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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
January 4, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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January 4, 2007
 
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00ournal of Opinion: Give it back OLYMPIA, SEPTEMBER 31, 2011 - Reports of positive developments continue to pour in as the result of the 2007 legislature's decision to give back the state's surplus to tax- payers. Not only has the state pared government in the current recession but many private individuals, businesses and organi- zations that followed the state's example have reaped the benefits of living hand to mouth. With the state enjoying a healthy economy in 2007 that was producing a $2-billion surplus of tax money, the conservative view would have been to put money away in reserve for the inevitable future recession. Instead the liberal view won out in the legislature that year and every Washington adult received a check for $416, a move meant to keep the vigorous economy going through purchases of $60 Sonics tickets, $3 lattes, $2.50 gasoline, ski passes, plasma TVs and other life essentials. When the 2010 recession hit, Governor Dino Rossi proposed and the legislature passed a 2011 budget calling for 10 percent across-the-board cuts in all programs except two. The excep- tions were prison building, which received a 50 percent boost in the face of' cuts in education and social programs, and the hated Department of Ecology, whose budget was cut by 20 percent rather than 10. "This is a responsible budget with no new taxes that is the best we can do considering what the liberals did to us in 2007," the governor said in his budget-signing statement. The education budget, which takes the lion's share of state money, was cut by about a billion dollars despite the whining of the Washington Education Association, and tuition at the state's four-year colleges rose to $29,000 per year. The date for students needing to pass the math portion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning to receive a high-school diploma was pushed back to 2054 despite the whining of the Washington Roundtable. Trimming the parks budget had a few minor local implica- tion. Twanoh and Belfair state parks were permanently closed and maintenance at all parks was slashed. The Department of Health's cuts included curtailing shellfish testing. The Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife stocked lakes with fewer fish and laid off some game agents. The Department of Ecology shaved funding for programs to arrest pollution of Hood Canal. The state also whittled down funding for promotion of tourism. The Department of Licensing chopped its crews overseeing such professionals as doctors, dentists, nurses and real-estate brokers, and the Department of Social and Health Services increased caseloads by 13 percent for its employees working with fbster children. That department's child abuse, aging," child support, welfare, medical assistance and vocational rehabilitation divisions took the state's standard reduction. The state patrol did not replace retiring troopers. The Department of Transportation, hit with lower gas-tax revenues simultaneously as prices topped $4 a gallon, proposed a new completion date for the Belfair Bypass: 2027. Meanwhile, businesses, individuals and organizations also benefited from the philosophy of giving away their surpluses: • Among the many businesses out of business was The Journal. "We made a 5 percent profit last year and decided to return the money to the advertisers and subscribers because we liked the state model so much," said the publisher. "This year, with no savings, higher costs and static revenue, we couldn't meet our newsprint, utility, postage and payroll costs. No big deal, though. We enjoyed the $416 worth of lattes in 2007 while they lasted." • Many Washington residents who followed the state's lead, such as Mandy Lifebotes, found themselves homeless. "I really liked the idea of' operating on the edge with no reserves," said the Seattle resident. "Anything I made that we didn't spend that month I gave back to my employer, and my wife, a waitress, returned her tips to her customers. Then somebody in India bid for my job and got it. We couldn't make it. Now we have the privilege of pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps." • The Washington Policy Center was among organizations going under. "We have never believed in reserves," explained the think tank's Paul Guppy, who suggested the tax rebate in 2006. "We run a bare-bones budget and return all donations we don't need. Contributions fell for us last year in the recession, decimating the place. But we'll be back in the future with more liberal suggestions." The state give-away plan was music to the ears of" the Seattle Symphony, among the others to go bank- rupt. It gave back its endowment to its benefactors so they icould spend the money and found itself unable to perform. • Some churches such as First Agape Fellowship in Tacoma evaporated in the recession. It gave members' contributions back to them to boost the economy. "Joseph had it all wrong, and we realized that in 2007," said Reverend Willie Nilly. "The government's job isn't to protect people in tough times. It's to foster a feast now, not put up barns to store money." • Several hospitals and other medical facilities that gave away their cash reserves to their patients closed during 2010 and 2011. An exception was the new urgent-care center/morgue in Belf'air. Even though it gave away its reserves, it did a brisk business handling casualties from the NASCAR track. -CG uu Shelton-. I ,....o,. ONY/ICl County osPs 492-e00 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, p.o. