WNPA Feature Writer of the Year - Bob Smith, Port Orchard Independent by Robert Smith

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SK girls soccer on a roll, Page 11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018 ✮ VOL. 126, NO. 34 ✮ KITSAPDAILYNEWS.COM ✮ 50¢

26th Legislative Remembering Katie Phillips WSF toll booth employee honored by family, friends, fellow employees District forum

Candidates for state senate seat offer diverging views, solutions BY BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — Emerging from a closely fought Aug. 7 primary election race in the 26th Legislative District’s state Senate race, Republican Marty McClendon and Democrat Emily Randall offered attendees at a League of Women Voters-Kitsap forum Oct. 3 considerably divergent views on a number of issues affecting district residents. The two general-election candidates answered written questions from the audience during the second part of a political forum also featuring candidates for the two state representative positions in the district (their comments will be published in the Oct. 19 Independent). Results from that primary race, in which vote totals for each political party in Kitsap County were nearly identical, are reflective of the partisan split in the nation overall. McClendon garnered 8,009 votes to replace incumbent Republican Jan Angel while Randall tallied 9,073 votes, or 50.3 percent of the county ballots, from Kitsap voters. Perennial candidate Bill Scheidler, who ran as an inde-

OCT 2018

pendent but whose views lean populist Republican, received 966 votes. Question topics ranged from the death penalty to traffic congestion on SR 16 and 3, the opioid crisis, building construction impact fees, climate change, homelessness and public education funding. Gun control measures were part of the discussion at the forum, especially so with Initiative I-1639 — the gun safety measure — also on the November ballot. Not surprisingly, the candidates shared diametrically opposing views. Randall, a first-time candidate and a longtime South Kitsap resident, said she grew up in a hunting family where guns were part of their life. “My brother was gifted his first rifle at the age of 11,” Randall said. “I grew up in a family that has a familiarity with guns, believes in gun safety, believes in the Second Amendment.” But the Democrat said the time has come for legislators and the public to embrace measures ensuring that the community becomes safer. “The Second Amendment SEE FORUM, PAGE 3

Katie Phillips BY BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

SOUTHWORTH — Once you got to know Katie Phillips, she was — simply put — family. She also was vibrant, fun, a helper and charismatic. Those were some of the attributes used to describe the wife, mother and Washington State Ferries pay booth employee who was taken from family, friends, fellow employees and customers by a hit-and-run driver in the early morning hours in South Kitsap along Sedgwick Road and Peppermill Place Southeast on March 22. The driver who hit and killed Phillips as she was aiding a stranded motorist on the dark, rainy roadway eventually was arrested and awaits punishment from the courts. But choosing to shine light, not grief, on the impact her life had on others, dozens of family members, friends, WSF employees and customers — “Katie’s family” — gathered to pay tribute to the gregarious mother of two boys on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Southworth Ferry Terminal. It was fitting that the ceremony took place next to one of the pay booths she manned during most of her three and one-half years employed with the ferry system. Phil Olwell, Southworth Ferry Terminal supervisor, and WSF SEE PHILLIPS, PAGE 2

Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News

Katie Phillips’ mother Deborah Harrah and Southworth Terminal Supervisor Phil Olwell unveil a safety sign at the site of the hit-and-run incident on Sedgwick Road in the early morning hours of March 22 where Phillips was killed.

