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.
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A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries
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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-
Kitsap Week INSIDE File Photos
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
The community lost a beloved business owner when Darryl Baldwin, left, died in April. Kitsap County’s first recreational marijuana retail store, center, opened in Port Orchard in August. State Rep. Jesse Young, right, talks on the phone after winning the 26 District House seat during the November general election.
TIM MATTHES
South Kitsap girls overcome late challenge A12
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE REVIEW, A13
JEANETTE DALTON
license with the word “dead” written near her head. The words, “bad news” were written on the blinds, according to court documents. The victim’s purse was found emptied and some of the contents was missing, including a set of car keys. Wilson said that Kalac’s clothing, personal and electronic items were missing from the apartment. Investigators discovered that the victim’s 2001 gold Ford Focus was missing. It was found abandoned Nov. 5 by Portland Police Bureau in the 1300 block of Custer Avenue SW in Portland, Wilson reported that day. According The Oregonian, the victim’s car led police on a high-speed chase in Portland early on the morning of Nov. 5. About 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, Central Precinct officers spotted the car at Southeast Ninth Avenue and Powell Boulevard. Officers followed the Focus until a sergeant stopped the pursuit about Southwest 30th Avenue, police said, because the car was swerving into oncoming traffic. Kalac, 33, was taken into custody around 9 p.m. Nov. 5 by officers from the Wilsonville Police Department in Clackamas County, Ore. Wilsonville is 20 miles south of Portland. Kalac made his first court appearance on Nov. 7. On Nov. 14, Kalac, along with his defense attorneys, entered a “not guilty” plea. A court date was set for Jan. 5. A community vigil for the 30-year-old mother was held Nov. 8, on the Port Orchard waterfront. On Nov. 9, five local bands performed live at Slaughter County Brewing Co., for the “Benefit For Amber’s Boys” fundraiser. About 80 people packed into the American Legion Hall No. 149 in Bremerton on Nov. 29 for a memorial service remembering Coplin.
Harrison’s new president says patient care is a priority A3
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 UPSETS, PAGE A2
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The Nov. 4 murder of Amber Lynn Coplin and the arrest of her boyfriend David Michael Kalac was the biggest local story of the year because it drew worldwide attention. That is because Kalac posted photos of the murder scene on an Internet chat board. Several graphic photographs showing the victim were posted on 4chan, an online bulCoplin letin board, along with comments. The images appeared the show the victim hours before her body was discovered. Coplin, 30, the mother of four sons and a stepson was found lying nude in her bed by her 13-year-old son, who later called his father. His Kalac father came over and found Coplin unresponsive and called 911 about 3:30 p.m. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue emergency personnel responded and confirmed the woman was deceased. The son told investigators that his mother and the suspect had a loud argument Nov. 3. Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies found writing on a picture inside the woman’s bedroom, along with the woman’s driver’s
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Amber Coplin murder, David Kalac arrest
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
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
arijuana. Murder. And the mayor. All were major focal points in 2014, along with other major news events, that created headlines in Port Orchard and the South Kitsap community — and, in one case, worldwide. Crime produced the most headlines over the past year, along with the passing of a local business owner that touched the community, the November general election, Fathoms, education news, new businesses and a new local attraction opened up this past spring. The murder of a South Kitsap mother by her live-in boyfriend, who posted photographs from the scene and comments on an Internet chatroom, drew media attention nationally and worldwide. He was arrested the following day. Of course, city government meetings and happenings within the school district provided their share of headlines, along with accomplishments and failures of individuals residing in our com-
munity. Here are the top 10 stories for 2014:
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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Editor
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Staff Writer
Coplin murder, Kalac arrest top story of 2014
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 SEE MICHAEL, A3
YEAR IN REVIEW
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
The Port Orchard community is shocked by the news of the death of Gil Michael, who owned the Cedar Cove Inn with his wife and was a member of the city’s Planning Commission. Port Orchard Mayor Tim Matthes confirmed Michael’s death to the media. He died Saturday. Matthes said Michael’s wife, Kathy, contacted him after her husband’s death, but asked the mayor to not comment further of her husband’s death. No other details about Michael’s death have been released by the family as of press time Tuesday morning. Coreen Haydock, former executive director of the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, said in an email, “It is a death that has huge impact on our community and I’m devastated.” Michael was former chair of the city’s Planning Commission. He was first appointed to the commission in February 1997. Councilman Fred Chang said he was shocked to hear about Michael’s death. He worked with Michael on the Planning Commission. “I know that he always studied the issues very carefully. He was always one of the best prepared members of the Planning Commission,” said Chang. “Though I did not always agree with his conclusions, I respected his opinions and deliberations.” Michael, who was a U.S. Navy veteran, was also active with the Port Orchard Bay Street Association (POBSA). Don Ryan, former POBSA president, said Michael was an at-large board member for the three years while he was
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Editor
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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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
Michael’s death shocks residents