiative 502 and the impending decriminalization of marijuana in Washington state. “We had not planned anything Russ Hauge before the passage of the initiative,” Hauge said. “Unlike King County, we’re not ready with a list of offenders or pending cases we’re ready to dismiss.”
See SCHOOLS, A3
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11/7/12 11:45 AM