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Friday, October 12, 2018 - Port Orchard Independent

“She was a hoot from day one. Katie blended in with this family here. She just had that kind of personality, always laughing and dancing, upbeat and never cranky, no matter the weather. She was always ‘up’.” — Dana Billington

PHILLIPS

CONTINUED FROM 1

Director of Operations Greg Faust spoke movingly of Phillips’ spirit and generosity during the ceremony. The pay booths were decorated with balloons, flowers and decorated signs — festooned in purple, her favorite color — that spoke of the woman’s sunny personality and her love of this region’s sports teams. Washington State Patrol troopers also were on hand to honor the late state employee. Before the ceremony, Olwell spoke haltingly of Phillips’ spirit and her connection with the pay booth crew: “I’ve been with the organization for 37 years and I’ve never had an employee that has impacted not only myself personally but this group like she did. There wasn’t much about her that people didn’t appreciate.” Olwell said he has kept in touch with Phillip’s family since her death. As might be

imagined, he said, her husband and two sons “are really struggling right now. It’s very challenging when you lose that piece of the puzzle.” And how are coworkers handling her loss? “It’s like the tides we work with every day — it ebbs and flows,” Olwell said. “This is a day when you reflect on emotions and grief, the devastation and the anger — why her and why us?” The grieving process continues for them. Dana Billington worked alongside Phillips at the Southworth pay booth. She noted that it didn’t take the young woman long to make a mark among coworkers. “She was a hoot from day one,” she said. “Katie blended in with this family here. She just had that kind of personality, always laughing and dancing, upbeat and never cranky, no matter the weather. She was always ‘up’.” Co-worker Nicole Martinez shared similar recollections of her first experiences working

Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News

Phil Olwell, Washington State Ferries Southworth Terminal supervisor, shares his memories of Katie Phillips at the memorial event. with Phillips. “On day one, she came out just smiling and ready to go. That first day, she came out in blue hair ready to rock and

roll for the Seahawks. She really blended in with this family,” as Martinez characterized the close-knit pay booth team. “It was seamless. It’s hard to believe it was only two years that she was here.” Martinez said the personable Phillips also shared pieces of her personality with customers. “It was just like her to spend a few minutes talking with customers and her coworkers after her shift,” she said. And some of those customers, who would later call her a friend, were on hand at the

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Deborah Harrah, Phillips’ mother, hugs one of the pay booth employee’s customers at the close of the unveiling ceremony. ceremony to pay tribute. Diana Harless, who also manned the booth, first met Phillips when she brought her sons down to the ferry terminal while trick-or-treating. After working together and sharing time off-hours, Harless said Phillips became like a second daughter to her. “We’d all go out and have lunch together and celebrate. She even came and got me for work when my dad wrecked his car,” Harless said quietly as the ceremony was about

to begin. “Katie came out to the [Vashon] island to come and get me so I could get into work.” And while Phillips was known for her lighthearted personality, Harless said her friend and coworker was a reliable teammate. “We never had to worry where Katie was because she was out on the lot doing her job. She was always where she was supposed to be, willing to help anybody.” On this day that Olwell called “a bittersweet moment,” those who loved and appreciated their lively friend would later watch the unveiling of a cautionary road sign at the location where Phillips died in March. Following the brief pay booth ceremony, the group traveled west on Sedgwick Road, also known as State Route 160, to watch the dedication of a “Please Drive Safely — In Memory of Katie Phillips” sign at the spot of the hit-and-run incident. Phillips’ mother, Deborah Harrah of Brownsville, assisted Olwell in unveiling the new sign. After removing the blue vinyl cover to reveal the sign, the two spoke a few words in tribute, then hugged. Afterward, Harrah spoke through tears to summarize her daughter’s legacy: “Katie lived a regular life but filled out the corners with joy and love.”

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SK ATHLETES OF THE YEAR Pages A14, 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018 ✮ VOL. 126, NO. 17 ✮ KITSAPDAILYNEWS.COM ✮ 50¢

SOUTH KITSAP HIGH SCHOOL • CLASS OF 2018 • COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

SKHS:

Class of 2018 takes a final bow at Tacoma Dome graduation By BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