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 * www'mas°nc°unty'c°m Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Scan Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom supervisor. Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; William Adams, ad builder; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Carr, pressman's assistant. uuuuIlluuuuuuuu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, January 4, 2007 So I00eaaev '," 00ournal: Yard decorations disappear Editor, The Journal: Christmas 2005 we put up the same outside decorations that we had used for the previous five years. Included were small wind- mills with Christmas decorations that said, "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." Outside, year-round, were a large mushroom with three lepre- chauns and the back end of a gray cat up against the concrete that made it appear it was going through the concrete. These items were made by me at a pretty good price and time. We had a hanging monkey in a tree. On our front porch was a small beagle dog fbr which we have different costumes ibr the seasons and celebrations. These are gone. The windmills disappeared Christmas 2005. The monkey disappeared last spring. The mushroom, leprechauns and cat disappeared this past sum- mer, and the beagle disappeared Christmas Eve Day. Our last name was printed, in permanent marker, on these items. We don't know if it was child or adult who took these things from us, but we don't un- derstand the mentality of child or adult who would steal these things from someone's front yard. If" they were taken for the thrill of destroying them, we don't under- stand that mentality either. We simply don't understand anybody who would steal or de- stroy others' property simply for the thrill of doing it, and we hope they realize that some way, some day, they will end up paying dear- ly tbr their actions. Bruce and Ruth Casebolt Mountain View Surge means more casualties Editor, The Journal: There can be only one result of sending more troops to Iraq: more U.S. military casualties. And more Iraqi casualties, even fur- ther destruction of Iraq and of U.S. image in the world. What is the objective of" a surge? More unnecessary deaths (br the vanity of the unelected President. The so-called "insur- gents" will disappear during the surge and reappear just as strong or stronger when the surge troops are removed. There can be only one result of approving more money we don't have to military spending in Iraq: even more debt on which we will all pay interest for the rest of' our lives and those of our kids and grandkids. Congress must blow the whis- tle and stop this out-of-control run-amok administration from even more egregious war crimes. Bring our troops home now. All of them. Lois Walker Harstine Island Lost in translation for ACLU Editor, The Journal: I sent out Christmas cards this year that I got as a gift from the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washing- ton, D.C. I mailed them all and kept one as a memento souvenir card tbr Christmas 2006. / ' What I like about my cards is the message of "Merry Christ- mas" in 10 languages, a photo of a soldier or Marine in field uniform hugging his wife or girlfriend, probably upon arrival home in America. She is also holding a bouquet of white and red flowers. The message on the bottom is, "Grateful for every safe return." inside the card is the greeting, "May this holiday season bring you peace and joy now and throughout the new year!" 1 will finish this now and say "Merry Christmas," "Joyeux Nol," "Feliz Navidad," "Fr6hliche Weinnachten," "Stretan Bozic," "Kala Christouyenna," "Sarbatori Vesele," "Gladelig Jul," "Sawadee Peemai" and "Boun Natale" to all the world, not "Happy Holidays!" The American Civil Liberties Union is not known in the rest of the world, only in our America, where most of us baby boomers had proper upbringings and teachings from our parents, teachers, priests, ministers, pas- tors and peers. They taught us the true meaning of Christmas - "Christ" "mass" and "Jesus is the reason tbr the season"! In Mason County at least one person or thmily can understand each of the nine tbreign languages that mean "Merry Christmas!" There is a wide diversity of ethnic cultures, languages and countries represented by tbreigners now liv- ing in Mason County, USA. When they say, "Merry Christmas" in their own native tongue, the ACLU wouldn't understand it! Jerry A. O'Connor Allyn By the tap av8 hel wh erie the fea: be ha! lTla hal wr( vicl nes pro cas, Pre qui Wal age al€ tan iac cha 0p ati at tha ofl du per tltlt "110 clu stit of l ell1, titll .Put ls t CoI Spread burial costs over time Editor, The Journal: In last week's Journal a letter appeared from a Mr. Jay Hupp ("Underground lines cost more") and it expressed his views on un- derground electric lines as op- posed to above-ground