INDEPENDENT FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 8 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
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Inside
A Section Editorial Robert Meadows Scene & Heard Sports Legal Notices Mary Colborn Obituaries A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
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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).
The Spare Thyme Fiddlers, Charli Meacham, left, and Laurel Stone, play Celtic music before a group of residents during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Stafford Suite on March 17.
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
TIM MATTHES
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
BRUCE DANIELSON
SKHS senior eyes next step in golf A12
District 26 State Rep. Jesse Young answered questions on why he opposed two bills that dealt with increasing the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour and increased sick leave for employees at an hour-long town hall meeting March 14 in the Council Chambers at Port Young Orchard City Hall. More than 15 people attended the meeting. “This was more than I had last night in Bremerton,” Young said. “I wanted to come out and reach out to you and give you a chance
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A2
Editor
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
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-
SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
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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
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
o you remember shooting marbles as a child or teenager? Well, you can have another chance to play one of your favorite childhood games during this year’s 125th anniversary celebration of Port Orchard. With the celebration less than six months away, Sharron King is preparing plans for a marble tournament. King, chair of the Celebrate Port Orchard Planning Committee, said she has received four boxes of marbles from MegaMables, of Terrance, Ill. Jennifer Walker, sales and marketing director of MegFun U.S.A., came across the Feb. 6 article in the Independent, then sent a email to the newspaper about
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
Marble tournament planned for city’s 125th celebration
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
Editor
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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
CELTIC FIDDLERS
SEE YOUNG, A23
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
SEE COUNCIL, A23
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With a little more than two months before the festival season begins, the Port Orchard City Council discussed days and hours that the foot ferry should provide this summer. Over the past few years, the city — along with the city of Bremerton, Port “We may save money if of Bremerton and everyone comes in, but it’s most recently Kitsap County — have pro- still a heck of a lot of wasted vided funding for money. It’s not just for our additional foot ferry citizens, it’s for citizens in service between Bremerton and Port Kitsap County and Bremerton. Orchard. That is a waste of money.” The additional service allows resi- – Jerry Childs, council member dents on both sides of the bay to attend festivals, farmers markets and other events and activities.
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.
Editor
Wolves look to run toward record in track A12
to be heard and tell me what you think.” A member of the audience asked the Gig Harbor Republican why he voted against a House Bill 1355 that would raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour and a bill for increased paid sick leave for employees. He said that Washington has the highest minimum wage in the nation. “Having the highest minimum wage hasn’t solved our problems around income disparity or around low income,” Young said. He said he’s looking at a competitive global scale and since he’s traveled to Europe and Asia, he knows where the jobs in the 21st Century are going.
SEE MARBLES, A23
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
2015 South Kitsap Almanac INSIDE
Council ponders extended hours for foot ferry service, again
Daughters set up fundraiser for ailing mother A11
Young explains opposition on bills to increase minimum wage, employee paid sick leave
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PORT ORCHARD