Medeiros takes second at Mat Classic XXV
Independent FRIDAY, February 22, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 7 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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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
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
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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TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
See STANDOFF, A7
A 25-year-old Belfair man appeared in Kitsap County District Court Feb. 19 in connection with an alleged burglary and assault in South Kitsap, resulting in a standoff in Mason County. Jeremy Lyle Stuart was charged with second-degree assault and bail was set at $75,000, according District Court.
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
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
and demanded to speak with her. He said the woman reported she refused to let Stuart inside the home, but he forced his way inside — pushing past her at the front door. Once inside, Stuart allegedly assaulted the woman by placing his hands around her throat and attempting to strangle her, said Wilson.
Editor
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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
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
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
South Kitsap senior Adam Gascoyne is lifted off the mat by his opponent in his firstround bout. Gascoyne was the school’s second-highest placer when he finished fourth at 152 pounds during last week’s Mat Classic. See Page A9 for the story and photos.
The third time was a charm. Inherthirdattempttobecome a superintendent, Michelle Reid was named to head the South Kitsap Schoo District by an unanimous vote of the School B oard d u r i n g Reid its Feb. 20 meeting at Cedar Heights Middle School. Michelle Reid, 53, has been assistant superintendent of the in the 3,968-student Port Angeles School District since 2004. Depending on contract negotiations, Reid will begin as superintendent of the 10,653-student district on July 1 for the 2013-2014 school year. Last year, Reid was a finalist as interim superintendent for the District, by the Schoo Board selected former superintendent Beverly Cheney to fill
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
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-
Standoff with sheriff’s deputies ends in man’s arrest
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
in for Dave LaRose, who left in July to become the superintendent in California’s Culver City Unified School District. Last March, Reid was a finalist for the Olympia School District superintendent position. “I’m thrilled” Reid said. “I’m excited to be on board and that you put your faith in me.” Reid said the people, quality, and reputation of the district are solid. “They have a great reputation and it something people want to be a part of,” Reid said during an interview after being named superintendent. Reid said she feel she can bring “energy, passion and a love for children” to the district. “I’ll bring some new ideas and build on the strong traditions that are already here,” she said. Reid has worked as an assistant and high school principal in the district since 1989, and as a teacher and athletic director in the Granite Falls School District.
Editor
Discussions on changing Port Orchard’s form of government and city classification continued at the Feb. 19 City Council study session with a representative from the Municipal Research and Service Center at the meeting. Since January, Council has been gathering information and data to change the city’s mayor-council form of government to a council-manager, and changing the city from a second-class incorporated city to a non-charter code city. Pat Mason, a senior legal consultant with the MRSC, provided the Council advantages and disadvantages of changing city status and the form of government. “Both forms of government have been proven to work,” Mason said. Mason said under the council-manager form of government, the council is elected by the voter and the council would appoints a city manager who would appoint and direct the department heads. But Mason noted there was a third form of government the Council could consider — mayor-council with a city administrator. The voters would elect the mayor and council, but the mayor would appoint the city administrator. “It gives you that professional administration without changing your form of government,” Mason said. Mason said there are many
Recruiting female correction officers
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.
Port Orchard
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
Council discusses changes for city
Deputy Scott Wilson, spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department, said Stuart was arrested Feb. 18 for an incident that happened about 9:50 p.m. Feb. 17 in the 4000 block of Hawthorne Avenue West. Wilson said deputies responded to the residence after a domestic violence assault of a 28-year-old female, a former girlfriend of Stuart. She reported Stuart showed up at the residence, while intoxicated,
See CHANGES, A31
MAT ACTION AT TACOMA DOME
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Editor
SPORTS
Page A5
Board picks Reid to head SK schools By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Page A9
LOCAL NEWS