A registered sex offender cut off his testicles and flushed them down a toilet while staying at his mother’s house on Bainbridge.

The blotter’s below.

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I got a call the other day from a gentleman interested in buying the old Moran School theater building. His idea: convert it into a sort of retreat/hotel/learning center for foreign exchange students of all ages.

He had read my most recent story on the building, which is set for demolition if a buyer doesn’t come forward by Oct. 1. The story includes an eye-ball assessment from two historical building experts. They say the building is not as bad as it looks, seems structurally sound and could be returned to something close to its former glory with a whole lot of money. If you haven’t yet, head over HERE to read the story (it contains some not-so-well-known links between Moran School and a Nobel Prize-winning physicist).

Thinking I may have been a little too upbeat about the state of the building, he asked how bad it really was. I told him it was pretty bad, and listed some of the many fixes that would likely total more than $2 million.

His deadpan response: “I am not intimidated by $2 million.”

By that he means he has a lot of money. But, of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s buying the place. Far from it. He’d have to determine if the building fits his vision, get a thorough structural assessment, check into the zoning restrictions, enter into negotiations with the owner, Soundcare Inc., which would range from price to whether or not the possible future uses are compatible with a neighboring nursing home.

But never mind all that. Let’s say you too were not “intimidated” by a multi-million dollar renovation. What would you do with the Moran School building?

I’ve heard plenty of ideas and have included some in the poll over on the right of your screen.

Be sure to check out the photo gallery Brad Camp shot during our tour of the building. It’ll give you an idea of the building’s potential. And head over to this photo gallery to see some historic images of the school.

No, the blog is not dead. Nor am I (yet). And no, I wasn’t fired (yet).

Thanks for the nice (and not so nice) e-mails inquiring about my whereabouts. Truth is, I mixed a vacation with a big move, and preparations for both got the better of me. You’ll have to forgive me (just this once) for not leaving a note that would free you from having to hit your browser’s reload button over and over and over for 18 days, hoping for something other than a post about a dog baking in a car (the upcoming blotter post is much worse. Just wait.)

So, here’s a few stories that ran over the last couple weeks:

– The Doctor’s Clinic opened an urgent care facility on Hildebrand Lane.

– A World War II vet is urging the Navy to name a new vessel the USS Richard M. McCool in honor of a Bainbridge war hero.

– The city is mulling over an offer from Washington State Ferries: take a strip of land from the ferry maintenance yard or accept a $2 million buy-out for water-related projects.

– The city’s administrative team changed once again with the hiring of a new finance director, attorney and public works director.

– A tug and a barge run aground on Yeomalt Point, and a really cool photo is taken.

– A celebration was held at Strawberry Plant Park before it underwent reconstructive surgery.

– Yeomalt cabin rose from the dead.