Sequim Gazette, April 23, 2014

Page 1

In this issue

OPA is going Global

Time to Pink Up! Softball teams taking aim at cancer

Sky is the limit for Destination Imagination team

A-13

A-4

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

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Vol. 41, Number 17

Sequim school bond fails Votes fall well short of required 60 percent mark Sequim Gazette staff

For months, Sequim School District leaders have asked taxpayers to approve a $154 million construction bond that would change the face and future of Sequim schools. On Tuesday night, voters in the district gave a clear indication they are not willing to pay for that kind of project With 10,759 votes tallied (about 47 percent of 22,725 eligible Clallam County voters ballots counted) as of Tuesday evening, “yes” votes are falling far short of the required 60 percent “super majority” required to approve the bond. Sequim schools superintendent Kelly Shea said he was surprised at the gap between votes. “I felt it would be much closer,” he said. “I am surprised how soundly it was defeated.” The 20-year bond would have paid for projects that include an $87 million overhaul of Sequim High School, $25.5 million for a new elementary school, $17.7 million in renovations to Greywolf Elementary School and $8 million in renovations to Helen Haller Elementary School. Bond supporters asserted that construction is necessary, that many of Sequim’s school buildings are aging and unsafe, and that a new elementary school would create more space for Sequim’s growing

Admittedly not a “cat person,” Mary Beth Wegener, executive director of the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, gives some love to calico Missy at the humane society’s facility just west of Port Angeles. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

It’s an emotional night for Sequim School District bond supporters. From left, Dave Mattingley of Citizens for Sequim Schools talks with human resources director Karen Sande and personnel specialist Valorie Thornock, at Paradise Cafe in Sequim, soon after learning voters in the district have rejected the bond proposal. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

kindergarten population. Critics of the bond proposal argued the dollar figure for the bond is too great for a community the size of Sequim to pay for, and that voters have not been given any alternatives. “Obviously it’s a disappointment,” Sequim School Board director Sarah Bedinger said. “This is not a margin we’re going to recover from in a second count. We’re going to have to regroup and the entire school board is going to have to discuss this and how to move forward.” The bond also would have replaced Sequim High School’s athletic field (including the

Join the pioneers

The Pioneer Association Dinner is Friday, May 9, with a social hour beginning at 4:30 p.m. and dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road, Sequim. Tickets are available at BrokersGroup for $17.

After 5 decades, pioneer group is still going strong

Sequim School District construction bond election results Yes 43.52 4,682 votes No 56.48 6,077 votes 10,759 ballots tallied as of Tuesday evening addition of an all-weather playing surface), improve district technology infrastructure, modernize the district base kitchen, move SHS’s choir and band room to the main campus and fund the demolition of the Sequim Community School,

among other projects. “I think we put together the best proposal we could with a vision that would get our schools to a safe point,” board director Beverly Horan said. Instead, school district officials are headed back to the proverbial drawing board to consider running another bond proposal. Shea said he’ll await direction from the Sequim School board. “We’ll go back to the drawing board,” he said. “We’re a long way away from this campaign. We have all-day kindergarten coming (and) we are out of space with classrooms. We have to do something.”

Library board considering schematics for new branch Director says community input integral to process by MATTHEW NASH Sequim Gazette

by PATRICIA MORRISON COATE Sequim Gazette

After a century, the descendants of Sequim’s early settlers continue to honor their ancestors, pioneers in the SequimDungeness Valley. Twice a year, at the annual Sequim Pioneer Association dinner in May and a picnic potluck in August, pioneer families gather. The first official recognition of the valley’s pioneers came in 1949 with the Old Timers

See PIONEERS, A-4

Some big decisions on the future of Sequim Library may come as soon as this Thursday. The North Olympic Library System’s board of trustees moved its monthly meeting to the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., at 5:30 p.m. April 24, to seek more input on the future of the facility. Paula Barnes, NOLS execu-

The North Olympic Library System’s board of trustees and staff want your input on whether or not to build a bigger Sequim Library and if so, what it should entail. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

tive director, said she antici- of a larger Sequim Library. pates the board voting to form “The schematic design a citizens advisory committee would give a much better and a request for qualificaSee LIBRARY, A-2 tions for a schematic design

Fundraiser goes to the dogs ... and cats Humane Society’s ‘Meowgaritas and Mutts’ event furthers efforts for new animal shelter by MICHAEL DASHIELL Sequim Gazette

They come from all sorts of backgrounds and back stories, but all find themselves looking for a home. Now, the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society is finding new digs for the Meowgaritas area’s abandoned dogs and cats — and Mutts at least, that is, dinner and until the furry friends find new auction caretakers. What: Benefit for The humane Olympic Peninsula society’s second Humane Society annual “MeWhen: 5:30 p.m., owgaritas and Saturday, April 26 Mutts” dinner and auction is Where: Vern Burton set for Saturday, Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles April 26, and furTickets: $50 per thers the organization’s efforts person to move from its Info/reserve seats: location west of Call 457-8206 Port Angeles to a On the web: www. piece of property ophumanesociety.org off Old Olympic Highway between Port Angeles and Sequim. The society has raised nearly $600,000 in its “Dig Deep” campaign to fund the new, $1.12 million animal shelter. A bit of serendipity led Olympic Peninsula Humane Society to the 9.5-acre Old Olympic Highway property that now features three modular buildings. Mary Beth Wegener, executive director of the humane society, said a couple of volunteers spotted the available land and mentioned it to her and society board members. “It’s pretty much perfect for what we need,” Wegener says.

See HUMANE, A-2

Sports B-5 • Schools B-7 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-12 • Obituaries A-11 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C

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