FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015 ✮ VOL. 123, NO. 52 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
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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
Senior Reporter
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
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
TIM MATTHES
JEANETTE DALTON
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
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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).
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-
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SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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
One of South Kitsap’s most popular sports bars is being forced to relocate. It is just a matter of when that occurs. Tommy C’s Sports Bar & Grill owner Tommy
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
Staff Writer
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
Cash said Monday that his establishment, Sk8Town and another tenant at 1501 Piperberry Way, were told they must vacate the premise by Feb. 28. Cash said that date reflects
New Bethel Recreation Centre owner plans to evict four businesses.
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
SEE FORECLOSURE, A16
New landlord wants Tommy C’s, others to vacate premise by Feb. 28
SKHS NJROTC keeps growing A15
Building foreclosure could force local sports bar’s relocation soon
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
Editor
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Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
The Harper community and Port of Bremerton officials could not have asked for better weather to reopen the newly constructed Harper Pier. After several days of rain, sunny skies welcomed a gathering of more than 100 people who attended the grand reopening ceremony Jan. 16. Ninety-five-year-old Betty Juneau, the oldest member in the Harper community, along with port officials, several elected officials and two other community members stood under an arch of blue and white balloons for the ribbon cutting. “She (Juneau) is the first person who wrote a letter about getting this project done,” Port of Bremerton Commissioner Larry Stokes said. “I’m glad everyone had a
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.
Betty Juneau, center, along with Jim Heytvelt and Molly Rainey, right, of the Friends of Harper Pier, cut the ribbon during the grand reopening of the pier on Jan. 16. Looking on are, left to right, Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder, former District 26 State Rep. Larry Seaquist, Port of Bremerton Commissioner Axel Strakeljahn and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer.
Volunteers help keep art gallery, museum alive INSIDE
SEE STORY, A27
AG proposes to increase smoking age A3 chance to participate in this,” Juneau said. “They all love the Harper Pier.” Since September, the community watched as the new 400-foot-long steel structure took shape. Orion Marine, of Tacoma, was the contractor for the project. Jim Heytvelt, co-chair of Friends of Harper Pier, said he loves the community and the support they shown. “More than the pier, I love my community,” Heytvelt said. “I love everyone who supported us through this whole process. It has been amazing and you have inspired me.” Molly Rainey, of Friends of Harper Pier, recalled a meeting three years ago at the Colby Methodist Church when officials told the community the pier was doing to be demolished. “There was a lot of tears,” she said. “But we persevered, you wrote letters and supported us. And here we are. We are going to play host not only to Harper, but all of Kitsap County and the state. Harper be very, very proud.” Port of Bremerton CEO
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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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.
New Harper Pier is now open Community behind push to get replacement steel pier
LOUD & PROUD
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PORT ORCHARD