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Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Port Orchard
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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
FRIDAY, April 5, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 13 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
there will be as many as 50 vendors at the Saturday-only event, Pearson noted. “There are lots of crafters who come out, but they only come during the sunny weather,” Pearson said. “And once the crops start coming in, we’ll have more farmers and growers at the market.” All vendors must follow state laws, permitting requirements, contract terms and market rules. A ribbon cutting is set for 9 a.m. to open up the market. Pearson said Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido, Mayor Tim Matthes and Chris Smith will be present. Garrido and Smith are part of the market’s original founders. The market will be located on Harrison Avenue, between Amy’s on the Bay and Marina Park, behind Peninsula Feed
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Rain or shine, the Port Orchard Farmers’ Market kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6, and there will be lots of new things this year. This is the market’s 35th year. Manager K.C. Pearson, who is in her third year, said there will be additional activities at this year’s market. “We have a new baker and a beef vendor who will be here on the second weekend, then every other Saturday after,” Pearson said. “We’re going to have chef demonstration along with more activities.” This year, according to Pearson, live band music will be scheduled once a month. On Saturday, she expects about 25 to 30 vendors on the opening weekend, but should increase once summer arrives. During the peak times in July and August,
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
Editor
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photos
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
A young boy (left) enjoys eating candy while carrying his basket of goodies during the annual Fathoms o’Fun Easter Egg Hunt March 30 at South Kitsap Regional Park. A girl (top) picks up eggs during the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue annual Easter Egg Hunt in Olalla, while another girl (bottom) colors during the Bunny Hop at the Manchester Library.
Staff Writer
Farmers’ Market opens for its 35th year with new activities
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
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Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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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 WRECK, A29
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
A 20-year-old driver of a car involved in a single-vehicle collision on March 30 has been was released from the hospital. Susan Gregg, spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center, said the driver was released March 31 and the 19-year-old male passenger was moved out of intensive care April 1 and is listed in satisfactory condition. The two South Kitsap males were airlifted by helicopter to the Seattle hospital after they were injured in the wreck, reported the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The accident happened about 6 p.m. Deputy Scott Wilson, KCSO spokesman, said the males were airlifted by an Airlift Northwest helicopter to Harborview. According to investigators, the 20-year-old was driving a 1998 Honda Civic northbound on California Avenue East at a high rate of speed and appears that the rear wheels of the vehicle lockedup south of the intersection of California and East Van Buren Street. The car began to rotate in a clockwise direction. The Honda struck a utility pole which sent the car into a second pole. The impact of the crash caused the
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Editor
Staff Writer
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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
Driver released for hospital day after wreck
easter activities attract hundreds
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
Two men injured in single-car collision 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.
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
Inserts: Fred Meyer, RiteAid, Office Depot, Best Buy, Staples, Wal-Mart, Valassis
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
SPORTS Wolves INSIDE Gail Davies OPINION Family releases album owned businesses are lament missed tribute to brother A5 nation’s backbone A6 opportunities A30
See MARKET, A29
Punt, Ashby announce they’ll seek Powers’ City Council seat By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
Dates for filing for the City Council elections are more than a month away, but two newcomers have thrown their hats into the ring for the Position 2 seat. Businesswoman Kim Punt announced March 19 she is a candidate for the Position 2 post currently held by Carolyn Powers, who will retire after 26 years on the Council. A week later, Bek Ashby announced she’s also a candidate for Powers’ seat. Punt, a McCormick Woods resident, said she
is concerned about the direction the city is taking and the departure of several department heads. “Our most immediate need is to stop the brain drain at City Hall,” Punt said. “We’ve seen the abrupt departure of some Punt of the very best, brightest and most qualified people currently working in local government — but they haven’t left for higher pay or career advancement.” She said more than half of our downtown is
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
vacant, crime is on the rise and there is no long-term vision for the city’s future. “We have lost our competitive edge when it comes to business retention and job creation,” Punt said. “There is a very obvious leadership void at Ashby City Hall. As a second-generation businessperson in this city, those things concern me a great deal.” See ELECTION, A29