TACOMA — For the casual observer, it almost seemed as if the cavernous Tacoma Dome was a tight squeeze Tuesday night, June 12, for the visitors from Port Orchard. The thousands of family and friends, who traveled southbound on Highway 16 to see the South Kitsap High School’s Class of 2018 commencement ceremony, squeezed into bleachers at one side of the woodroofed arena to catch their favorite graduate walk up the red carpet runner and accept a diploma. For the most part, the audience and the graduating students were on their best behavior, no doubt forewarned by strict instructions given by school administrators to the students instructing them to arrive sans extraneous outerwear, such as flower leis, bejeweled gowns and caps draped with signage. And audience members had to pass through one of seven metal detection scanners or be “wanded” by security guards, who were on the lookout for air horns, party favors and other forbidden celebratory accessories. The anticipated large crowd

brought with them a slightly tardy start to the ceremony. After South Kitsap’s principal, Diane Fox, welcomed the audience, the high school band played a lush rendition of “Freedom” prior to a light-hearted salutatory address by graduating student Torre DiGiovanni. DiGiovanni recalled significant events, nationally and on campus, that impacted South Kitsap’s graduating students during their time as Wolves. One event, in particular, drew a collision of cheers and boos from the crowd: the election of Donald Trump as president and the advent of his unconventional administration. The young speaker also got a mixed reaction with his reference to the flurry of campus “threats to safety” that necessitated periodic evacuations, eliciting a few chuckles in the audience and a look of discomfort from administrators seated behind DiGiovanni. Some of the Wolves’ sports teams received kudos from the graduate, including the school’s state champion wrestlers, and state tournament participants in baseball, track and GRADUATION, SEE PAGE A3

Bob Smith | Independent

Graduates scan the Tacoma Dome audience for friends and family members.

The tragedy of suicide

Regardless of fame or fortune, some aren’t immune to mysterious killer By BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — It’s a common refrain after news breaks about

another celebrity suicide: “How could this person, with so much to live for, have nothing to live for? That’s the mystifying question puz-

zling so many when, in about a week’s time, two globally known, strongwilled and well-liked individuals — chef and television storyteller/trav-

eling raconteur Anthony Bourdain and women’s handbag maven and businesswoman Kate Spade — were found dead, their lives cut short by

their own doing. The list of celebrities who committed suicide in recent years is certainly noteworthy: comedian/actor Robin Williams, Chester Bennington of the band Linkin Park, “Top Gun” film director Tony Scott, NFL linebacker Junior Seau, Seattle-born Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, DJ master Avicii and country artist SUICIDE, SEE PAGE A5

Friday, June 15, 2018 - Port Orchard Independent

KitsapDailyNews.com

Page A5

SUICIDE

CONTINUED FROM A1

Mindy McCready, to name just a few. Their shocking suicides might seem to signal a disturbing new pattern among high-profile trendsetters. But the reality is that the specter of suicide is touching countless troubled lives in every-town America — and growing at an alarming rate. If you’re a celebrity or a seemingly average Kitsap community member, suicide doesn’t discriminate as a mental health disorder. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death in the U.S. Statistics indicate that more die from suicide than those killed in auto accidents. And it’s a final outcome that inflicts heavy collateral damage among grieving family members and friends who are left behind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016, a significant increase after decades in which statistics were stable at 32,000 deaths yearly. Most recently, suicide rates rose by more than 30 percent in half of the states in America. Kitsap County mirrors the statistics in Washington state; 16 deaths per 100,000 residents were attributed to suicide. In this county, that number is 20 per 100,000, an increase from 13 in 2000. Statistics also report that suicide claims men as its victim twice as often as with women. As a subset, the group with the highest suicide rate includes middle-aged white males. But suicide deaths by women have increased in recent years from a more predictable time when men died at a rate three to four times that of women. Now, men are victims twice as often. Kelly Schwab, program manager of the Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas in Bremerton — associated with Kitsap Mental Health — supervises a team of 26 volunteers who answer calls from people dealing with a mental health crisis. Schwab is familiar with those statistics. He estimates the crisis clinic responded to a little more than 10,000 calls from a three-county region: Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam. While a minority of the calls — he said about 2,000 last year — were suicide-related, all the phonebased interventions involved mental health crises. “We have seen a slight uptick in calls about suicide over the last few years,” Schwab said. “Nationwide, there has been a 28-percent increase in [crisis] calls. All of our calls are going up.” Statistics don’t lie. “You can just see the [statistical] line moving straight up. There are a lot of reasons behind that, which have to do with societal changes.”