lines. My neighborhood has underground lines but is served from lines along Lake Cushman Road, High- way 119, most of which are un- derground, except for a stretch between mile markers 6 and 7. At least once every year, dur- ing windstorms or winter snows, there are trees that fall on these above-ground lines and create a power interruption for our neigh- borhood. This year, during the re- cent storm, we lost power for 60 hours one time and then 30 hours a few days later. My home is designed to operate on reliable electric power. But, during the recent interruptions the air temperature inside my home went down to 40 because there was a thick layer of snow outside and. the outside air tem- perature was 30, coupled with high winds. We lost the use of our lights, heating, cooking equip- ment and then water. Our com- munity water supply system up here is powered by electric pumps, and the power to it was also interrupted. We used our wood-burning fireplace nonstop to get to 40 degrees. Mr. Hupp is concerned about the cost of" burying these lines that every year are broken down by falling trees. The cost of bury- ing those lines should be spread out over time just like the unplanned cost of repairing the widespread tree-downed lines when storms occur. If storm re- pair costs are budgeted then use the money that would be saved from the reduction of the repairs budget to pay for burial of lines. We lost the use of our home during these prolonged outages. It seems that if those above- ground lines had been buried 10 years ago PUD 3 could have saved a lot of money they have spent making after-hours repairs in severe weather. Finally, we were told by the PUD 3 people that because the above-ground lines only serve a few people up here, we were last on their repair priority. If the lines were buried, none of this would have been a concern. Spread out the cost over years and get on with burying those last miles of lines. It seems that the electrical utility service is still operating the same as it did with elevated powerlines some 75 years ago. We want reliable electrical power and without doubt the buried lines are far less exposed to falling trees than overhead lines on poles. If not, then why is it that buried lines are considered progress in the electric utility industry? Dennis Rohn Lake Cushman 00ournal of Opinion: Give it back OLYMPIA, SEPTEMBER 31, 2011 - Reports of positive developments continue to pour in as the result of the 2007 legislature's decision to give back the state's surplus to tax- payers. Not only has the state pared government in the current recession but many private individuals, businesses and organi- zations that followed the state's example have reaped the benefits of living hand to mouth. With the state enjoying a healthy economy in 2007 that was producing a $2-billion surplus of tax money, the conservative view would have been to put money away in reserve for the inevitable future recession. Instead the liberal view won out in the legislature that year and every Washington adult received a check for $416, a move meant to keep the vigorous economy going through purchases of $60 Sonics tickets, $3 lattes, $2.50 gasoline, ski passes, plasma TVs and other life essentials. When the 2010 recession hit, Governor Dino Rossi proposed and the legislature passed a 2011 budget calling for 10 percent across-the-board cuts in all programs except two. The excep- tions were prison building, which received a 50 percent boost in the face of' cuts in education and social programs, and the hated Department of Ecology, whose budget was cut by 20 percent rather than 10. "This is a responsible budget with no new taxes that is the best we can do considering what the liberals did to us in 2007," the governor said in his budget-signing statement. The education budget, which takes the lion's share of state money, was cut by about a billion dollars despite the whining of the Washington Education Association, and tuition at the state's four-year colleges rose to $29,000 per year. The date for students needing to pass the math portion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning to receive a high-school diploma was pushed back to 2054 despite the whining of the Washington Roundtable. Trimming the parks budget had a few minor local implica- tion. Twanoh and Belfair state parks were permanently closed and maintenance at all parks was slashed. The Department of Health's cuts included curtailing shellfish testing. The Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife stocked lakes with fewer fish and laid off some game agents. The Department of Ecology shaved funding for programs to arrest pollution of Hood Canal. The state also whittled down funding for promotion of tourism. The Department of Licensing chopped its crews overseeing such professionals as doctors, dentists, nurses and real-estate brokers, and the Department of Social and Health Services increased caseloads by 13 percent for its employees working with fbster children. That department's child abuse, aging," child support, welfare, medical assistance and vocational rehabilitation divisions took the state's standard reduction. The state patrol did not replace retiring troopers. The Department of Transportation, hit with lower gas-tax revenues simultaneously as prices topped $4 a gallon, proposed a new completion