INDEPENDENT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 ✮ VOL. 123, NO. 38 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
Suspects arrested in separate incidents By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
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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).
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
Three-year-old Addison Jones, of Port Orchard, looks around as she climbs onto a group of pumpkins, searching for one to take home during the “Hootenanny and Fall Festival” at Colello’s Product Stand Oct. 11.
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
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-
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
Editor
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
RE-ELECT JAN ANGEL TO THE STATE SENATE
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
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 NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
The candidates forum, sponsored by the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, didn’t produce a lot of drama but only a few subtle jabs from some candidates running for the 26th Legislative District in the House and Senate seats. All six candidates — State Reps. Jesse Young and Larry Seaquist, State Sen. Jan Angel, along with candidates Michelle Caldier, Nathan Schlicher and Judy Arbogast — addressed
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business. By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN Staff Writer
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
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
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
some of the issues during the annual candidate’s forum Oct. 8 at the Port Orchard Pavilion. Young and Schlicher are seeking the district’s state representative’s No. 1 seat, while Caldier is challenging Seaquist for his No. 2 position. Angel is being opposed by Arbogast, a former special education teacher. About 30 people attended the forum.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
▼
PROWLING FOR A PUMPKIN
Paid for by Jan Angel for State Senate, 5184 Granada Pl. SE, Port Orchard, Wa. 98367 (R) • www.janangel.com
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
SEE FORUM, A30
side of the Democrats — Seaquist, Schlicher and Arbogast — concerning Initiative 1351 which would impose a limit on public classroom size and require funding to hire 15,000 new teachers to meet the objective. The Democratic candidates support I-1351, while the Republicans oppose it. Angel said she “strongly opposes” I-1351. “The Legislator has already sized K-3 to smaller sizes,” Angel said. “That’s already done, because that is where it shown to be the most effec-
Supporting I-1351 The Republicans — Angel, Caldier and Young, were on the opposing
Two South Kitsap men, both older than age 60, faces felony charges involving sex crimes, according to court records from the County District Court. On Oct. 9, Eugene Everett Burnett, 62, of Port Orchard, was charged with second-degree rape involving a 30-yearold mentally disabled male. He was arrested Oct. 8 and booked into Kitsap County Jail. Bail was set at $100,000. According to court documents, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office was contacted this summer by a mother Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
District 26 candidates throw ‘subtle jabs’ at forum
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SEE COURT, A30
Kitsap Week INSIDE
tive. After fourth grade on, there is very little — if any — effects.” Angel said there’s no reason to spend $4 billion. “What’s the benefit of that?” she said. Angel noted the benefit would be hiring 15,000 more teachers at $1,000 a year in union dues. “The union is the one who is going to benefit from that and not the students,” she said. “Education already has issues with
Marin tackles the noise A17
who reported her son told her he had been raped by a neighbor. The victim reported the suspect invited him to his apartment and provided him with a drink that made him feel “really strange.” He said he was awake but unable to move and the suspect sexually assaulted him, stated court records. The victim said during another time at the suspect’s apartment, the suspect changed into women’s clothing and had gay pornography playing on the television. The mother told investigators that her son is “developmentally delayed in speech and language processing.” When deputies approached the suspect, the suspect denied he had any
Q&A: Young, Schlicher for D26 House seat A5
Men face sex charges
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.
PORT ORCHARD