Bob Smith | Independent

Kelly Schwab, program manager of the Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas, said the deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate

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Collecting and calculating statistics on suicide rates is the easy part. More difficult is finding conclusive reasons from among ambiguous data as to why the rates are rising. “No matter how successful a person is, they can get cancer, they can get sick,” Schwab said while outlining a diagnostic profile of a person who might be considering suicide. “It’s a mental health issue, and mental health is a sickness, just like any other illness. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, you still can be in pain.” Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, chair of the Psychiatry Department of Columbia University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, told “CBS Sunday Morning” he believes the spike in suicide deaths is partly attributable to the nation’s healthcare system. “It’s because our country has a dysfunctional and inadequate health policy, particularly when it comes to mental health care,” he said. “Death should not be an outcome of mental illness. We’re better today than at any time in human history in predicting and preventing suicide.” People in crisis who need evaluation and follow-up care often are reluctant to get it for reasons beyond denying or minimalizing their personal crisis — healthcare services are expensive, even for those who have a modicum of insurance. Preventing suicide heavily relies on an afflicted person receiving prompt medical treatment from observant healthcare professionals. But before being treated, that individual must be identified as needing treatment. And that’s the tricky part. Liberman and Schwab both agree that a person with depressive symptoms often

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works hard to disguise them. “Suicide doesn’t happen spontaneously, out of the blue. Ninety percent of people who commit suicide have a pre-existing mental disorder, whether it’s diagnosed and treated or not,” Liberman said. According to the CDC, 54 percent who died by suicide were undiagnosed with a mental health condition, most often depression. For Bourdain, his demon was a history of depression for which he self-medicated by using drugs, most notably heroin and cocaine. And Spade, the epitome of sunny optimism, was known to have struggled with bipolar disorder. “We’ve found that people are becoming more lonely,” Schwab said. “Connections to people is the biggest buffer to suicide.” Even then, that connection some have may just be a facade; the cloak of depression often is invisible to almost everyone near and dear someone who is chatty and amiable in public, but suffering mental anguish in silence. “Even though a person may seem to be surrounded by friends — and these two [celebrities] had all kinds of people in their lives — their depression started to make them feel isolated and unable to express emotions,” Schwab said. While most who contemplate suicide wear a mask of normalcy on the outside, there are warning signs — some subtle, others more evident —that they exhibit during their daily lives. For friends and family of a loved one in crisis, Schwab said it’s critical that they help now, not after it’s too late. Next issue: What are the signs that someone you know may want to end their life?

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KitsapDailyNews.com

Page 7

Lavin closes career’s final chapter at Manchester Library By BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

MANCHESTER — When Susan Lavin closes the last chapter of her career as a librarian with the Kitsap Regional Library system the day after Labor Day, she’ll leave her desk at the Manchester Library with plenty of fond memories and a sense of accomplishment. Alas, the call of retirement — and that of Lavin’s already retired husband, who she says needs a golfing partner these days — was too great to keep the head librarian in Manchester, a place she calls “unique” among the county library system’s branches. “Participation from the community has been phenomenal,” Lavin, a 30-plusyear librarian, said. “We’ve had a lot of people who want to come to Manchester with their families to the library on a weekly basis.” When she was asked to move over to Manchester in 2015 from the downtown Bremerton branch, Lavin admitted she didn’t know much about the branch or community at the time. “But lucky me,” she said. “What a fantastic community. Manchester and Bainbridge are the only two communities [in the KRL system] that actually own their buildings. That is something that requires a lot of energy and a lot of dedication. It just proves how important they feel library service is to their community.” When Lavin began her career as a librarian 30 years ago, she worked on a parttime basis in Poulsbo. And there as in Manchester, the community’s involvement was high. It was involved enough that, when that city’s growth took off, so did the need to expand their library building. Lavin, who was posted at Poulsbo for 20 years (she joked, “I started as a child!”), witnessed and was part of a rapid evolution of services there over the years. “I was fortunate to be part of that. I was the only librarian that was employed there. We had other staff, but I did the children’s services as well as reference and collections — I wore a lot of hats. It’s really wonderful being able to do a lot of things. And it’s never boring helping people and working with the community.” She also spent a number of years leading the Kingston branch at a time when that community’s library was ripe for a new building. Then, she moved for a “stopover” at the downtown Bremerton branch at a time when the city was and continues to be going

