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.
Inside
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
A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
fRiday, noVeMBeR 28, 2014 ✮ VoL. 123, no. 44 ✮ WWW.PoRToRcHaRdindePendenT.coM ✮ 50¢
Editor
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Staff report
Hoffman
Rem
unteer in the Boy Scouts of America as a den leader. Survivors include her husband, Paul; five boys: Adam, Bryce, Tim, Jason and James; her mother and stepfather, Daylene and Roger Wey of Oakdale, Calif.; father and stepmother, James and Teresa Schraw of Bremerton; two sisters: Patti Coppedge of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Christina Gaj of Vilonia; Ark.; five brothers, Aaron Schraw of California, Jacob
Schraw of Bremerton, Jim Hublein of Olympia, Todd Hublein of Lyons, Kan., and James Schraw of Pacifica, Calif., along with many nieces and nephews. Online memorial at www. miller-woodlawn.com. Several fundraisers are planned. A spaghetti dinner is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Nov. 28, at the First Christian Church, 4885 Hovde, Port Orchard, and another for Coplin’s family is scheduled 6-9 p.m. Dec. 11, at the Garage Bar and Grill, 6812 Kitsap Way, Bremerton.
Coplin’s live-in boyfriend, David Michael Kalac, 33, was arrested and has been charged with first-degree murder concerning Coplin’s death. Kalac was arrested in Oregon one day after Coplin’s body was found by her son. He allegedly posted photographs of Coplin and the crime scene on the Internet, along with comments about the crime. Bail was set at $2 million. The suspect pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. A Jan. 5 trial date has been set.
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
Rebuilding not on Callaghan’s mind; South Kitsap girls expect no problems keeping pace a28
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
The mother of five who was slain earlier this month will be remembered this weekend. A memorial service for Amber Lynn Schraw Coplin, is set from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 29, at the American Legion Post 149, 4922 Kitsap Way in Bremerton. Coplin, 30, was found dead Nov. 4 in her South Kitsap apartment. According to an obituary posted on Miller-Woodlawn
Funeral Home website, Coplin was born May 30, 1984, in Bremerton and lived in Hawaii, California and Washington. She attended Coplin Marcus Whitman Junior and South Kitsap High School, but later earned her GED and worked as a customer service representative and caregiver. Coplin was working for State Farm Insurance at the time of her death. She also served as a vol-
BRUCE DANIELSON
Editor
2014-15 HooP ReVieW
TIM MATTHES
See SUSPecTS, a7
JEANETTE DALTON
A felony arrest warrant was issued for both suspects last week by Kitsap County District Court for first-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful
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 SCHOOL, PAGE A2
Kitsap County Sheriff ’s Office has identified two of the suspects believed to be involved in the burglary at a South Kitsap residence Nov. 14.
They are Andrew Michael Hoffman, 29, and Tony Rem, 25. KCSO detectives were able to identify the suspects through investigative work and with assistance from public.
Memorial service set this weekend for slain mother of five By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Suspects identified in Sunnyslope burglary
Public hears plans for Kitsap Transit foot ferries a4
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).
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Staff Writer
dannie oliveaux / Staff Photo
Members of the Saints Car Club — left to right, Ron Weeks, Ernie Chamberlin, Doug Smith, Bob Holt and Jerry Newland — package produce during South Kitsap Helpline’s annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway Nov. 24 at the Washington National Guard Armory on Mile Hill Drive.
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
See PieR, a7
The Port Orchard Independent will move to new offices located at Bethel Corridor Place, 2465 Bethel Road, Suite 102 on Dec. 1. The newspaper will move from the current location at 2497 Bethel Ave. to 2465 Bethel Ave., Suite 102. The new Port Orchard office will house Editor Dannie Oliveaux, Senior Reporter Chris Chancellor, Circulation Manager Noreen Hamren, Advertising Manager Billi Jean Gurnsey and Advertising Consultant Maggie Wilson. Office hours will remain the same, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the mailing address is P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo, WA 98370. The phone number, 360876-4414, also will remain the same.
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
If everything goes as planned, the Harper Pier replacement project could be completed by the end of the year. James Heytvelt, co-chair of the Friends of Harper Pier, said his group, along with neighbors, has been watching the progress of the new replacement pier since the middle of October. Heytvelt said the community is excited about it. “The people are chomping at the bit to be the first person to walk out on the pier,” Heytvelt said with a laugh. The replacement pier, located in Yukon Bay near South Colby, will be smaller and will include a float for kayaks and smaller water crafts. “A boat load of parts should arrive after the Thanksgiving
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
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-
Replacement project could be finished by Dec. 31
▼
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
Pier taking shape
independent is moving!
VoLUnTeeRS HeLP WiTH THanKSGiVinG BaSKeTS