INSIDE 2015 Fathoms O’ Fun special section
OPINION Patience, generosity of benefactors was key to new turf field at SKHS A4
SPORTS Romo is Independent’s Female Athlete of the Year A12
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SK breaks ground on turf field New surface will enable Wolves to host playoff football, soccer games By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
A
Bob Smith / Independent
From left, Janet Lundberg, South Kitsap School District officials Tom O’Brien and Michelle Reid, and SKSD board president Chris Lemke participate in the June 15 groundbreaking ceremony at South Kitsap High School.
cchancellor@soundpublishing.com
group of South Kitsap School District officials and supporters placed shovels into the sod for the June 15 groundbreaking ceremony at Joe Knowles Field as the high school band played its fight song. But the larger celebration for the project to install artificial turf might come in November. That is because the school’s girls soccer and football programs could have the ability to host playoff games at the facility — which has been rebranded Kitsap Bank Stadium — for the first time. The Wolves were not eligible to host postseason games in the past because the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association does not allow games in the final two rounds of the state playoffs to be held on grass surfaces. WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese told the Independent in 2009 that the rule was instated to put athletes on surfaces that are “safer that time of the year” and because most coaches prefer playing on an artificial field. The rule has become a costly proposition for the Wolves. When their football program last advanced to state in 2009, they had to rent Mount Tahoma’s stadium to “host” Skyline. South also has rented Silverdale Stadium and Purdy’s Roy Anderson Field for past events. SKSD athletic director Ed Santos said that typically costs $1,500 for football, with the school keeping the rest of the pro-
Get ready for Fathoms O’ Fun By BOB SMITH Editor
Summer is all about sun, frolicking and soaking in what South Kitsap has to offer. And it’s also about festivals, parades and fun. Port Orchard contributes to that formula for excitement June 27-28 with its annual Fathoms O’Fun
Grand Parade and Summer Festival, presented by Columbia Bank. While the Grand Parade may not be the largest in the region, it takes honors for its dose of enthusiasm and waterfront charm. It begins at 6 p.m. June 27 in downtown Port Orchard. The parade organizers promise plenty of thrills and razzle-dazzle with seven out-of-town
community festival floats accompanying their own home-grown, award-winning float. The 90-minute grand parade, with more than 100 entries, also will be sprinkled with area drill teams, novelty entries, drum lines, car clubs, commercial units, horses and SEE FATHOMS, A7
ceeds from the game. He said a football game at newly named Kitsap Bank Stadium generates between $6,000 and $7,000. Santos also noted that football and soccer teams had to travel on weekdays to locations, such as Lakewood’s Harry Lang Stadium, for practice times that sometimes were slotted for 7-9 p.m. “What makes me feel good about this project is how it will positively affect our kids,” he said. Santos said the $1.54 million artificial turf project will enable the Wolves to host Class 4A West Central District Tournament playoff games for soccer. He also expects the school to host games for the preliminary round of the state playoffs for football as long as additional seating for the visiting crowd is added. Because the WIAA requires covered seating for state-playoff games, Santos said the Wolves still will have to rent venues to host those contests. But situations, such as the one the Wolves’ girls soccer team faced Oct. 29 when their final home game was moved to Silverdale Stadium after coach Julie Cain said rain rendered the grass field “unplayable,” no longer figure to be an issue. The turf project was spurred by a $504,000 donation from Kitsap Bank, which was announced during the May 19 school board meeting, along with a $150,000 contribution from Wayne and Debbie Macomber to resurface the high school track. “It probably will be one of the biggest things — and nicest things — to happen to this community in the 40 years I have lived here,” SKSD board president Chris Lemke said to about 100 SEE FIELD, A42
SKSD committee recommends building second high school By CHRIS CHANCELLOR
cchancellor@soundpublishing.com
The construction of a new high school is the top priority for South Kitsap School District’s “long range capital facilities committee.” Lee Fenton of BLRB Architects, who is a volunteer, presented a
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model “with a goal to consider all district facilities within a 30-year timeframe.” Through 18 members of the school district and community on the committee, Fenton said SEE SCHOOL, A42