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.
Inside
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
A4 A4 A5 A6 A7 A7 A8
Printed with recycled paper and environmentally friendly soybean oil-based ink.
INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 11 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
Jesse Beals/Staff Photo
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 FOOT FERRY, A24
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
kids who are able to meet standard,” said Cain, adding that the school has about 25 seventh-graders and 30 eighth-graders that are classified as special needs. “It’s enabling us to provide staff with some training, planning and instructional practices. We’re looking at our systems to make sure we’re providing the interventions and enrichments.” Cedar Heights is among four schools within the South Kitsap School District — Hidden Creek and Orchard Heights elementary schools and South Kitsap High School are the others — that are in the first year of attempting to gain International
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
Senior Reporter
Cedar Heights Junior High already is working toward an academic restructuring. And principal Andrew Cain believes a grant only will enhance that. Last week, Cedar Heights was announced as 133 “Focus Schools” in the state by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). According to OSPI, those schools had an average proficiency rate in reading and
TIM MATTHES
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
math combined during the last three years of 13.58 percent or worse in at least one subgroup. Cain said he has not been provided with specific data, but Cedar Heights’ designation for focus during the 2015-16 school year is for students with disabilities. Cain said part of the expectation for the grant, which provided Cedar Heights with $20,000 in state funds last year, was to restructure the school’s curriculum. “That’s what has driven part of our move to becoming an International Baccalaureate school because part of that is the instructional emphasis on inquiry, integration and application we believe will help raise an increasing number of
BRUCE DANIELSON
SEE MEETINGS, A11
School is in the midst of curriculum overhaul
JEANETTE DALTON
Editor
The Port Orchard City Council and the city’s Planning Commission will conduct two special joint meeting to discuss the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update. The meeting at set for 7 p.m. on April 15 and April 23, at City Hall Robert Geiger Council Chambers, 216 Prospect St. Development Director Nick Bond said the first meeting will be to present progress to date on the Comprehensive Plan and to provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions, and for the council and Planning Commission to hear any questions while together. “The second meeting will be more of a joint work-study where the Planning Commission can hear from the council first hand and consider council input as they review the plan,” said Bond. Bond said the next steps for the Comprehensive Plan process relate to the preparation of technical documents including the water and sewer element, the Critical Areas element, and the Transportation elements.
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX
think there is a great opportunity for you (Port Orchard). During the past years, I don’t think we marketed it very well. We need to sit down and market it. Maybe we can do it jointly.” He feels if would benefit both cities. During the March 17 work study session, the council discussed eliminating the Friday and Saturday night extended hours for the foot ferry. The city’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee analyzed the actual Friday and Saturday ridership from 2014 and
Cedar Heights Junior High listed as ‘Focus School’
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
City Council, Planning Commission set pair of special joint meetings
Bremerton councilmember Jerry McDonald urged the Port Orchard City Council not to eliminate the Friday and Saturday extended hours for the foot ferry that runs between the two cities. During final residents comments at the March 24 council meeting, McDonald said he didn’t feel the extended hours was marketed enough. “I would encourage you to do some serious consideration on the Friday and Saturday night foot ferry trips,” McDonald said. “I
4DIPPM EJTUSJDU MPPLT UP CBMBODF JUT CPPLT
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
Two-year-old Madison Stonehocker, left, and four-year-old Baylynn Steward, both of Port Orchard, examine their eggs for candy during the 22nd annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 4 at the South Kitsap Regional Park. More than 500 children participated in the event sponsored by the Fathoms o’ Fun Festival.
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
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
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-
Fastpitch preview: Struggles have not dampened Wolves’ spirit A22
Neighbor denies pellet gun shooting
▼
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
South Kitsap Helpline gets grant to purchase new truck A3 Fathoms bringing back Seagull Splat 5K event A4
McDonald urges City Council to keep extended foot ferry hours
CHECKING OUT EASTER EGGS
SEE FOCUS SCHOOL, A24