INDEPENDENT FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 7 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
SEE COUNCIL, A28
TIM MATTHES
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE BUDGET, A27
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). JEANETTE DALTON
Editor
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Staff Writer
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
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
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
SEE NEIGHBORS, 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
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
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 FATHOMS, A17
District officials target $8.9 million in reverse
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
Council approves new Planning Commission member at meeting
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The Port Orchard City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Marcus Lane to the Planning Commission. Lane replaces longtime commission member Gil Michael, who died in December. He submitted a letter to Mayor Tim Matthes on Jan. 14 about the commission’s vacancy. Lane, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, said he returned to Port Orchard about two years ago. “I realized that public service is something I wanted to stay with,” he told the council.
Senior Reporter
year ends Aug. 31. The district has not had that large of a fund balance since it was more than $8.6 million in 2009-10. But that number decreased to about $4.9 million in 2012-13, which led Reid to consult with Debra Aungst, a former Puyallup School District administrator, to perform a review of SKSD’s finances in August 2013. Aungst’s report stated that the district’s “current financial condition clearly calls
South Kitsap School District’s fund balance is projected to increase for a second consecutive year. Tracy Patterson, assistant superintendent for business and operations, said district officials have a “target” of $8.9 million for that account when SKSD’s financial
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
Youth Wolves baseball team will not to focus on past success A17
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
Charlotte Whitten holds back tears as she is crowned queen by Devenn Miller, the 2014 Fathoms queen, during the 2015 Fathoms o’ Fun Festival scholarship pageant March 7at Christian Life Center.
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue firefighters climb stairs to help fight diseases A5
harlotte Whitten was crowned as queen during the 2015 Fathoms o’ Fun Royalty Scholarship Program March 7 at Christian Life Center. More than 325 people watched as outgoing Queen Devenn Miller crowned Whitten, who won six of the 10 awards during the night under the theme the “Superhero in You.” The 19-year-old South Kitsap High School senior won the Congeniality Award (chosen by contestants), Spirit Award (chosen by outgoing royalty), Impromptu Question Award, Best Oral Essay Award, Formal Wear/Modeling Award and Top Ticket Sales Award. “I am overwhelmed right now, I am so happy,” Whitten said shortly after she was crowned queen. “Thanks so much to the judges and fellow contestants that voted me for Miss Congeniality. I am so thankful and so humbled.” During her year of reign, Whitten plans to get more familiar with the community. “I’m looking forward to getting to know Port Orchard better and getting to know my community, and making stronger bonds with my court,” said Whitten, the daughter of John and Anna Whitten. Her platform was “The Power of Music” and she played a vibraphone during the talent competition. Cheyenne Werbelo, a 17-year-old SKHS senior, and Tamara Medal, a 17-year-old SKHS senior, were selected as princesses for the senior court.
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 purEditor
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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
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
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South Kitsap High School senior crowned 2015 Fathoms queen
A little bit of everything at Bitch’s Britches A14
SKSD’s fund balance continues to grow
Check inside for our Home & Garden section
Queen Charlotte
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.
PORT ORCHARD