Shelter closes

The Salvation Army Bremerton temporary emergency homeless shelter has closed so the organization can return to its regular mission and programming, which includes providing meals, social services, a clothing closet and food pantry to vulnerable people in the community.

“The Salvation Army stepped in to serve the community when it was needed most, providing additional shelter beds during the pandemic. I believe these actions were a saving grace during one of the most difficult times in a generation,” Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler said.

Prior to COVID, The Salvation Army operated a winter shelter, funded by Kitsap County, typically open Dec. 1 through March 31. In 2020, the county asked The Salvation Army to remain open beyond that winter season due to the need for temporary sheltering during the height of the pandemic. The Salvation Army has kept the shelter open continuously since then, using government COVID-relief funding.

Another homeless shelter, operated by the Kitsap Rescue Mission at the Quality Inn on Kitsap Way in Bremerton, will remain open until operations are transferred to the county’s new homeless shelter on Mile Hill Road in South Kitsap, which is undergoing renovations. Kitsap Community Resources also provides shelter to the homeless at various Bremerton-area hotels, funded through temporary pandemic relief programs scheduled to end this fall.

Heroes met

A few weeks ago Jacque Holloway woke up next to her husband and realized his breathing wasn’t normal; he was making sounds almost like a snore, but Steve Holloway doesn’t typically snore.

Jacque attempted to wake him, without success. She called 911 and started CPR. Steve and Jacque recently visited Station 51 and reunited with the crew that, along with Jacque’s quick actions, saved Steve’s life.

His wife performed CPR for approximately six minutes before Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue firefighters and paramedics arrived, hooked him up to an AED, and ultimately had to shock him three times.

Steve said he didn’t know how to thank the crews, but firefighters assured him that seeing him walk through the door was all the thanks they needed.

Jan. 6 conviction

A Bremerton man found to be at the U.S. Capitol Building during the events of Jan. 6, 2021, has been found guilty of four misdemeanor federal charges.

A U.S. District Court jury found David Charles Rhine, the managing principal at Cox & Lucy CPA in Gig Harbor, guilty of all four charges against him after concluding deliberations April 24.

Charges included entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Rhine was arrested and charged in November 2021 after two people provided tips to the FBI saying he was inside the building that day. Rhine’s sentencing is set for Sept. 11.

Not elected

Death investigations across Kitsap County will now be overseen by the medical examiner rather than an elected coroner, a position that has been phased out.

The transition is aimed at streamlining services and ensuring politics play no role in investigations, officials said. The change was set in motion by passage by voters of Proposition 1 in 2021 and finalized April 11 by county commissioners.

Chief medical examiner Dr Lindsey Harle, who had been an employee within the department, now heads the office.

“County death investigations are now run by (Dr. Harle) a board-certified forensic pathologist, a doctor who has specialized training in doing forensic autopsies,” said the last elected coroner, Jeff Wallis. “The way we were running things before we had an elected coroner who then had to utilize contract pathologists to do the autopsies.”

Having in-house personnel provides the county’s medical death investigators better access to the medical examiner, Wallis said. “We have the doctor on hand now so if an investigator is having questions or concerns, they have the doctor right there on the phone,” he said.

SKSD news

The South Kitsap School District nominated community partner SK Helpline for a Washington Association of School Administrators award.

Among the programs they work together on, Helpline provides summer meals to those who need them when school is not in session.

Also, Eric Nerison is the district’s new executive director of Special Services, replacing Andrew Rogers, who will retire July 1. Nelson is superintendent of the Kalama School District.

Finally, the district will have another bond presentation, this one at 5 p.m. May 17 at the district office in Port Orchard, 2689 Hoover Ave. SE. The $271 million bond to be voted on in November would replace five schools and upgrade most of the others.

Town hall

Bremerton City Councilmember Anna Mockler is having a District 6 Town Hall meeting from 4-6 p.m. May 8 at the city’s Public Works facility, 100 Oyster Bay Ave. N.

She offers the meetings the second Monday of every month. Attendees will discuss: “What are your hopes and concerns?” “What council did last month,” and “What they’ll look at soon.”

Job fair

Trident Refit Facility Bangor, the primary maintenance facility on the West Coast for the U.S. Navy’s ballistic missile submarine fleet, is having a job fair May 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Newlife Event Center, 9923 Poplars Ave., Silverdale.

TRFB is hiring in almost all types of industrial trades from mooring line handlers to electricians and from sheet metal workers to Information Technology professionals. If you have a background or interest in mechanical, electricity, fabrication or computing you will want to go to the job fair, their news release says.

The TRFB team is comprised of approximately 500 military personnel and 1,500 civilians.

Send resumes to TRFBresumes@us.navy.mil.