Independent FRIDAY, March 1, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 8 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Six contestants seek spot on Royal Court
South Kitsap Fire and Rescue present awards Page A4
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
JEANETTE DALTON
TIM MATTHES
BRUCE DANIELSON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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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
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
POULSBO — Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson announced her choice for chief of police: Alan
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Special to the Independent
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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
See townsend, A7
1999 and earns $126,000 a year. If confirmed, Townsend will succeed Dennis Swiney, who retired in January and returned to Townsend his hometown of Visalia, Calif. Deputy Chief Robert Wright has been acting chief. Prior to Port Orchard, Townsend was with the
Townsend, a Bangor resident who is currently the police chief of Port Orchard. The announcement was made Feb. 20. The City Council will vote either March 6 or 13 to confirm Townsend. Start date and salary were not discussed Feb. 20, but the job was advertised with a base salary of $101,000 to $106,000 a year. Townsend, 47, has been Port Orchard’s chief of police since
By RICHARD WALKER
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
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-
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Lincoln, Neb., Police Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Boston University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Townsend emerged Feb. 5 as a surprise candidate for Poulsbo police chief, while he had served on a panel
Townsend is Poulsbo’s pick for police chief
Council will vote March 6 or 13 to confirm Townsend
Businessman Don Ryan says foot ferries are key to the success of the new indoor market and other downtown businesses. See MARKET, A31
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
The owner of a downtown building agreed to cover additional renovation costs which will put opening a Pike Place-style indoor market on schedule for the summer. Port Orchard Bay Street Association (POBSA) President Don Ryan made the announcement during his group’s meeting Feb. 21 at Moon Dogs, Too. Ryan said that Mansour
Samadpour, a Seattle microbiologist who owns the old Slip 45 building and several others in downtown Port Orchard, will cover unexpected costs that were not in the $350,000 original estimate. “We’re back on for our market,” Ryan said. “It’s been stressful for me just because of what we have gone through.” He said asbestos found in the building will have to removed and Editor
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
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
Bills aim to keep tolls down
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
OLYMPIA — Area lawmakers in the Senate and House have introduced bill to hold back toll increased on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Newly appointed 26th District State Sen. Nathan Schlicher (D-Gig Harbor) presented Senate Bill 5592 that would restrain the operating costs of the toll bridge and help hold down the need for toll increases. It was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb 25. A few days earlier in the House, 26th District State Rep. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) introduced a measure that would maintain the current price of tolls on the bridge until financing for the structure is completely re-paid. Schlicher’s bill would help keep tolls down by limiting the amount of toll revenue spent on bridge oversight and administration. In 2012, those costs amounted to 4 percent of the toll account. The bill would set a 2 percent limit on management costs and dedicate savings to paying for the bridge. “Keeping tolls as low as possible is vital to the families and the businesses that need to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge every day,” said the Gig
INSIDE 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
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Editor
See TOLLS, A11
Success of new indoor market could depend on foot ferries An artist concept show what the outside of the new indoor market would look life after construction.
Area lawmakers introduce bills in Senate, House
Page A9
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