Kitsap County fire districts are the county’s first line of defense against emergencies that range from heart attacks to fire, bioterrorism and earthquake damage. Just as the fire districts are being asked to do more, they face a potential funding loss of over $11 million during the next five years if Initiative 747 is passed by voters in November.
Poulsbo is fortunate to have a number of qualified candidates running for the mayoral and city council seats, making these selections particularly difficult. Our endorsements are made based on a number of factors including observation of incumbent candidates in their elected positions, discussions with other city officials and community members, responses to questions in voter forums and the Herald.
Vital issues of growth, the Olhava property and Olympic College campus, repair of infrastructure and development of technology face this government. The mayor and council members endorsed here offer different individual viewpoints and philosophies about what needs to be done in our community, but they also need to work well as a team. We encourage each successful candidate to explore ways to also work in closer harmony with school district, port and county officials.
Horror, intrigue, romance...a movie for every mood is currently showing in Kitsap County.
They share a vision for a better Poulsbo, but other than that the candidates seeking the offices of city council and mayor this November are strictly individual in their thinking.
Some have common issues they feel need to resolved but by and large, the four incumbents and four challengers who will face off in General Election are seeking office for very different reasons. They come from different backgrounds, have varied qualifications and have separate views on how the city should be run.
Instead of taking sound bites from our candidates, the Herald gave them 100 words to say their piece as they answered the five questions that matter most in any city election
KINGSTON — Call it a McCoup.
Parents and staff of the Kingston Cooperative Preschool took orders, worked the drive through and survived a fast-paced few hours on the fast food frontlines.
At the end of their three-hour shift they raised $400 for the school.
POULSBO — Additional chairs were brought into the meeting room at the Valborg Oyen Library Thursday night to accommodate the 30 or so people interested in this city’s Democratic process. But even with nearly every seat filled and candidates seeking election or re-election for council and mayor slots in just three weeks, the mood was surprisingly relaxed.
SUQUAMISH — Dressed as Uncle Sam, Catherine Ahl gave it her all to support Initiative 747.
“The government can get used to having less money,” she said citing Initiative 695, which did away with the vehicle excise tax. “I-695 was all doom and gloom. But the ferries are still running and we have some roads,” she continued as she played the role of I -747 author Tim Eyman.
POULSBO — The two goals Gig Harbor scored against North Kitsap weren’t pretty, but they were enough.
Not everything you hear in an election year is the truth. Ask questions and do your homework before you cast your vote.
POULSBO — The Poulsbo Junior High Panthers shot themselves in the paw Thursday.
The Panthers, who entered a game against a tough, athletic Fairview team, stayed with the Falcons for many stretches of the game, stalling their drives, rolling out big plays, and gaining yardage.
But the Panthers also committed several turnovers, and the Falcons jumped on the opportunities, racking up enough scores to garner a 24-6 win.
POULSBO — There weren’t many disagreements — or many spectators — at last Tuesday’s forum for the North Kitsap School District candidates.
The dozen or so community members who made it to the Poulsbo Junior High library that evening got to see four of the five school board candidates discuss a range of issues, from year-long school to WASL testing. The tone of the talk remained cordial and positive, with all of the candidates emphasizing their appreciation of the direction the district is heading.
POULSBO — Three North Kitsap cross country athletes will be moving on to district competition next week.
Jim Robson, Michael Chuol, and Robyn Embrey all placed well enough in Wednesday’s league meet to move on.
POULSBO — In a sport where a single breath — or a single half-second — can mean the difference between winning and losing, the North Kitsap swimming team has been working to reduce both.
The team has seen a bumper crop of best times this year, often achieving 20 or more best marks in a single meet. Already the team has qualified one competitor, Jacklene Salwei, for state. And while Greg Braun is proud of that achievement, he is also proud of the way every swimmer has improved.
“A lot of these kids swim differently now than they did at the beginning of the year,” Braun said. “Those who are swimming for the first time are starting to look like serious swimmers.”
POULSBO — Cross country will be the first of the North Kitsap High School teams to reach into the postseason.
The team will travel to Lakewood’s Steilacom Park today to take part in the 15-part league meet.
KINGSTON — Preserving wildlife, the Carpenter Creek watershed and even homeowner views were topics of concern at an EIS scoping meeting held Monday evening at Kingston Junior High.
About 50 people gathered in the commons area to suggest items that should be covered in a draft environmental impact statement for three proposed sub-area plans for Kingston.
POULSBO — For the first play of North Kitsap’s rivalry game against South, North Kitsap kick returner Patrick Gilbert caught the ball at the 15, then weaved his way upfield.
Gilbert eluded the Wolves’ tacklers. His blockers plowed forward. And the North Kitsap fans, who filled the stands to which the 0-5 Vikings take on their rivals from the South, started cheering.
Gilbert was finally brought down at the 50. He and the kick-return team united and marched off the field to cheers. Unfortunately, it was downhill from there as North was handed a 47-0 loss by its rival from the South.
The suspected anthrax scare that for five hours shut down the Bremerton Transportation Center on Sunday, worried a region already jittery over possible bio-terrorism attacks.
Local and Kitsap County officials have had "disaster drills" for years. They hoped they would never need to implement those plans. Now we know that all the planning paid big dividends.
If voters approve a proposed new county charter in an election scheduled for February 2002, they will change the manner by which county council members are elected.
Then they’ll have the chance to change back in November 2003.
Was it only a month ago that our main concerns were getting our kids back to school, the local primary elections and whether the Mariners were winning?
Was it only a month ago that we dutifully mumbled through the Pledge of Allegiance instead of considering how such a pledge could cost us the lives of our friends and neighbors?
Was it only a month ago that we barely heard a low-flying aircraft or wondered if every sniffle was the first symptom of Anthrax?
Was it only a month ago that we felt safe?
