Independent FRIDAY, March 15, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 10 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
TIM MATTHES
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
%&$*4*0/
6QTFUT UIF PSEFS PG UIF EBZ EVSJOH QSJNBSZ FMFDUJPO
▼ 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).
POULSBO — City Council approved the mayor’s nomination for police chief Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to getting started,” Alan Townsend said to the council. “I appreciate the support of staff and elected people. I look forward to leading your police department very soon.” Townsend, a Bangor resident who is currently the
South Kitsap HS adds PTSA
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
BRUCE DANIELSON
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
BREMERTON — Several hundred people poured into the Kitsap Conference March 7 for a Liquor Control Board hearing on licensing and regulating marijuana production, distribution and possession. The forum was the eighth and final public hearing hosted by the board. As of Dec. 6, it is no longer illegal under Washington state law for adults 21 and over to possess an ounce of marijuana. The board has been working since voters approved I-502 by 56 percent in November to come up with a three-tier system, similar to the one used for alcohol, to tax and regulate growers, sellers and buyers in a “green market” that could bring billions of dollars to state coffers. Pat Kohler, the liquor board’s executive director, drew comparisons between getting the state out of the liquor sales business when privatization “shut down a billion dollar business in six months” and navigating the uncharted territory of getting into the business of licensing and regulating marijuana in one year’s time. “This law actually gives us a little bit of room but is challenging and hasn’t been done anywhere in the world,” Kohler said. In a brief presentation prior to comments from the public, Kohler said the board
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
Staff Reporter
Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
▼
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. 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-
Senior Reporter
Alvestad said the impetus behind the chapter came a couple of years ago when her daughter hoped to take the PSAT. She said many high schools offer the test to any student who signs up between ninth and 11th grades. South was not among them and only other option for Alvestad’s daughter, Maria AlvestadEreth, was to travel to Mount Vernon for the exam. After discussing the matter with then-superintendent Dave
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
See TOWNSEND, A35 See CITY, A8
By MEGAN STEPHENSON
JEANETTE DALTON
Editor
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
▼
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
Staff Writer
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
By KEVAN MOORE
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photos
Developmental director, police chief positions need filling
Poulsbo names Townsend police chief
The City is looking to fill positions for two department heads — development director and police chief. According to Mayor Tim Matthes, six finalists have been selected for the development director — including Associate Planner Tom Bonsell, who is filling in as interim development director. Matthes said 13 candidates applied for the position that was posted on several internet sites. Bonsell, 61, took over as interim director on Jan. 7,
There was plenty of roller derby action inside Sk8 Town as a West Sound Rollergirls jammer (top photo) in blue helmet slips through a pack of I-5 Rollergirls of Seattle in their inaugural bout on March 9. West Sound lost its season-opening bout. Northwest Derby Company’s Volitile Velvet (Alyse Jackson) skates around the rink during halftime of the bout between West Sound and I-5 Rollergirls. Northwest Derby Company defeated the Sick Town Derby Dames of Oregon, 254 to 185, in their second bout of the season.
City looking to fill posts ROLLER DERBY GIRLS
Hundreds turn out to weigh in on pot rules
See PTSA, A8
The initial reaction often is surprise. South Kitsap PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) co-president Carey Alvestad said people often are stunned to hear that the high school previously did not have a chapter. That changed last month when Alvestad and Tracy Hopkins were among 30 charter members who launched the organization at the school.
See POT, A2
Port Orchard
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.
INSIDE Debate over bill OPINION Recent news SPORTS SK fastpitch rekindles fear of losing urges teen safety on looks to build on last county seat 4A roads, highways 6A season’s success 9A