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Inside today’s issue
Readers Theatre Plus puts on one historic event B-1
Special Mother’s Day section
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
SEQUIM GAZETTE www
Sequim’s Hometown Newspaper
com
75 CENTS
Vol. 42, Number 18
Sequim teachers plan work stoppage for May 18 by ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette
In response to a daylong workstoppage, Sequim schools have been canceled districtwide on Monday, May 18. C o n si s t e nt w it h S e q u i m School District Superintendent Kelly Shea’s recommendation, the Sequim School Board of Directors voted Tuesday, May 5, to cancel school the day of the Sequim Education Association’s organized work stoppage.
Despite no school that day, the board also voted to maintain extracurricular activities. “It’s not a safe situation for students to be here without t e a c h er s ,” Jo h n Bridge, board member, said after making the motion to cancel BRIDGE school during the work stoppage. With about 20 substitute teachers that serve the Olympic Peninsula, Gary Neal, Sequim School District
Sequim couple allegedly embezzles $1.2 million
assistant superintendent, noted there aren’t enough qualified people to replace the absent teachers. Although Sequim teachers may be absent from their classrooms, Linsay RAPELJE R apelje, S equim High School teacher-librarian and SEA acting president, told the board of directors, they’re “not taking the day off.” “We will be working to bring
Limo, Lunch
publicity and attention to the crisis in education funding,” Rapelje said. However, to recover the teachers’ lost day with students, the board of directors agreed in a 3-2 vote to add Thursday, June 18, to the academic school year. Graduating seniors won’t have to attend the make-up day because they’re legally allowed five days fewer than the normal 180 days of contact time, Brian Berg, chief negotiator for Sequim Education Association, teacher and second-
for
ary math professional development coordinator, said.
Expressing frustration Instead of being in their classrooms during the districtwide, one-day and unpaid work stoppage, teachers are planning to demonstrate their “frustration with the Legislature,” Rapelje said. Demonstrations may include, “informational picketing in prominent locations, a rally in support of
See TEACHERS, A-10
Best Button
Trial is set for July Sequim Gazette staff
A Sequim couple, Bret William Christianson and Eleana Maria Christianson, allegedly embezzled more than $1.2 million from local businessmen. As employees of Park Manager LLC, Bret and Eleana allegedly stole the money over an extended period of time. The company owned by Donald and Pilar Tucker includes the oversight of nine manufactured housing communities, several rental properties and real estate holdings. Some of the Sequim Police Department’s investigation states that Eleana and/or Bret allegedly took rental income, made unauthorized online transfers between accounts for personal use, paid personal bills and forged checks. Following the investigation which began in October 2013, Paul Dailidenas, detective with Sequim Police Department,
See EMBEZZLES, A-14
Madelyn Pickens, far right, holds up her winning button design for the Sequim Irrigation Festival with friends from Greywolf Elementary. They rode in a limo on April 30 and had free lunch at the Black Bear Diner. Moments before stepping into a limousine, Pickens, 11, got a standing applause from her fifth-grade teacher Nathalie Maynock’s class on April 30 in the parking lot at Greywolf Elementary. Her art featuring Sequim’s elk welcome sign won over 485 other drawings from Sequim elementary school students for the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s button design contest. For winning, she received the fancy ride from 7 Cedars Casino and a free lunch to the Black Bear Diner from Liz Parks, owner/ designated broker for RE/MAX Fifth Avenue. She got to bring along some of her Greywolf Elementary friends including Alyssa Bonheyo, Hannah Hampton, Kaely Henning, Taylor Heyting, Marley Reader and Lauren Sundin. See more photos of the Irrigation Festival’s first weekend, plus the Grand Parade lineup, on page A-3. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Understanding steelhead
Tribe pursuing DNA analysis of fish in Dungeness, creeks
natural resources technician for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe asked when probed about the importance of studying fish in the Dungeness River — something he’s devoted much of his professional and personal time toward. by ALANA LINDEROTH To expand their understanding of Sequim Gazette the river, the resources it supports, What would Sequim be without the like steelhead, its overall health and improve fisheries management, Burns river? That’s the question Chris Burns, a See STEELHEAD, A-10
At left, Chris Burns, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe natural resources technician, readies the sedative used to relax the fish while taking DNA samples and measurements. Above, after sedating an adult female steelhead to limit stress to the fish, Burns pulls a couple scales from the fish to send off for age analysis. Sequim Gazette photo by Alana Linderoth
Sports B-5 • Schools B-7 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-12 • Obituaries A-11 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C
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