date for the Belfair Bypass: 2027. Meanwhile, businesses, individuals and organizations also benefited from the philosophy of giving away their surpluses: • Among the many businesses out of business was The Journal. "We made a 5 percent profit last year and decided to return the money to the advertisers and subscribers because we liked the state model so much," said the publisher. "This year, with no savings, higher costs and static revenue, we couldn't meet our newsprint, utility, postage and payroll costs. No big deal, though. We enjoyed the $416 worth of lattes in 2007 while they lasted." • Many Washington residents who followed the state's lead, such as Mandy Lifebotes, found themselves homeless. "I really liked the idea of' operating on the edge with no reserves," said the Seattle resident. "Anything I made that we didn't spend that month I gave back to my employer, and my wife, a waitress, returned her tips to her customers. Then somebody in India bid for my job and got it. We couldn't make it. Now we have the privilege of pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps." • The Washington Policy Center was among organizations going under. "We have never believed in reserves," explained the think tank's Paul Guppy, who suggested the tax rebate in 2006. "We run a bare-bones budget and return all donations we don't need. Contributions fell for us last year in the recession, decimating the place. But we'll be back in the future with more liberal suggestions." The state give-away plan was music to the ears of" the Seattle Symphony, among the others to go bank- rupt. It gave back its endowment to its benefactors so they icould spend the money and found itself unable to perform. • Some churches such as First Agape Fellowship in Tacoma evaporated in the recession. It gave members' contributions back to them to boost the economy. "Joseph had it all wrong, and we realized that in 2007," said Reverend Willie Nilly. "The government's job isn't to protect people in tough times. It's to foster a feast now, not put up barns to store money." • Several hospitals and other medical facilities that gave away their cash reserves to their patients closed during 2010 and 2011. An exception was the new urgent-care center/morgue in Belf'air. Even though it gave away its reserves, it did a brisk business handling casualties from the NASCAR track. -CG uu Shelton-. I ,....o,. ONY/ICl County osPs 492-e00 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, p.o. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by Shelton Publishing Inc. at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington Mailing address: RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone (360) 426-4412 * www'mas°nc°unty'c°m Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington Member of Washington Newspaper Publishers' Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $31.00 per year in-county address, $45.00 per year in state of Washington $55.00 per year out of state Charles Gay, editor and publisher. Newsroom: Scan Hanlon, managing editor, Port of Shelton; Steve Patch, sports editor; Jeff Green, general assignment, city government, schools; Rebecca Wells, society editor, county government; Mary Duncan, police, courts. Advertising: Stephen Gay, advertising manager; Dave Pierik and Harvey Morris, ad sales. Front office: Julie Orme, business manager; Kathy Lester, circulation; Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper; Cricket Carter, mailroom supervisor. Composing room: Diane Riordan, supervisor; Margot Brand, Jan Kallinen, pagination; Monica CarvajaI-Beben, pagination, darkroom; Koleen Wood, typesetter, computer system manager; Colleen Scott, ad builder, computer system manager; William Adams, ad builder; Clinton Kendall, proofreader. Pressroom: Kelly Riordan, pressman; Nick Carr, pressman's assistant. uuuuIlluuuuuuuu Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, January 4, 2007 So I00eaaev '," 00ournal: Yard decorations disappear Editor, The Journal: Christmas 2005 we put up the same outside decorations that we had used for the previous five years. Included were small wind- mills with Christmas decorations that said, "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." Outside, year-round, were a large mushroom with three lepre- chauns and the back end of a gray cat up against the concrete that made it appear it was going through the concrete. These items were made by me at a pretty good price and time. We had a hanging monkey in a tree. On our front porch was a small beagle dog fbr which we have different costumes ibr the seasons and celebrations. These are gone. The windmills disappeared Christmas 2005. The monkey disappeared last spring. The mushroom, leprechauns and cat disappeared this past sum- mer, and the beagle disappeared Christmas Eve Day. Our last name was printed, in permanent marker, on these items. We don't know if it was child or adult who took these things from us, but we don't un- derstand the mentality of child or adult who would steal these things from someone's front yard. If" they were taken for the thrill of destroying them, we don't under- stand that mentality either. We simply don't understand anybody who would steal or de- stroy others' property simply for the thrill of doing it, and we hope they realize that some way, some day, they will