Bremerton Patriot, July 10, 2015

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PATRIOT BREMERTON

KITSAP WEEK: Hed WITH HEART ART Max Hayslette donates collection

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 | Vol. 18, No. 18 | WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢

IN THIS EDITION

FOSTERING A MODERN FAMILY

East Bremerton man stabbed by Port Ludlow man during altercation

NEWS 94-room hotel to be built in Kitsap

BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

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OPINION BKAT should follow the rules

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NEWS Dog swims across narrows

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NEWS Bremerton motorcyclist killed

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Man expected to survive stabbing

Peter O’Cain / staff photo

From left: Liz Barraza, Ashleigh Barraza, Isaac Barraza, Marcus Barraza and Court Commissioner Thurman Lowans. BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

BREMERTON—Something rare happened at the Kitsap County Courthouse July 7. In a tiny courtroom filled with family and friends, two women adopted two boys. “It’s kind of an interesting arrangement we’ve got,” said Albert Lirhus, attorney for the adopting parents, Liz and Ashleigh Barraza. “And half the free world has come to watch.” Liz and Ashleigh adopted Isaac, 7, and Marcus, 5. The two boys wore match-

ing matching suits and struggled to stay still as Court Commissioner Thurman Lowans led the proceedings. Following the adoption, he invited them to his chair for a photo. As they scrambled up the steps he jokingly warned them “No, no, no this is not a jungle gym.” They’ve had Marcus in their home since February 2015 and Isaac since February 2014. To Marcus they’re “mom,” but Isaac struggles with it. He’s been abandoned too many times by too many “moms” to be so trusting.

Liz and Ashleigh Liz and Ashleigh were officially married August 9, 2013. Before that they’d signed a notary making them domestic partners at a Mailboxes Etc. store in San Diego. Liz is a corpsman in the Navy. Ashleigh used to work for an online educational company, but quit in February when they brought home Marcus. “There are no daycares that will take care of a 3-year-old with Type I diabetes,” Ashleigh said. Liz joined the USS Stennis

after returning from a deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2013. “We were lucky enough to get sent (to a state) that has marriage equality and we always knew we wanted to adopt so we were lucky enough that Washington state also offers adoption equality,” Ashleigh said. But the clock was ticking. Liz’s stint in Bremerton is for three years and it took a year for them to become licensed foster parents, leaving them SEE ADOPTION, A9

BKAT’s problems aired by public BY PETER O’CAIN POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

BREMERTON—Bremerton Kitsap Access Television is recruiting new members for its citizen advisory board, 12 to be exact as it hasn’t met in over four years. The Bremerton City Council amended the city code — officially called Ordinance No. 5279 — to increase the group’s

total membership from nine to 12. Char Burnette, BKAT manager, expects the committee to be reconstituted in September. It would be the group’s first meeting since March 2011. Burnette said a reduction in staff initiated the committee’s dissipation, although when BKAT hired a new full-time employee in January, she looked to fix that.

Burnette said a reduction in staff initially prompted its dissipation, but with a new fulltime employee added in January, she hopes there will be more time for the committee. “That freed up a lot of time for myself,” Burnette said. “I promised myself we would resurrect this advisory committee.” Bremerton and the county will each appoint five mem-

bers, while Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island will each appoint one. The committee will meet quarterly, instead of monthly. BKAT “user,” which is a person or group who submits programs and/or uses BKAT equipment. After Burnette spoke the floor was opened for public SEE ADOPTION, A9

EAST BREMERTON—A 54-year-old East Bremerton man is in critical condition after being stabbed in the neck at a residence on the 1500 block of Spruce Street July 7. Bremerton Police arrested 23-year-old James Wesley Cotant, of Port Ludlow, in connection with the stabbing. According to police, Cotant had blood on his hands and clothing. Multiple callers reported the incident. Responding officers found the victim holding towels to his neck, which was bleeding profusely. Cotant admitted to stabbing victim. He told police had been smoking marijuana at the apartment when he saw the victim and a female tenant pushing each other. He stepped in and then the victim “cracked him” twice, according to police documents. Cotant said he thought the victim had a “shiv,” so he pulled out his knife and tackled the victim. Police located an 8-inch knife that appeared to be covered in blood stains in the living room of the apartment. The victim reportedly lost a six pints of blood and underwent surgery at Harrison Hospital. He is expected to survive. Cotant is being held at Kitsap County Jail. Police are looking to have him charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon.

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