Bob Smith | Independent file photo

The Manchester Library celebrated its 70th anniversary of existence in July 2017.

Bob Smith | Independent file photo

Manchester Library head librarian Susan Lavin is retiring. She joined Manchester Library in 2015. through significant revitalization downtown. “It’s in a beautiful building,” she said, “and now they’ve managed to utilize that lower level so they can have more functions down there.” One benefit of her time there was being able to occasionally walk to work. She and her husband live in Bremerton. Lavin pointed to the recent Kitsap County voter passage of a library services levy as a sign that area residents are serious about their branch libraries. And that’s apparent in Manchester, her final career stop. As a result of the levy passage, the head librarian said she and others have been working with an architectural firm and KRL to find ways to use the Manchester library building’s interior space most effectively.

“I’m not going to see the resolution of that, but it’s been a wonderful opportunity to get it started,” Lavin said. “I think with the passage of the levy, people have shown support for things that need to be done. As a result, we have been able to add the services of an additional half-time for a youth services librarian. “We only had a half-time [allocation] prior to the levy passage. That was huge for us.”

The levy also allowed the Manchester library to add a once-a-month Saturday storytime, she said. Another bonus has been the additional three hours that the library is now open on Saturday mornings. “That’s really been great and has shown statistically that that’s been a great decision, so we might be looking at some additional open hours down the pike.” Lavin said she’s benefit-

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ted as head librarian by the “We’ve had to grow with the Manchester community’s times, and I think we’ve done involvement in a number of a good job,” she said. “I just ways. think people are looking for “The Port [of Manchester] information, and libraries are commissioners take care of a good, reliable source. Plus, the library and the water diswe really have a good staff that trict meets here at the library, is excellent in helping people so it’s a good central location find what they want.” that is supported not only by She’s clearly an engaged and people using the library itself devoted library enthusiast. but also in using the [meetBut, as the affable Lavin said ing] space. earlier, retirement and golf “It’s really become the heart dates with her husband beckon. So does the prospect of of the community.” more time to spend with the The library’s Friends of the couple’s three grown children Manchester Library organization also has played a signifand four grandchildren. icant role by actively funding “My kids basically grew up the building’s maintenance in libraries, and I think it has and upkeep. really helped them become The growth of technology the thriving, good citizens that and the emergence of the they are,” she added. Information Age has affected On Thursday, Aug. 30, just about every sector of soci- Manchester community memPay yourself more and Uncle Sam less. ety. That’s especially true with bers and library staff gathered libraryDid sciences, the world at the nearby Manchester Grill you know that prior to April 30, 2007, most Americans Lavinwere has been involved in celebrate Lavin’ s retirement actually working for Uncleto Sam? It’s true. According to over the past 30 years. and to wish her well. the Tax Foundation, it took on average almost four months

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018 ✮ VOL. 126, NO. 39 ✮ KITSAPDAILYNEWS.COM ✮ 50¢

26th District state Senate seat is still undecided STAFF REPORT

With just under 6,000 ballots left to be counted in Kitsap and Pierce counties, the race for state Sen. Jan Angel’s soon-to-be-vacated seat in the 26th Legislative

District remains too close to call. Vote totals released on Election Night placed Democrat Emily Randall just slightly ahead of her Republican rival, ELECTION, SEE 2

Retiring Sen. Angel honored Bob Smith | Independent

Bbrazas, a military working dog at Naval Base Bangor, and dog handler Master at Arms 2nd Class Robert Dorato (center) say hello to young Jedi Minters and his cousin at the Port Orchard celebration in the boy’s honor. Jedi’s dad Jason is at right.