end up paying dear- ly tbr their actions. Bruce and Ruth Casebolt Mountain View Surge means more casualties Editor, The Journal: There can be only one result of sending more troops to Iraq: more U.S. military casualties. And more Iraqi casualties, even fur- ther destruction of Iraq and of U.S. image in the world. What is the objective of" a surge? More unnecessary deaths (br the vanity of the unelected President. The so-called "insur- gents" will disappear during the surge and reappear just as strong or stronger when the surge troops are removed. There can be only one result of approving more money we don't have to military spending in Iraq: even more debt on which we will all pay interest for the rest of' our lives and those of our kids and grandkids. Congress must blow the whis- tle and stop this out-of-control run-amok administration from even more egregious war crimes. Bring our troops home now. All of them. Lois Walker Harstine Island Lost in translation for ACLU Editor, The Journal: I sent out Christmas cards this year that I got as a gift from the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washing- ton, D.C. I mailed them all and kept one as a memento souvenir card tbr Christmas 2006. / ' What I like about my cards is the message of "Merry Christ- mas" in 10 languages, a photo of a soldier or Marine in field uniform hugging his wife or girlfriend, probably upon arrival home in America. She is also holding a bouquet of white and red flowers. The message on the bottom is, "Grateful for every safe return." inside the card is the greeting, "May this holiday season bring you peace and joy now and throughout the new year!" 1 will finish this now and say "Merry Christmas," "Joyeux Nol," "Feliz Navidad," "Fr6hliche Weinnachten," "Stretan Bozic," "Kala Christouyenna," "Sarbatori Vesele," "Gladelig Jul," "Sawadee Peemai" and "Boun Natale" to all the world, not "Happy Holidays!" The American Civil Liberties Union is not known in the rest of the world, only in our America, where most of us baby boomers had proper upbringings and teachings from our parents, teachers, priests, ministers, pas- tors and peers. They taught us the true meaning of Christmas - "Christ" "mass" and "Jesus is the reason tbr the season"! In Mason County at least one person or thmily can understand each of the nine tbreign languages that mean "Merry Christmas!" There is a wide diversity of ethnic cultures, languages and countries represented by tbreigners now liv- ing in Mason County, USA. When they say, "Merry Christmas" in their own native tongue, the ACLU wouldn't understand it! Jerry A. O'Connor Allyn By the tap av8 hel wh erie the fea: be ha! lTla hal wr( vicl nes pro cas, Pre qui Wal age al€ tan iac cha 0p ati at tha ofl du per tltlt "110 clu stit of l ell1, titll .Put ls t CoI Spread burial costs over time Editor, The Journal: In last week's Journal a letter appeared from a Mr. Jay Hupp ("Underground lines cost more") and it expressed his views on un- derground electric lines as op- posed to above-ground lines. My neighborhood has underground lines but is served from lines along Lake Cushman Road, High- way 119, most of which are un- derground, except for a stretch between mile markers 6 and 7. At least once every year, dur- ing windstorms or winter snows, there are trees that fall on these above-ground lines and create a power interruption for our neigh- borhood. This year, during the re- cent storm, we lost power for 60 hours one time and then 30 hours a few days later. My home is designed to operate on reliable electric power. But, during the recent interruptions the air temperature inside my home went down to 40 because there was a thick layer of snow outside and. the outside air tem- perature was 30, coupled with high winds. We lost the use of our lights, heating, cooking equip- ment and then water. Our com- munity water supply system up here is powered by electric pumps, and the power to it was also interrupted. We used our wood-burning fireplace nonstop to get to 40 degrees. Mr. Hupp is concerned about the cost of" burying these lines that every year are broken down by falling trees. The cost of bury- ing those lines should be spread out over time just like the unplanned cost of repairing the widespread tree-downed lines when storms occur. If storm re- pair costs are budgeted then use the money that would be saved from the reduction of the repairs budget to pay for burial of lines. We lost the use of our home during these prolonged outages. It seems that if those above- ground lines had been buried 10 years ago PUD 3 could have saved a lot of money they have spent making after-hours repairs in severe weather. Finally, we were told by the PUD 3 people that because the above-ground lines only serve a few people up here, we were last on their repair priority. If the lines were buried, none of this would have been a concern. Spread out the cost over years and get on with burying those last miles of lines. It seems that the electrical utility service is still operating the same as it did with elevated powerlines some 75 years ago. We want reliable electrical power and without doubt the buried lines are far less exposed to falling trees than overhead lines on poles. If not, then why is it that buried lines are considered progress in the electric utility industry? Dennis Rohn Lake Cushman