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BUSINESS Café Gabrielle: ‘Let me feed you’ A9
SPORTS Wolves’ new relay team looks to keep pace A22
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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On April 3, former Democratic State Senator Nathan Schlicher announced he will seek in the 26th Legislative District House Position 1 seat, according to Max Fox, Schlicher’s campaign manager. Earlier, Schlicher’s campaign staff sent out an email announcement stating the Gig Harbor Democrat was running for the Position 2 seat, held by Rep. Larry Seaquist, also a Democrat. Schlicher It caused a buzz on both the internet and Facebook sites with Schlicher going against Seaquist, who was elected to the House in 2006.
Currently, Rep. Jesse Young, a Republican from Gig Harbor, holds the District 26 Position 1 seat. Young was appointed to the seat earlier this year after Rep. Jan Angel defeated Schlicher for the district’s state Senate position in November. Angel was the district’s House Position 1 representative from 2008 until her election to the Senate. Schlicher was appointed in January 2013 to the state Senate seat after Derek Kilmer was elected to the US Congress. “Like so many of you, I’m tired of the gridlock and bickering in Olympia,” said Schlicher in his statement. “As an emergency room doctor, I’ve spent my life fixing problems, using resources wisely, and finding ways to do more with less. That is the common sense approach to getting things done I’ll SEE SCHLICHER, A8
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
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Editor
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
▼ Matthes, Garrido advance in SK commissioner race; Dalton, Danielson in judicial contest.
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
Former state senator announces he’ll run for District 26 House Pos. 1 seat
By CHARLIE BERMANT
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
A woman examines plants at a vendor’s booth during the opening hours of the Port Orchard Farmers’ Market on April 5 in the parking lot near Marina Park. More than a dozen vendors were on hand for the market’s 36th season.
City will again fund extended foot ferry hours
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
SEE PORT, A3
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
Rents are going up for boat owners with covered moorage at the Port Orchard Marina. Commissioners for the Port of Bremerton unanimously approved a 5 percent increase in moorage rates Tuesday for covered spots at the Port Orchard Marina. The Port Orchard Marina is owned and operated by the Port of Bremerton. Port CEO Jim Rothlin said Bob Wise, a consultant to the port, recommended that the rates be increased 10 percent. But the staff’s recommendation was 5 percent. That would mean that the owner of a 36-foot boat slip would see the rent go up from $305.64 to $320.92. Rothlin said even with the 5 percent increase, Port Orchard’s rates would remain competitive and would be less that at other marinas in the target market area. With the increase that begins June 1, the port will see an extra $12,324 a year. “Covered moorage like what we have at Port Orchard is sought after,” said Rothlin. “The staff’s feeling is that we can raise it 5 percent this year without any issues for current tenants.” Comparable covered moorage is from $8 to $13 a foot, whereas before the raise, the rates at Port Orchard were from $7 to $11, depending on exact location. Following the vote to approve the increase, Port Commissioner Larry Stokes reminded fellow commissioners and staff
Staff Writer
For the Independent
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
By LESLIE KELLY
OPENING DAY OF MARKET
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
Port ups moorage fees at marina 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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A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
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INSIDE Manchester student maps her way to state A10
Editor
The city will once again partner with local entities in providing additional foot ferry service between Port Orchard and Bremerton this summer with Kitsap Harbor Tours, Inc. The Port Orchard City Council voted 5-1 in favor of the measure during its April 8 meeting. Councilman John Clauson, who is also executive director of Kitsap Transit, recused himself from the matter. Last year, the city partnered with the Port of Bremerton and City of Bremerton. The City of Port Orchard allocated $9,500, while the City of Bremerton gave $6,500 and the Port pitched in $5,500. Ferry hours were extended to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and operated four hours on Sundays. But this year, Kitsap County will contribute $4,000 for service and the city has allocated up to $6,500 towards the total cost of $22,000. The cost to operate the foot ferry is $152 per hour. This summer the extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays were reduced to 10:30 p.m. with two more hours added on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The extended hours will run May 23 to Aug. 31 with hours coordinated around local events such as Fathom o’ Fun and The Cruz. Councilman Jerry Childs, the lone opposing vote, said he knows the city wants to provide economic stimulus and promote the city.“It all makes sense in some way, but financially it doesn’t make sense at all,” SEE COUNCIL, A8