Port Orchard salutes its own Jedi City celebrates this little warrior with his own special day BY BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — Jedi Minters’ wide-eyed expression said it all — this was his day to revel in many of the joys shared by little boys his age — namely monster trucks,

fire engines and police motorcycles. The 3-year-old had his tiny hands sandwiched together and a smile stretched across his face while his father guided him last week along a maze of City of Port Orchard service vehicles, most of them flashing their emergency lights as a welcome to the Port Orchard boy. Thanks to Jason Minters, Jedi’s dad, Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu and

FORGET PICK-UP LINES

city employee Thomas Hunter of the public works department, this day — called “Jedi’s Special Day” — at the Port of Bremerton boat launch parking lot, across the street from City Hall, was just for Jedi. Jedi’s sheer excitement was shadowed by the underlying reason for the celebration — he has acute myeloid leukemia and doctors have concluded the little boy’s 19-month ordeal battling the disease has ultimately been unsuccessful.

Little 3-year-old Jedi Minters has valiantly battled leukemia over the past 18 months. JEDI, SEE A10

PORT ORCHARD — Retiring 26th Legislative District state Sen. Jan Angel will be honored for her public service at an event on Sunday, Nov. 18 in Gig Harbor. A “Celebration of Service” will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Canterwood Golf and Country Club, 12606 54th Ave. NW in Gig Harbor. Angel, who is retiring at the end of this term after 18 years in the state Legislature, also served as a Kitsap County commissioner. She became the 26th Legislative District’s first female Republican senator in 2013. Angel was vice chair of the Senate Republican Caucus; chair of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee; vice chair and acting chair of the Senate Local Government Committee; the ranking Republican of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee;

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State Sen. Jan Angel assistant ranking Republican of the Local Government Committee; and assistant ranking Republican of Senate Law and Justice Committee. She also served on the House and Senate Health Care and Transportation committees. The Independent’s next issue will include a feature looking back at Jan Angel’s career in the state Legislature and Kitsap County Commissioners’ office.

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He has been a regular visitor to this region’s top medical centers in an effort to fight the cancer of the blood and bone marrow — most notably, Seattle Children’s and Mary Bridge Children’s medical centers. Sadly, after seemingly endless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and two bone marrow transplants, Jason and his wife Lisa’s only child has just months to live, according to the boy’s medical team. With that realization, the parents decided to “spoil our son with the time we have,” Jason wrote in a letter to Port Orchard city officials. What better way to do that than get Jedi a personal tour of some of the city’s service vehicles — perhaps a couple of police cars, a fire engine and a big, gnarly utility truck of some sort. Moved by the letter, Mayor Rob Putaansuu responded, “Absolutely.” He asked Thomas Hunter, water systems manager in the public works department, to make arrangements so the young boy could see the biggest, loudest and flashiest vehicles the city had on hand — enough of a show to

impress a 3-year-old boy. Hunter reached out to South Kitsap Fire and Rescue and asked if a couple of emergency vehicles could make a visit. What emerged is a testament to the compassion of the Port Orchard community and its public servants. Originally planned as a small gathering of some cityowned equipment at the public works shop turned into something much more. “We had a pretty tight timeline with when the family was available, but after just a couple of phone calls, it started to spread like wildfire,” Hunter said of the event plans. “I was definitely happy to help in any way I could.” The fire department gave the go-ahead to have a fire engine, a ladder truck and other apparatus available for Jedi’s inspection. The police department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office agreed to have on hand some of their rolling stock and Safe Boats International volunteered to have one of its seagoing vessels docked steps away at the pier. And others made it known they wanted to help. Putaansuu agreed that little persuasion was needed to get cooperation: “We started to

