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INSIDE Six teens SPORTS Wolves get competing for four medals at Mat Fathoms’ court A10 Classic XXVI A28
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
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ooking out the bus window at a sea of blue-and-green clad fans swallowing up the streets of Downtown Seattle, he paused for a moment of reflection. David Stricklin, a 1999
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By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Editor
Easley accelerating faster than a treadmill to intercept a pass, and the draw plays run to precision by Curt Warner. Stricklin saw some of the Seahawks’ best teams during Chuck Knox’s coaching era in the packed, boisterous Kingdome. But it couldn’t compare to that freezing February morning. “That was really neat to see the city come out,” he said. “I can’t imagine the victory parade to be much larger. To see that many
Courtesy Photo
SK’s ‘Golden Boy’ celebrates Seahawks’ silver trophy South Kitsap High School graduate, was different from many in the Seattle Seahawks’ organization who celebrated the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship during the Feb. 5 parade. Unlike the architects of the team, such as coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, Stricklin was raised in the area. His father, Gary, was a season-ticket holder in the 1980s, and the younger Stricklin was on hand to witness the impeccable routes Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent used to gain separation from defenders, safety Kenny
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
A report of strange odors coming from a commercial building led to the arrest of four men, along with the seizure of 307 plants and 102 pounds of processed marijuana, last week. The men — two from Bremerton — were charged with manufacturing marijuana in Kitsap County District Court on Feb. 21. They are identified as Ruben John Fred Gifford, 31, and John Patrick Casely, 29, of Bremerton; Ryan Scott Taylor, 30, of Maple Valley, and Pouesi Kingston Maae, 18, of California. According to charging papers, the men were arrested Feb. 20 after Port Orchard police investigated “strange odors” coming from the building located in the 1300 block of Lumsden Road SE inside the Port Orchard Industrial Park. They were booked into the Kitsap County Jail and bail was set at $50,000 each. “Our officers responded to a suspicious situation that was called in by citizens,” said Police Chief Geoffrey Marti. “Without the input from the community this situation may have continued for some time. I would also like to recognize the assistance of Bremerton Police Department Special Operation Group (SOG) in the handling of such a large marijuana grow operation.” During a search of the building, Bremerton SOG detectives — who were called in to assist with the investigation — found a file that contained three
David Stricklin, a 1999 South Kitsap High School graduate, works as an athletic trainer with the Seattle Seahawks. He is pictured on the cart with star cornerback Richard Sherman, who was injured during the fourth quarter of the Seahawks’ 43-8 win Feb. 2 against Denver in the Super Bowl.
Athletic trainer has enjoyed festivities surrounding team’s title
Pot bust leads to felony charges
▼ 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).
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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By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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
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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 week after West Sound Utility District commissioner unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the city, Port Orchard councilmembers voted 4-3 against the same agreement at its Feb. 25 meeting. After a nearly hour-long discussion, which included a 15-minute executive session, the council unanimously approved a motion for three councilmembers who voted against the agreement to work with the city attorney and meet with WSUD and come back within 30 days with a recommendation for the council. Voting in favor of the agreement were Councilmembers Rob Putannsuu, Bek Ashby and Jeff Cartwright. Councilmembers John Clauson, Jerry Childs, Fred Chang and Cindy Lucarelli — filling in as mayor protem — voted against approving the contract. The 1983 agreement was extended to March 1 to accommodate input from the city and WSUD. Both sides have been working on the agreement for 18 months or more. The purpose of the interlocal agreement for the management and operations of the wastewater treatment facilities is to formalize new terms and conditions for the partnership relative to ownership, management and operations of the South Kitsap Water Reclamation Facility (SKWRF) located in Annapolis. Clauson said he was uncomfortable with the agreement and would like to see the issue of ownership resolved on both sides. “Personally, I can’t support this,” Clauson said after the council met in executive session. Putaansuu suggested that three of the four councilmembers voting against approved the contract meet with WSUD officials to reach an agreement. “I think you need something separate from the Sewer Advisory Committee that would be more productive,” said Putaansuu. Clauson and Lucarelli, along with Childs and Chang alternating, will meet with WSUD officials. Ashby said she would like to see a 30-day time limit to reach a resolution with WSUD. “I don’t want to see this go another 12 months,” Ashby said. Clauson suggested City Attorney Greg Jacoby be part of the discussion process with the district. Chang noted the district unanimously voted to support the agreement, but the council has a close vote because they are not comfortable with the ownership. “We want another operation and maintenance agreement,”
Staff Writer
Editor
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
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Council votes 4-3 against interlocal agreement with West Sound UD 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.
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