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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INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 12 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
By DANNIE OLIVEAUX Editor
the neighboring Peninsula School District has two high schools even though its district-wide student enrollment is 1,000 less than SKSD. “It’s time.” Just not as bold as eight years ago. Reid believes the figure then was too much for locals. She estimated that a new capital-facilities bond in the coming years could be in the $95 million range to construct a new high school on the 56-acre plot near the intersection of Old Clifton and Feigley roads that was purchased in 2003.
SEE JOHNSON, A14
South Kitsap’s Source for News & Information Since 1890
CHARLOTTE GARRIDO
H
e has spent his career immersing himself in his students — and their achievements. But William Johnson, a third-grade teacher at East Port Orchard Elementary School, became a local celebrity last week when he was honored with the STAR 101.5 “Elementary Teacher of the Week” award. He was nominated by student Alexis Kuiphoff through her mother, Lindsay. “He is an amazing teacher,” STAR 101.5’s Jen Pirak read to Johnson’s 23 students from Kuiphoff’s entry. “He seriously goes above and beyond as many teachers do. Not just
Support EMS levy, support Prop. 1 A6
TIM MATTHES
Senior Reporter
spending his own money on school supplies, which he does, but he spends so much extra of his personal time to make the best experience for his students. He’s always at all the after-school events, he even makes an effort to come to students sports games outside of school when invited. He came to two or three of my daughter’s basketball games last season and it made her so happy to see him there. “I’d be surprised if he hasn’t already been nominated by half the school. I always hear staff and other parents talking about how great he is. He even called me to tell me how wonderful my daughter is and how helpful she is with the struggling students and how much he appreciates her. We would love to have him selected so he knows how appreciated he is, as well. My daughter says, ‘He’s funny, hysterical [and] helps me learn with fun ways.’ Please pick Mr. Johnson — he is so deserving. Thank you.” STAR 101.5 staff select 12 Western Washington elementary school teachers to honor from March 2-May 28. Ronald McDonald and the Washington
Kitsap Regional Library rebrands to inspire A4
BRUCE DANIELSON
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
JEANETTE DALTON
Johnson honored as ‘Elementary Teacher of the Week’
POI editor leaves for Kansas newspaper A3
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 REID, A21
SEE UPSETS, PAGE A2
▼ Custodians won’t be replaced, $1.72 million will be taken from reserve fund.
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 NEIGHBORS, PAGE A2
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Reid’s academic initiatives While a new high school is a future prospect, Reid also discussed several academic initiatives that are underway. Reid, who earned her bachelor’s degree in natural science/chemistry in 1980
‘Amazing teacher’ at EPO recognized by STAR 101.5 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
Dannie Oliveaux / Staff Photo
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
East Port Orchard Elementary School teacher William Johnson was honored last week by STAR 101.5.
Senior Reporter
The construction of a second high school is once again on the agenda for the South Kitsap School District. Superintendent Michelle Reid revealed that during her pre s e nt at i on April 9 at the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce luncheon at M c C o r m i c k Reid Woods. KT Arthur, a local real-estate agent, posed the question about the possibility of building another
high school. South Kitsap, which has more than 1,900 students, is the largest high school in the state. Arthur told Reid that she pulled her children out of SKHS years ago because of its size. Reid responded that the district’s “long-range capital facilities committee” likely will recommend that SKSD place a bond issue before voters to construct a new high school. The last time the district did that was 2007. At that time, district officials asked for a $163.2 million capital-facilities bond that would have paid for a new high school, rebuilt South Colby Elementary and improved technology infrastructure, roofing, heating and cooling systems, and physical education and athletic programs. It failed by about eight-percentage points of the required 60 percent to pass. “I think we have to go bold and go do it,” said Reid, adding that Staff Writer
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 MORRIS, A12
By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
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-
In a letter, Councilman Jerry Childs urged his fellow colleagues for a “no vote” in approving Mayor Tim Matthes’ selection of Carol Morris as city attorney. Childs, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee to help select a new city attorney, was on vacation and absent at the April 14 meeting. But in a letter written by him and read by Councilwoman Cindy Lucarelli, he stated the selection process went well until the choices were narrowed down to three candidates. “A major concern to me was that some members of the selection committee participated, and further negotiations and discussions were outside the selection process,” Childs wrote. “A lone applicant changed their proposal more than once when other applicants had no such option.” In the letter, Childs recommended to the council that it resubmit the RFP and process. “I frankly worry that other participants who
Capital-facilities bond might be on the horizon
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
Both sides report feeling harassed in rift over home business.
Childs urges for“no vote” on mayor’s choice
Second high school could be back on SKSD’s table
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
Morris selected as city attorney
Nine Wolves announce college destinations A23