PORT ORCHARD––In a surprise announcement in Superior Court Friday afternoon, the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office announced that it will not seek the death penalty against Brian Keith Lord. Lord is accused of the murder nearly 16 years ago of North Kitsap 15-year old Tracey Parker.
Lord, dressed in a jail uniform and restrained, was present in Judge Karlynn Haberly’s courtroom for the announcement. He sat quietly and appeared to be relaxed during the proceedings.
POULSBO — Reverberations from state budget cuts to education funding have reached North Kitsap schools.
While it’s too early to tell if the state’s cuts will have any significant effect on the school district’s programs, number of teachers, or class size, the district has begun calculations on how much money it lost in the cuts.
POULSBO — Icy flakes fell outside as people participated in what a few people claimed to be the county’s own snow job and others said was paramount to finding a solution.
The North Kitsap session of Speak Out — one of three countywide meetings to gather input on how best to balance man’s progress with preserving nature’s resources — was held Wednesday at North Kitsap High School.
POULSBO — In the old days, if a Viking wanted something he usually just pillaged a foreign land and took it.
Fortunately, over the centuries the group has become much more refined, even dignified, in its methods. Now, they ask politely. This is exactly what organizers of Viking Fest are doing this year as they prepare for the mid-May celebration.
POULSBO — Educators in the North Kitsap School District are disappointed that voter turnout was so low on election day.
Forty-four percent of registered voters voted in the North Kitsap election March 12. That’s an eleven percent drop from last year’s bond election, which drew almost 55 percent of registered voters.
POULSBO — When the war on terrorism was declared soon after Sept. 11, 2001 the very first front lines weren’t in a trench or bunker — they were on the ship deck of the USS Carl Vinson.
The Bremerton-based Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier was America’s initial “hammer” to deliver enormous blows against enemy positions and activity in Afghanistan and its entrance into “Operation Enduring Freedom” truly set the stage for the theatre of battle, according to Capt. Rick Wren.
SUQUAMISH — A new and impressively improved Suquamish Wellness Center program has “risen from the ashes,” tribal officials announced.
The revised program received its initial certification March 8 from the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
POULSBO — As far as practices go, Wednesday’s was quite innovative.
That’s when the North Kitsap tennis team travelled by bus to Central Kitsap High School. Once there, they were introduced; they met their opponents; and they watched in frustration as enough rain fell to cancel the match.
POULSBO — Whether it was rain or the Shorecrest Scots that threatened the game Wednesday afternoon, the North Kitsap Vikings were just happy to complete it.
The Vikings had already had one game postponed, and Wednesday’s contest with Shorecrest was threatened by ominous skies and an inning-long drizzle.
Minutes before midnight Thursday, the Legislature agreed on a $7.7 billion state transportation package that will benefit ferry commuters in Kitsap County.
But there was some doubt lawmakers could adjourn on time this year.
POULSBO — The absentee voters who mailed their ballots at the last minute may have saved the North Kitsap School District levy.
The four-year levy, which will fund staff, technology, transportation, and dozens of other educational needs, had to receive a supermajority, 60 percent of the vote, in order to pass.
KINGSTON — Plans for Apple Tree Point, a 106-home development near Lindvog Road, have been remanded to Kitsap County staff for review, completing a circle that began seven years ago.
The remand is part of a Washington Supreme Court order — which also ruled the project was vested — to determine if it requires an environmental impact statement.
Election is too close to call for school officials, who were a handful of votes shy of meeting the 60 percent voter approval needed on Tuesday night. Friday’s count of absentee ballots will determine the election outcome.
POULSBO — Toward the end of last year, Kolby Hoover of the North Kitsap track team surprised his coaches and himself with a 53-second run in the 400, a time that would have placed him toward the top of the state.
This year, North Kitsap hopes to surprise the rest of the Narrows League.
POULSBO — Like the oppressive weight hearts throughout the nation felt Sept. 11, the clouds and poor weather lifted Monday afternoon in Poulsbo as local businesses paid tribute to America on the six-month anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Employees from Boxlight Corporation, Projector Wholesale Supply and Drury Construction gathered on Powder Hill to show a renewed sense of patriotism as Old Glory flew from a recently constructed flag pole at the complex.
POULSBO — Victims don’t know that they’re victims until it’s too late but when it comes to identity theft and fraud there are simple steps that can make such illegal acts much tougher on crooks.
According to Poulsbo Police Officer Grant Romaine, the less information citizens have floating around in cyberspace or even their mail boxes and trash cans, the less likely they are to become a fraud statistic.
POULSBO — One might say that Dave Sanford is in the “relaxation business.”
Selling spas and stoves for just about 12 years, he’s definitely in the know when it comes to how to take it easy after a tough day at the office. Such days at Emerald Hearth Home and Spas in Poulsbo are virtually non-existent though, he asserted.
POULSBO — They’ve become accustomed to the rough waters of Liberty Bay over the years, but the Port of Poulsbo Commissioners just can’t seem to find a safe harbor anywhere in the financial storm that has surrounded them in 2002.
The primary reason for the lack of shelter is an eroding rock bulkhead that presently serves as the sole buffer for Waterfront Park. The 26-year-old wall has been sloughing since it was built but recent problems there may very well mirror a deeper disintegration in the port and city relationship.
The recent dispute between geoduck divers and the Suquamish tribal government is nothing new—for such a quiet clam, the geoduck has a history that’s anything but calm.
Fishing rights, more specifically geoduck harvesting, have long been a bone of contention among tribes and non-tribal governments, and have created long running court battles.
POULSBO —Widening Highway 305 will improve traffic flows through the city of Poulsbo — but at what cost? Representatives from the State Department of Transportation couldn’t really answer that question during an open house and public hearing at the Poulsbo Fire Station Tuesday night.
DOT and city officials were bombarded with questions and comments concerning noise, stormwater runoff, the proposed High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes and wetlands impact, but very few people inquired whether the twice-delayed project even has the financial steam to make it down the 2.2-mile business corridor.
