FRIDAY, September 6, 2013 n Vol. 122, No. 35 n www.portorchardindependent.com n 50¢
Independent A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
JEANETTE DALTON
TIM MATTHES
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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).
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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
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
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
Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
“Our teachers have never been on strike. But our students are that important. This community, these teachers care so much about their students and learning. They were willing to make that sacrifice for the students.”
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Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business. By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
Staff Writer
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
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
Editor
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
– John Richardson
• Secondary academic class sizes will be reduced from the previous contract levels by two students this semester and by one more the second semester of this school year. Academic secondary class sizes will be reduced by one additional student during 2015-16 school year. • Elementary split classes (where students from two different grade levels are placed
For more than 20 years, Hi-Joy Bowl leased 17,000 square feet of land from the city for a parking lot on the northside of their building. Now, the owners of the bowling alley will have to lease just 3,000 square feet after the Port Orchard City Council voted unanimously Aug. 27 to approve the sale of surplus land to the owners. Don and Mickie Hoem, owners of Hi-Joy, agreed to the purchase of 14,000 square feet and to lease the remaining 3,000 square feet near the Bethel Roundabout. The city declared the land surplus in July. City Attorney Greg Jacoby said the surplus land was appraised at $14,500, which Hi-Joy agreed to pay. They also agreed to pay an additional $3,896 to reimburse the city for an engineer’s fee. “The city hired an engineer several years ago to look at the future right-of-way needs of the city and one of the concerns was if the roundabout was widened in the future, we didn’t want to be in the position in the future to repurchase property that we sold to Hi-Joy,” Jacoby said. He said the surplus land is outside of the future right-ofway needs. Hi-Joy will lease the remaining 3,000 square feet for 10 years at 65 cents per square foot. The prior rate was 20 cents per square foot. Jacoby said the lease agreechasing 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
Editor
SOUTH KITSAP’S SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION SINCE 1890
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
See School, A7
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photos
Agreement will lower class sizes over next 3 years
we maintain a relentless focus on the success of all students, no exceptions.” “I’m very pleased it passed,” said Richardson. “We started making some good progress in lowering class sizes. But we still have some work to do.” The new three-year contract includes:
School started on time Wednesday morning after South Kitsap Education Association members overwhelmingly approved a three-year contract, which will lower class sizes over the next three years, a day earlier. Of the 407 members that attended Tuesday’s meeting, more than 96 percent voted in favor of the new agreement. Last Friday, the South Kitsap School District and teachers’ union reached a tentative agreement. The ratified contract went before the school board for approval Sept. 4. Both sides are pleased with the agreement, according to Superintendent Michelle Reid and SKEA President John Richardson. “We are pleased to have an agreement with the South Kitsap Education Association and we are excited to get the school year started,” said Reid. “I want to personally thank all the stakeholders involved in the negotiation process for their dedication and commitment. I look forward to our continued work together as
See city, A5
Port Orchard
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
City sells surplus land to Hi-Joy
Quynh Truong (top photo), of Kai Pan Asian Cuisines, serves up a bowl of noodles during the third annual Taste of Port Orchard on Sunday. More than a dozen food vendors, along with artistians, set up shop along the waterfront. Two bicyclists (bottom photo) stopped by the event to sample some of the food items available. The event was sponsored by the Port Orchard Bay Street Association.
School starts on time after teachers OK new contract taste of port orchard
SK grad adjusting to collegiate soccer at UW A26
INSIDE Female comic SPORTS Big returning to roots for challenges await comedy show A9 volleyball team A26 INSIDE Deputies Guild asks county to abide by ruling A3