Friday, November 16, 2018 - Port Orchard Independent

Bob Smith | Independent

Public safety officials from Port Orchard and Kitsap County take part in a special day for Jedi Minters. put it together and then other folks heard about it and said, ‘Hey, we want in.’” Some who joined included the Soup Ladies, who help out firefighters and first responders with meals, as well as Starbucks, which donated beverages for the event. A slew of fearsome monster trucks lining the parking lot were so visible that Putaansuu said people stopped him on the curb asking if a truck show was being readied for the waterfront. “I said, ‘Nope, this is Jedi’s special day.’ I am so proud of our community. It warms my heart.” But what was most impressive to the mayor and Hunter was the turnout of people from the community who simply wanted to help make sure this

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day was special for Jedi. People of all stripes stood at the ready to lend their assistance, including those from the Navy, sheriff’s deputies, Washington State Patrol and Port Orchard officers. In what surely was a bittersweet day, little Jedi and his father — accompanied by his equally elated cousins — walked among the equipment deciding which one to climb aboard first. But as a reminder that the youngster’s body continues to fight leukemia, a long line of yellow caution tape outlined the parking lot perimeter to keep onlookers at a safe distance to minimize the chances he might contract microbes that could compromise his immune system. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to meet his parents in better circumstances,” Hunter said. “I have a couple of little boys at home and can’t imagine what they’ve gone through.” The little boy’s outward appearance — with a tube

Jedi Minters and his cousin check out the interior of a Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. leading into his nasal cavity and the effects of steroids casting a paler shade on his face — reflects the battle he has waged over the past 18 months. But there was no mistaking what his father Jason said is his son’s usual demeanor: invariably upbeat, impish and carefree. As his dad related, “every

single person he meets is his friend.” While the real-life battle raging in his body may soon come to an end, this youngster has earned the admiration and love of a community that would be the envy of any warrior — even a Jedi protector from the Star Wars universe.

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Diminutive girl makes big difference Gloria leads effort at Olalla Elementary to buy art supplies for sick kids BY BOB SMITH

Randall certified as winner for Senate BY BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — Emily Randall’s election as the new state senator-elect for the 26th Legislative District was certified by canvassing committees from Kitsap and Pierce counties Dec. 7 following a manual recount by their respective elections divisions. After votes were manually counted and recounted Dec. 6, the Democrat’s win was confirmed with just a handful of ballots added to both candidates’ totals from the final machine ballot count announced Nov. 27. The machine-count

vote totals didn’t change in Pierce County after the manual recount; Randall in Kitsap County, four extra votes were added to the total — three added to Republican Marty McClendon’s total and one vote added to Randall’s count. All told, the certified results for both counties was 35,088 for Randall, 34,986 for McClendon — a 102-vote margin. Randall went into the manual recount with a 104-vote

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — Gloria Bass is about a tablespoon shy of being a halfpint, but the 7-year-old second-grader nonetheless cuts a wide swath along the hallways of Olalla Elementary School. The little girl’s name is called out at just about every corner of the school as she escorts a newspaper reporter last week to her classroom that’s taught by Lisa Wickens. It’s easy to understand why Gloria is such a favorite among teachers, staff and students: she has a charisma that exudes from her perpetual smile and self-assured personality. So when Gloria told her mother and teacher of a daydream she had while riding her bus to school one morning, it was one that needed to be taken seriously. She mentioned to her mom, Krystel Wallin, that it would be a good idea to raise money so that kids stuck inside Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma over the Christmas holiday could have a way to keep themselves entertained. Emptying a bucket found at home,

RANDALL, SEE 3

GLORIA, SEE 3

Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News

Gloria Bass, 7, tries pushing a cart piled high with art supplies while her second-grade teacher, Lisa Wickens, stands by.

