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
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INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
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Phillips Road residents against forming ULID By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
Burley-Glenwood, Sidney Glen elementary schools honored
Councilmembers Jerry Childs and Cindy Lucarelli voted against approving the budget. Childs said he voted against the budget because money allocated on projects are not “wisely spent,” espe-
SEE BUDGET, A26
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
By a 5-2 vote, the Port Orchard City Council approved an ordinance to adopt a $38.8 million budget for the 2015 during the Dec. 9 meeting.
should care more how it’s spent.” Councilman Rob Putaansuu noted 640 Bay Street was in the 2014 budget. “They calling for a $200,000 impact to the Capital Facilities Fund,” Childs said. “What I see as a projected that started out at $150,000, then got up to $160,000 and now to $200,000.” Childs said the problem he has with the way-finding signs is that the
Late free throws lift Wolves to win over Stadium A14
TIM MATTHES
Editor
cially lodging tax money and the property at 640 Bay St. “Part of the concern on 640 Bay Street is the capital facilities element which is defining the cost on that as $200,000,” Child said. “It seems like a lot of these projects that were entering into — whether it’s the way-finding signs, 640 Bay Street and Well 9 is a runaway project and we haven’t addressed that problem. I’d like to see the council reign in loose ends. We
SEE SCHOOLS, A26
BRUCE DANIELSON
Council votes 5-2 to approve $38.8 million 2015 budget By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
the High School Proficiency Exam in Reading and End of Course Exam in mathematics for 10th graders. “It’s a neat award,” Shdo said. “They basically see if you’re sustaining growth over time or if it’s just a blip on the radar.” Burley-Glenwood principal Darek Grant’s school also has sustained success. His school was recognized as a school of distinction by the Center for
JEANETTE DALTON
Senior Reporter
It appears to have become an annual tradition at Sidney Glen Elementary School. But that does not mean principal Jason Shdo was not surprised when his
earned the award. “This year I was kind of wondering if it would come again because it’s hard to keep the growth coming over time,” said Shdo, who is in his seventh year at Sidney Glen. The award is presented to the top five percent of schools at each level — elementary, middle and high school — that have increased student performance in the Measurements of Student Progress, which is given to third-eighth-grade students, and
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
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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
school, along with Burley-Glenwood Elementary, was recognized as the Center for Educational Effectiveness 2014 Schools of Distinction. This is the fourth consecutive year Sidney Glen has received that recognition. The program recognizes schools that made the greatest improvement in reading and math scores on standardized tests during a five-year period. Burley-Glenwood and Sidney Glen were among 101 schools from across the state that
Woman returns cash, glasses she found inside purse A7
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 ULID, A26
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Some Phillips Road residents have expressed their opposition against forming a utility local improvement district (ULID) for their property and “force” some residents to pay for installing water and sewer lines. The West Sound Utility District conducted an information meeting Nov. 24, regarding the Phillips Road Utility Local Improvement District. About 40 residents attended the meeting. Toni Flores, who is representing some of the property owners, said many landowners are unhappy about the utility district trying to “force” Phillips Road residents — who have existing working septic systems and wells — to pay for the water and sewer lines. ULID are a means of assisting benefiting properties in financing needed capital improvements through formation of a special assessment district, which permits improvements to be financed over a period of time through assessments of properties. At the June 2 meeting, General Manager Mike Wilson introduced the possibility of forming a ULID for property on Staff Writer
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
Six-year-old Ryan Whorton, of Port Orchard, enjoys his pancakes during “Breakfast With Santa” at the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue headquarters on Dec. 6. After eating breakfast, children had a few moments to visit with Santa.
Students display progress on standardized tests
Fathoms introducing junior royalty program A3
Plan could costs some residents thousands of dollars per year
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
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-
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
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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
YUMMY PANCAKES
Fa-La-La Olalla: Sweet Adelines performing Dec. 13 A23