SPORTS
Schedules will shift at South Kitsap HS
Wolves fall at home; hit road for districts
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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, February 8, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 5 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
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-
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX and RICHARD WALKER
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
For 20 years, Donna Main traveled throughout Western Washington and Oregon, working as an account representative for a
food company. But wanted something more in her life. She wanted a purpose. So at age 43, she decided it was time for a career change. She wanted to
become a police officer. Three and a half years later, Donna is the recipient of the “Accommodation for Ongoing CommunityRelated Service” presented by American Legion Post 30 during a Feb. 4 ceremony at City Hall. “I am truly honored and See Main, A7
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
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Donna Main goes from selling food to providing public service
Staff report
Local voters will determine Feb. 12 whether South Kitsap School District will pass its fouryear maintenance-and-operation renewal levy. The current levy, which was passed in 2009 with 57.6 percent of the vote, expires Dec. 31, 2013. That means the new collection rate would begin midway through the 2013-14 school year. A simple majority of more than 50 percent is required to pass. Property owners would pay an estimated $3.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value during the first year of the levy. That would be $756 in 2014 for a $200,000 home, which is an increase from an estimated $636 this year. Actual levy rates will depend on whether property value projections by the Kitsap County auditor come to fruition. Those projections were used in calculating levy rate estimates. The levy collection amounts of $22 million in 2014 and $22.5 million in ’15 are expected to reach SKSD’s estimated levy lid. Sandy Rotella, the district’s chief financial operations officer, said that is because the district will collect all of its building maintenance funding during those two years. In October, School Board member Kathryn Simpson said that is because SKSD wanted to take advantage of lower labor costs. Rotella said district officials plan projects, including addressing failing roofs at Olalla and Sidney Glen elementary schools and South Kitsap High School, along with various jobs ranging from fire alarms to flooring. Without building maintenance in 2016 and ’17, collection amounts of $22.65 million each year are less than the estimated lids. Estimated levy rates in 2015, 2016 and 2017 are $3.91, $3.90 and $3.86 per thousand. Rates for other Kitsap County school districts in 2012 ranged from $3.20 per $1,000 assessed (Bainbridge Island) to $4.61 (Central Kitsap). All districts except SKSD have bond and/or capital project levies in addition to maintenance-and-operations levies. The district has passed its last three levies after just nine out of 25 levies won between 1973 and 2000.
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Police officer recognized for ‘thinking outside the box’
▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
Photo by Port Orchard Police Department
By CHARLIE BERMANT
See WOLVES, A9
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
Soccer often has been one of South Kitsap’s highlight sports during fall and spring. On Wednesday morning, it was featured during the winter sports season as two girls soccer players were among five Wolves who signed on National
Letter-of-Intent Day. Both forward Becca Schoales (Washington) and midfielder Miranda Caballero (Middle Tennessee State) signed with their respective schools. Schoales, who was considered the state’s top women’s soccer
TIM MATTHES
Sports Editor
BRUCE DANIELSON
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
JEANETTE DALTON
Five Wolves ink letters of intent
Donna Main (center) a police officer with Port Orchard, received an award from the American Legion Post 30. Pictured with Main is Post Adjutant Gail Porter and Commander Al Coffelt.
levy set for Feb. 12 Staff Writer
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
See TOWNSEND, A2
Courtesty photo
SKHS soccer forward Becca Schoales signed to play soccer at the University of Washington.
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).
they operate,” Townsend said. “There was an opportunity there and I decided to give it a try. It would be a new challenge for me.” On the day of the announcement, Port Orchard Mayor Tim Matthes issued a statement. “Chief Alan Townsend is well respected in our community,” Matthes said. “I have had a great working relationship these past 12 months with him. I am very impressed with his professionalism and dedication to our police department. I am not surprised that he is on the short list of qualified candidates for Poulsbo police chief.” Matthes said the City is interested to see
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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
police chief candidates as a mem- “There was an ber of the opportunity there technical and I decided to give panel, con- it a try.” sisting of residents – Chief Alan Townsend and law enforcement. Two other panels are comprised of department heads, City Council members and the mayor. He said he didn’t know he’d become a candidate when he participated as a panelist. “I was really impressed with City Hall, the mayor, council, department heads and how
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
In an unexpected turn of events, Port Orchard Police Chief Alan Townsend went from a panelist to candidate for the job of Poulsbo’s top cop. Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson announced Feb. 5 that Townsend is a “top candidate” and that the recruitment process had been extended. Townsend, who lives near Bangor, said during Townsend an interview Feb. 5 that he was participating in Poulsbo’s selection process for a new police chief. He interviewed other
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Chief is finalist for Poulsbo’s top cop SK school
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
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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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