SKSD Superintendent Karst Brandsma to retire at end of school year BY BOB SMITH

Kitsap News Group

PORT ORCHARD — South Kitsap School District Superintendent Karst Brandsma will retire at the end of this school year, the district announced Dec. 7. Brandsma has been at the helm of the school district for three years. He replaced Dr. Michelle

Reid, who left in 2016 to become superintendent of the Northshore School District in Bothell. Brandsma’s tenure began Brandsma in a one-year interim role. The South Kitsap district’s board of directors extended his contract for an additional two

years. “It’s difficult to say goodbye as I feel there is unfinished business in South Kitsap and more that I’d like to accomplish,” Brandsma wrote in a message to staff members. “The people of South Kitsap are special, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here over the past three years. Thank you for doing

the world’s most important work in supporting the students in our community. “It has been an honor to serve and lead this district and I am thankful for the opportunity.” Brandsma’s planned departure is tempered by the failure to pass bond measures during his time here that would have funded construction of a second high

school. A smaller levy measure passed in November, however, to provide funding for badly needed safety and technology upgrades at district schools. Over the next several months, the board of directors will restart a comprehensive search process to replace Brandsma as South RANDALL, SEE 3

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Gloria said that collecting money from her classmates to buy art supplies would be a great way to raise the spirits of sick children dealing with extended stays in the hospital. Her mother, stepfather Ryan Wallin and teacher agreed that it would be a worthy goal to help them “have some fun rather than just staying on their hospital bed,” the second-grader said. While Gloria said she had seen Mary Bridge Hospital before, she didn’t know its background or purpose. But what she does remember is what it felt like to be in a hospital emergency room. Gloria remembers it well: “I was scared.” But it took a little help from her teacher to organize the endeavor. “I have a friend who had raised funds for arts and crafts, so that gave Gloria the idea — and she took it and ran with it,” Wickens said. First, the second-grader enlisted the help of the 18 students in her classroom. Then later, she visited many of the 19 classes in the K-5 school and pitched her plea for contributions from the other students. Gloria spoke persuasively of the uncertainty and fear that many children deal with while they have an extended stay in the hospital for serious illnesses and diseases. And as usual, Gloria charmed her way into the hearts of her fellow students, Wickens said.

Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News

Gloria Bass and her fellow second-graders at Olalla Elementary helped purchase art supplies destined for sick children spending the holiday season at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma. “The thing about Gloria is that she has such a big heart and is so enthusiastic,” she said. “I heard from some of the older kids about when she went into their classroom, and one of the fifth-graders said, ‘She walked into the room and all eyes were on Gloria. And she was just so cute.’” Hearing the story, the little girl gently pushed back: “Well, I try not to be cute.” But apparently, to no avail. Wickens laughed and said, “She’s just a little girl trying to make a difference. For the other kids to see, that is special. I always tell the students we can’t change the world, but we can change our little corner of the world, and she is an example of that. “It’s one person making a difference.” All told, through Gloria’s fundraising efforts, more than $1,000 was raised to purchase arts and crafts supplies. Some also came

from Al’s Market in Olalla, where a barrel was placed inside the store for customer contributions. Wickens and Gloria’s mother made a trip to purchase art supplies with the money raised, with the second-grader in tow. For Gloria, seeing her fundraising efforts being transformed into buying power was transformative. “It was really exciting,” she said. “We got about 100 things and we still had $5 left over.” The results from their purchases and donations are visible just outside the girl’s classroom. Wickens said that fourteen plastic bins and five boxes full of supplies were purchased and stacked on a cart ready for delivery. She expects the items will be taken to Mary Bridge sometime in the week. While Gloria has a well-deserved reputation at school for the friendliness and enthusiasm she brings