Central Kitsap Reporter, July 31, 2015

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REPORTER CENTRAL KITSAP

KITSAP WEEKLY SONGS FOR THE SEA: Port Gamble festival celebrates our maritime heritage

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 | Vol. 30, No. 43 | WWW.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM | 50¢

IN THIS EDITION

Ferry fares set to rise 5 percent by next year Riders give input on fares, but ferry commission says its options are limited BY CHRIS TUCKER CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM

NEWS Stennis scores high on INSURV test

BREMERTON – Passenger fares for the Bremerton-Seattle, Bainbridge Island-Seattle and Kingston-Edmonds ferry routes are set to go from $8 to $8.10 in October, and then to $8.20 by May, 2016. Several citizens spoke with members of the Washington State Transporta-

tion Commission – the board in charge of the fares – at a July 22 meeting at the Kitsap Conference Center. They asked the commission to tweak fares. Commission members listened to what they had to say, but noted that, ultimately, the commission’s options on the new fares were limited. The commission must set rates to cover ferry system operating and maintenance costs of $357.2 million for the

2015-2017 biennium, as directed by the state legislature. To meet that goal, the WSTC determined automobile ferry rates must go up 2.5 percent and passenger fares 1 percent in October, and then again by 2.5 and 1 percent in May, 2016. For standard size vehicles the rate would go from the current fare of $13.90 to $14.25 in October and then to $14.60 in May, 2016.

A key feature of the proposal is to continue the process of widening the price differential between vehicle and passenger fares. Widening this differential reflects the lower cost of carrying passengers and encourages more customers to travel as walk-ons. “It changes the relationship between vehicle fares and passenger fares to favor SEE FERRY FARES, A2

DUMPING DUCKS

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Around 20,000 rubber ducks splash into Dyes Inlet near Silverdale Waterfront Park on July 25 during the 22nd annual Silverdale Rotary Duck Race. The event was one of the final attractions for the Whaling Days festival, and people lined the shore to watch the ducks get dropped into the water. A storm arrived shortly afterward, causing the duck race to be delayed for more than an hour. Barbara Baglio of Tracyton won the Grand Prize, a $16,000 Nissan pickup truck. Read more about Whaling days on page A9.

OPINION Work together on Callow property

A4

Chris Tucker / staff photo

NEWS LeMieux reunites with old friend

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SPORTS BlueJackets earn first road sweep of year

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CK grad keeps Indiana residents informed about weather Man finds success by keeping his head in the clouds BY STELLA KIM SKIM@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA – From a young age, Matt Leach aspired to be a television meteorologist. “My parents told me when I was about 5 or 6, once the weather came on I would put down my toys, watch the weather, and once the news was back on, I would play

with my toys again,” Leach said. “I remember when I was about 10 years old, I emailed KOMO news and asked if I could get a tour of the station and I didn’t hear back. I got my first tour of the station at the age of 12 and I went back every year since. I kind of made it an annual tradition.” “It’s kind of something that’s always been in me, I’ve always loved weather.” Nineteen years later, his dream became a reality. Leach works as the weekend weather anchor for 21Alive News in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After graduating from Central Kitsap

High School, Leach went on to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho where he studied communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. “I actually don’t have a degree in meteorology. I started studying weather probably as early as 10. I was taught how to read weather data and weather forecast models by the weather producer at KOMO-TV,” Leach said. From 2009 to 2014 he had a staff blog with the Kitsap Sun. Once or twice a week he would do forecasts for Bremerton Kitsap Access Television. In 2013 he worked SEE WEATHERMAN, A9

Matt Leach

The Central Kitsap Reporter: Top local stories, every Friday in print. Breaking news daily on CentralKitsapReporter.com and on Facebook


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