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INDEPENDENT PORT ORCHARD
125 YEA
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 ✮ VOL. 124, NO. 48 ✮ WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM ✮ 50¢
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016
A hopeful start to a new year Port Orchard photographer Carrie Griffis captured a rainbow over Manchester last week, perhaps foretelling a peaceful dawning of a new year.
Carrie Griffis photo
With a new mayor and City Council, Port Orchard city government will take a new approach and outlook in 2016. South Kitsap leaders in other areas — state and county government, education, business and law enforcement — also have their own challenges. In this special issue, they share their thoughts about the new year.
2016:
Leaders look forward to opportunities, challenges in South Kitsap IN THE INDEPENDENT
Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu ‘A fresh start at City Hall.’
Stembridge headed to prison for 51 months
his year promises a fresh start for Port Orchard, and the opportunities it has to make progress on the pressing needs of our city while building a foundation for generations to come. My first order of business is to establish a collaborative relationship with our City Council in order to work together on the most urgent issues at hand, which begins with the completion of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. Once approved, the Comprehensive Plan will outline the path to help facilitate and prioritize the funding needs that are so critical to our city’s infrastructure. Over the first months of the year, I’ll be working with city staff to identify where we need to fine-tune our services and effectiveness, with the goal of becoming more efficient and customer-responsive. An area especially in need of attention this year is the development of more constructive relationships with other local governmental agencies. Much more can be accomplished if we coordinate our efforts with agencies and service providers, such as the Port of
Ralph Stembridge is going to jail for 51 months after taking $39 from the Regal South Sound Cinema on Mile Hill Road Sept. 7. Stembridge, 25, was sentenced Dec. 16 for first-degree armed robbery in Kitsap County Superior Court by brandishing a gun and forcing the night manager to hand over $750 from the theater’s receipts. In his hurried dash out the door, Stembridge Stembridge’s bag containing the cash broke. He was able to grab only $39 of his stash. Port Orchard Police said the armed robber from Bremerton fled in a white SUV. He was later arrested Sept. 29 by U.S. Marshal’s agents in San Diego and then transferred to Kitsap County Jail.
CITY GOVERNMENT
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KITSAP WEEKLY
2016 Resolutions.
Rob Putaansuu Bremerton, Kitsap County, our South Kitsap School District, West Sound Utility District, our county’s public utility and our local fire and library districts. We all share the common purpose to support and serve the families and businesses of Port Orchard and South Kitsap. The greatest challenges will be to resolve the Tremont and Bethel Corridor funding needs. I plan to make this our highest priority. So much of our future economic growth and crucial revenues to support our city will be generated by the retail growth and community access benefits that these will provide. It’s time to roll up our sleeves on this, and
OPINION
2016 OUTLOOK, SEE A2
Finally: LWCF renewal. A4
INSIDE
A welcoming meal. A9
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