Autism Center helps children and families Page A3
SPORTS
South Kitsap senior Bryce Broome honored Page A8
A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
Independent
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
Port Orchard
FRIDAY, December 28, 2012 n Vol. 121, No. 51 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
By WES MORROW Staff Writer
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
Staff Writer
A new funding formula for Kitsap County Central Communications (CenCom) is one step closer to becoming a reality after years of discus-
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
kellygreenacres@comcast.net
TIM MATTHES
By Leslie Kelly
sion. The CenCom’s governing board approved a new funding plan last week and the plan is now on its way to the agencies that participate in CenCom for consideration. Known as Kitsap County’s 911 system, CenCom offers 911 services to 13 law enforcement agencies and fire departments in the county including Kitsap County Sheriff’s office, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island police and fire departments. In past years, the agencies have paid for 911 services
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).
Kitsap County 911 system offers services to 13 police and fire agencies
BRUCE DANIELSON
CenCom county funding formula agreement closer
JEANETTE DALTON
See MUSIC, A2
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
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Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Staff Writer
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
they’re capable of and help them grow the tools they need to succeed. According to Hines, it doesn’t matter whether a student is in Shooting Stars or Glee Superstars, it’s all about developing their individual voices and talents. “All our superstars came from there, so it works,” Hines said. “The Most Famous Kids in Town” have performed at venues like the Kitsap County Fair, Whaling Days and the Port Orchard Parade. Their winter performance Friday night was an extensive production, with more than 90 hours going into costuming alone. The show combined Christmas music and scenery with faith themed classic rock. At one point in the show, a number of young girls dressed as Santa’s elves are tinkering with small trumpets, when suddenly one jumps up and begins to pantomime playing along to the music as a Stevie Wonder song plays. At another point, a handful of men dressed as event security with matching green tutus take the stage with Santa Claus, bursting into a fastpaced Christmas rendition of “Gangnam Style.” “I loved it, drop-dead loved it,” said audience
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
Moments before the show started, as around 70 kids stood back stage, Amy DeAngelo Hines looked at all of her students. “I love you,” Hines said. The response filled the room, spilling out into the venue where parents, friends and locals waited. “We love you, too,” yelled back all 70 children. “The Most Famous Kids in Town” program took to the stage Dec. 21 at the Port Orchard Pavilion. The program is entering its second year teaching kids all the aspects of performing, from singing to dancing and the occasional acting. Hines started the program in Port Orchard last year after she got sick and had to stop touring. Her love of music may only be passed by her love for the kids she teaches. Hines said her goal is “to put them where I always dreamed I could be at that age.” The program has three different age groups: minis, juniors and teens. Juniors and teens are divided into three levels themselves, starting with Shooting Stars, then Glee Stars and Glee Superstars. The point of the program is to show kids what
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Youth music fills the air in Port Orchard 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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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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A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
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FINDING HOPE
Wes Morrow/staff photo
Jordan McCourt, 10, sings a solo rendition of Silent Night before being joined on stage by her fellow singers at the Port Orchard Pavilion Dec. 21.
using a formula that took into as the Port Gamble S’Klallam account the assessed property Tribe disagreed with what they value and area population of “We discussed many termed an expensive minimum each individual participating options and we at $50,000. agency. In October 2011, the Tribe feel we reached an But in 2010, the CenCom agreement that we sent a letter to the governgoverning board changed the ing board and Kitsap County can all live by.” formula and based it on the Commissioners asking for a number of calls each agency Richard Kirton review of the funding changes. had. Agencies have also paid a Richard Kirton, director for $50,000 minimum to particiCenCom, said that the board pate in CenCom. discussed the $50,000 minimum many times Under the revised formula, some agencies and that in a final vote, the board opted to take like Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and the it out. Bainbridge Island Police Department saw reduc“The overwhelming feeling for most of the tions in their bills from CenCom. Others, such board was that the parties to the interlocal have as Port Gamble, had to pay more. been contributing since (CenCom) began and Such changes led to difficult negotiations that the minimum wasn’t necessary any longer,” on how to fund the 911 agency that has an $8 See CENCOM, A4 million annual budget. Member agencies such
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