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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Influenza reported on the rise in Kitap County • A5
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In spite of the settlement, Superintendent Michelle Reid said the district “continues to deny any liability for its actions, and the resolution is not indicative of any wrongdoing on behalf of the district. “I want to state categorically that we have outstanding staff in this district who work hard every day to support the success of all students — no exceptions. These allegations are very hurtful to our dedicated and hardworking staff, particularly as they have done nothing wrong.” According to court documents, SKSD officials did not renew Sparks’ contract because of “abuse of sick leave, abuse of professional leave, and lying to human resources about the uses of sick leave and
professional leaves.” Sparks, who is African-American, claimed the decision was racially motivated. He said all of his sick and professional leave was authorized by his supervisor, Thomas Mosby, the director of career and technical education. Mosby, now with the Highline School District, denied to investigators that he approved the absences. Sparks, who was hired as the fifth football coach in as many years in June at Seattle’s Garfield High School, also alleged that he was subjected to disparate treatment because of his race. He said a trio
Jesse Beals/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-
Former South Kitsap Schools employee Derek Sparks settled his lawsuit Feb. 7 against the district and former superintendent Dave LaRose. The district agreed to pay Sparks, who claimed his 2011 termination from the district was based on racial discrimination, $100,000 to drop his claims. A trial was scheduled for Feb 2.
TIM MATTHES CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
SEE SESSION, A7
BRUCE DANIELSON
When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the second story. Crews made their way to the second floor and extinguished the fire. Firefighters checked the house for fire that may have extended to another part of the house and nothing was found. There were no injuries reported in this incident. Faucett reported the fire appeared to have started on the second floor in the bedroom. The cause has not been determined.
Local car dealer buys property, expanding A8
JEANETTE DALTON
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 Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Editor
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers representing the 26th and 35th Legislative Districts were sworn in Jan. 12 as the 2015 Legislative session began. State Reps. Michelle Caldier (R-Port Orchard) and Jesse Young (R-Gig Harbor) will represent the 26th District in the House of Representatives, while Sen. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) is in the Senate. The 26th District includes portions of Pierce and Kitsap counties. This is Caldier’s first time in the House, while Young has a year under his belt. He was appointed in December 2013 to replace Angel who won the district’s Senate seat a month earlier. “The ceremony was a proud moment for me, but humbling at the same time,” Caldier said. “To stand in the House chamber and sit where so many great leaders have made laws for our state
is awe-inspiring. I’m thrilled to get started serving my constituents.” Both Caldier and Griffey swore to “uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of a Washington State Representative to the best of my ability.” Caldier said she takes the oath and her responsibilities as a state representative seriously. “These aren’t just words — I will follow them with how I act,” she said. Caldier will serve on three House committees: Education, General Government and Information Technology, and Health Care and Wellness. She said the committee assignments reflect her strengths as well as her goals for the 105-day session. “Education will be and should be our top priority as a state,” Caldier said. “The General Government and Information Technology Committee considers issues dealing with making state agencies more efficient and
SOUTH COLBY — A grand re-opening of Harper Pier is set for 10 a.m. Jan. 16, Port of Bremerton officials announced last week. Port of Bremerton commissioners and officials, along with U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) are expected to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Harper Pier was once a wooden dock for the Mosquito Fleet steamboats in the 1880s and served auto ferries until the 1960s. The new metal pier is expected to attract fishermen, divers and boaters to the community. The pier will have a 10-foot-wideby-40-foot-long float at the end for boaters. It also features an 8-footwide, 380-foot-long graded catwalk leading to a 15-foot-wide by 60-footlong pier and a 6-foot-wide by 80-foot-long gangway that will double back and drop down to the float.
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).
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By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Staff Writer
District officials take oath during first day of 105-day session
Firefighters respond to early morning fire Staff report
Courtesy Photo
Derek Sparks will receive $100,000 to drop his lawsuit against the South Kitsap School District.
Lawmakers ready for task at hand
South Kitsap School District Superintendent Michelle Reid takes aim at her target, while South Kitsap High School NJROTC cadet Katelynn Croston helps her during the Wolves Battalion Marksmanship Competition Jan. 10, at the National Guard Armory. The event helped to raise money for cadets to attend a regional shooting competition in Arizona.
The Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s office is conducting the investigation into an early morning residential fire on Jan. 10 in South Kitsap. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue crews were dispatched to the fire in the 11000 block of Helena Trail SW about 2:19 a.m., reported Battalion Chief Jeff Faucett. Dispatcher received call from multiple people that their was a fire on the second floor of the home.
SEE SPARKS, A7
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
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Former employee will receive $100,000 settlement
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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
SKSD settles lawsuit with Sparks
Grand re-opening for Harper Pier set for 10 a.m. today
SK girls fall at home in league play A15