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National Night Out is Aug. 6
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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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
Port Orchard
FRIDAY, August 2, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 30 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
See primary, A29
TIM MATTHES
BRUCE DANIELSON
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
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JEANETTE DALTON
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▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
By CHARLIE BERMANT
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Three vying for at-large seat In Port Orchard, the at-large council seat — a two-year-term — is up for grabs as two newcomers face incumbent Jerry Childs. Childs is challenged by Eric Gonnason and Jeff Braden, who announced he would not actively seek
the position. Childs, who was first elected to the seat in 2007, is in his third term. The former Seattle firefighter serves on the city’s Finance Committee, chairs the city’s Economic Development/Tourism Committee and Waterfront Planning Committee. Gonnason, who is seeking his first political office since moving to Port Orchard in 2011, stated in the Voters’ Pamphlet that he worked 28 years as a engineering analyst in the aeroStaff 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).
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Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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nificantly,” Wyman said. “I encourage voters to study the races and take a few minutes to fill out and return their ballot by Election Day.” State election officials are predicting about a 30 percent voter turnout — the same as in 2009 and 2011 primary elections.
touring port orchard showcase
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
City Council approves LTAC representatives
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Editor
Local voters must have their ballots postmarked Aug. 6 or returned to the drop box by 8 p.m. for this years’ primary election. Ballots also can be returned to Kitsap County Auditor’s Office, 619 Division St., during busi-
Staff Writer
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
ness hours. Mail-in ballot were sent out July 19. Locally, this year’s primary is light with a Port Orchard city council race and West Sound Utility District position. The top two vote-getters in each race advance to the Nov. 5 general election. Secretary of State Kim Wyman said that while odd-year elections normally have lower turnout due to a lack of attention-grabbing statewide, legislative or federal races, they still matter. “Local races can impact our daily lives sig-
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
Low voter turnout expected in the state for Tuesday’s primary
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Light ballot for Aug. 6 primary election 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-
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
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.
INSIDE Well 9 upgrades, alternations complete A4 BUSINESS The Coffee Oasis finds new home in city A8 SPORTS Sablan adapting to stronger competition A28
Council denies Cedar Cove Association’s request for representation on committee By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
In a 4-2 vote, the Port Orchard City Council approved the mayor’s appointments to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee at the July 23 meeting. Mayor Tim Matthes recommended three representatives each from the organizations and businesses — that are involved in activities — to serve on the LTAC from a membership matrix list present to the council. Matthes selected the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, Sidney Museum and Art Gallery and the Saints Car Club for organizations, and Comfort Inn, Cedar Cove Inn and Mrs. Howe’s Bed and Breakfast to represent businesses. After examining the matrix list, Councilman Jerry Childs asked why the Cedar Cove Association has not been selected to be on the LTAC. In 2009, the CCA staged Cedar Cove Days and in 2010 it was awarded the Tourism Promoter of the Year by the Kitsap Peninsula Visitors and Convention Bureau for Cedar Cove Days. According to its website, CCA is a non-profit organization that puts on events to benefit the Port Orchard community. The association has donated money to such groups as the See LTAC, A29
Dannie Oliveax/Staff Photo
Kim Bjornemo, of Bremerton, takes a closer look at a display attached to a 1963 Ford Galaxy automobile at Dick Vlist Motors. Bjornemo was one of more than 50 members of the Kitsap Historical Society that toured the business on July 25. After touring the business, the group visited the Vaughn Vlist’s home, built in 1929. They also toured five other historic homes on Sidney Avenue, including a concrete home built in the early 1900s from a Sear and Roebuck & Co. kit.
Port celebrating 100 years of service By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
BREMERTON — The Port of Bremerton will celebrate 100 years of achievement and service to Kitsap County with an open house, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the airport terminal building.
The open house includes tours of the port facilities at 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m and 2 p.m. Display booths, which will be setup at the open house, also will be at the Blackberry Fly-In at the Bremerton National Airport and the Blackberry Festival at the Bremerton Marina. There will be games for children,
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
refreshments, meeting port commissioners and a cake-cutting ceremony at noon. The 100-year celebration will culminate Oct. 3 with a business afterhours reception with local Chambers of See port, A29