INDEPENDENT FriDAY, november 14, 2014 ✮ vol. 123, no. 42 ✮ WWW.portorChArDinDepenDent.Com ✮ 50¢
murder suspect slated to enter plea today
Inside
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). TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
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.
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
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
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Author graces cover of national magazine
sAlute to loCAl veterAns
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting More than 150 people from the South Kitsap community packed in the Marina Waterfront Park gazebo to show their support for the family of a murdered South Kitsap woman.
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Editor
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
A large U.S. flag was displayed in front of the Veterans Living History Museum on Bay Street to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
see viGil, A19
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
Community gathers to shows support for victim, family
Wolves beat Union; advance to quarterfinals A8
Port Orchard’s No. 1 bestselling author Debbie Macomber made her first-ever appearance on the cover of a national magazine. Macomber will grace the cover of “Woman’s World” which hit the news stands this week. Inside the magazine, there is an interview with Macomber as well as her favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Macomber’s lastest book, “Mr. Miracle” is scheduled to premiere as a Hallmark Channel Original movie on Dec. 6.
Dannie oliveaux / staff photo
also helped shield the victim’s family from the media. Vigil coordinator Leann Lee asked members of the media to not take photographs or videos of Coplin’s
Kalac, 33, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was arrested one day after the murder in Wilsonville, Ore. After most of the people made their way into the gazebo stands, the family was escorted to the vigil site by a group of 20 motorcycle riders, who
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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By JUSTINE FREDERIKSEN
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-
Murder suspect David Michael Kalac is scheduled to appear in Kitsap County Superior Court today. This time Kalac and his attorney will enter a plea in the Nov. 4 death of 30-yearold Amber Lynn Coplin. Kalac, 33, was charged with one count of first-degree murder during a Nov. 7 hearing with Judge Anna M. Laurie presiding. Bail for Kalac was set at $2 million and he is currently in the
Staff Writer
Editor
A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
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
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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.
Attorney Andy Anderson talks with David Kalac during a Nov. 7 arraignment in Kitsap County Superior Court. Coplin’s family in the courtroom during Kalac’s first
Kitsap County Jail. Laurie advised the Kalac that he was charged with first-degree murder (domestic violence) with aggravating circumstances. Kitsap County Sheriff ’s Office detectives filed an amended statement of probable cause on Nov. 7 with the court and the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office. The document outlined additional items of evidence to change the arrest charge from second-degree murder to first-degree murder. There were members of
see suspeCt, A19
Dannie oliveaux / staff photos Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
David Kalac, being escorted by deputies, walks to his first court appearance.
Lucarelli says proposed logo designs ‘not Port Orchard’ A4 A candlelight vigil was held Nov. 8 for the family of Amber Lynn Coplin, a mother of five. The 30-year-old woman was found dead Nov. 4 in an apartment located in the 4000 block of Madrona Drive SE, across from the Village Green Golf Course. Coplin’s boyfriend, David Michael
Robinson is first female prosecutor in Kitsap County A3 Additional evidence pushes original charge to first-degree murder
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