FRIDAY, May 10, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 18 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
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
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CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
By CHARLIE BERMANT
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
See mom, A29
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.
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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
Editor
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Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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-
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
South Kitsap Fire and Rescue responded to two structure fires over the weekend. On Friday, May 3, crews went to a fire at a small duplex on Starboard Lane about 7:35 p.m., according to Battalion Chief Jon Gudmundsen. Gudmundsen said when crews arrived they found smoke coming from a fire in the kitchen. No one was home when firefighters extinguish the fire. The occupants
Editor
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
Staff report
aVerne Larson Murley was the youngest of 12 children raised on a small farm in northern Minnesota. Despite being part of a poor family, LaVerne remembers her mother — Emma Nelson Larson — as an “adorable woman” who helped raise seven boys and five girls in harsh times during the early part of the 20th Century.
See fires, 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.
Independent SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
Former South Kitsap High School graduate and runway model Kendra Spears made headlines last week when it was announced she was engaged to a 41-yearold prince. See full In an April 26 press release from story on the Spears Aga Khan, he website said his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, 41, and Spears, 24, would wed in a traditional Muslim ceremony. No date has been set. Spears participated in the “Ford Supermodel Of The World 2008” after winning a modeling contest via MySpace sponsored by Ford.
As Mother’s Day approaches, LaVerne recalls her mother’s most amazing characteristic — kindness. “My mom was a hard-working woman, but she always showed lots of kindness,” she said. LaVerne said the kindness her mother instilled in her helped her become a good mother and grandmother. “It pays off to be kind and show kindness,” said LaVerne. Even though she was small in statue, LaVerne described her mother as “adorable.” “She was a little woman, but she
SKHS grad engaged to prince
Remembering Mom
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
See CHIEF, A9
SKFR crews battle pair of weekend fires
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
Police Chief Geoffrey Marti enters his third week heading the department and he is anxious about naming his replacement as commander this month. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to promote one of three sergeants here,” Marti explained. Marti plans to name the new commander by May 19. With a sergeant promoted to commander, it opens the door for a patrol officer to move up to sergeant, he said. While some departments go outside to hire, Marti feels
Retired nurse LaVerne Murley, the mother of two daughters, shows a photograph of her six grandchildren.
New commander could be named by May 19
An accident while operating a backhoe resulted in the death for a South Kitsap man. Charles Dore, 70, was found dead May 4 after he was seen a day earlier working with a backhoe on his property on Southeast Nelson Road. Deputy Scott Wilson, department spokesman, said a neighbor told investigators he saw Dore clearing bush with a backhoe about noon on May 3. The next day, the neighbor went to check on Dore’s progress clearing the bush and discovered the backhoe tipped over on its side. He found Dore under the machine and unresponsive, then called 911, according to Wilson. Emergency personnel found Dore in the cab area of the machine. The Kitsap County Coroner’s Office pronounced the man dead at the scene. The Coroner’s Office notified next of kin about the death. No evidence of foul play was found, Wilson said.
Former nurse recalls mother as “adorable”
Port Orchard has talented plenty of officers. “I believe I’ve got talented people here that deserve the opportunity,” he said. With two female officers on the force, Marti said he can’t rule out the possibility of one of them being promoted up the chain-of-command in the future. “Their talents and qualifications are quite high,” he added. Marti, a Lincoln, Neb., native, took over as police chief April 24. He replaced Alan Townsend, who was selected to head Poulsbo’s police department in March. According to Marti, his strengths as chief are accountability, transparency and community projects.
Chief looks to fill posts from within Man dies in backhoe accident
Staff report
Romo versatility helps Everett CC to first A30
SPORTS South Kitsap baseball earns berth at regionals A30 INSIDE Libraries filled with lots of spring activities A7 INSIDE Students ‘get real’ in mock DUI crash A3