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City commission roundup:
Citizens join commissioners
in tour of civic center project
sAn informal inspection of the
helton Civic Center project high-
!ighted Monday afternoon's meet-
L?.g of the Shelton City Commis-
Sion.
Ve've got a cold tour on a hot
subject,. Mayor Scott Hilburn an-
A handful of citizens
the commissioners inside
unheated building on
project is about one-third
Jim Quillin, the city's
ect inspector, told The Jour-
nal. The contractor anticipates
l.pleting the project by mid to
May. The deadline for finish-
g the work is in mid June.
,. We're still on schedule," Quil-
l.said. "It's moving along good.
• alngs will really start coming
along now." 1
. Most of the work on the bu'Id-
g's infrastructure is done, he
i(d. That includes excavation
d forrnwork for foundation foot-
ings inside the building and foun-
dation footings for the adjacent
new building that will house the
communications center.
IN A RELATED MATTER,
commissioners agreed that fold-
ing panel walls are the way to go
to provide small meeting rooms
inside the large public area of the
civic center.
Last week Hilburn suggested
installing a solid, permanent wall
across the front of the smaller
area, with room dividers behind
that wall so that one to three
small meeting rooms could be
formed. But this week he backed
off that proposal, saying that fol-
ding-panel walls give the public
area more flexibility.
The solid wall would limit op-
tions for the large public area,
Commissioner John Tarrant
noted. A letter from Dick Taylor
of the Homebuilders Association
of Mason County advocated the
small meeting rooms but not the
solid wall, which he wrote would
break up the large space.
THE MOVABLE panel-type
walls would cost an estimated
$84,542, while accordiOn-type
movable walls would cost an esti-
mated $71,762, according to esti-
mates provided earlier by project
architect Len Williams.
Commission secretary Jeanette
Valley reported that people told
her the accordion-type walls were
a waste because they could hear
conversations in adjoining rooms
right through them.
As for paying for the movable
walls, Commissioner Janet
Thornbrue said that even with
change orders at the civic center
the city isn't coming close to
spending the 10 percent contin-
gency fund it established for the
project. Williams said he would
prepare a bid proposal request for
contractors.
In other city business, commis-
sioners:
* Heard a report on the city's
curbside recycling program by co-
ordinator Toni Clement. Last
year Shelton residents recycled a
total of 411.9 tons of materials.
Residents stayed steady at a 32
percent participation rate. The
statewide participation rate
dropped from 38 to 32 percent,
she said.
Hilburn asked her about a pos-
sible discount for senior citizens,
who already receive discounts of
water and sewer rates. Clement
said she thinks that's a good idea
and that the city should look into
giving seniors a discount on their
recycling rates. Hilburn said the
commission should add that to its
agenda this spring when it starts
the budget process for next year.
Southside's reading mentor
program builds on successes
ly JEFF GREEN
w F.Or one hour, one night a
eek t
h-' ' hey come back to school to
'tclP their own children improve
aeir reading skills.
And, so far, the extra efforts by
eral parents and students at
thside are paying
School
off.
; e children are showing marked
aProvement.
'[.think it's succeeding for a
Iber reasons, said Heather
of
ght, who teaches in a corn-
k;.
cl' d third- and fourth-grade
8 at Southside. "The class-
rocra instruction is good. They
hare excellent support, strong
Pa !s t involvement and get one-
On
to one (involvement) in addition
]'nat's being, done in school."
°tlthslde's
Reading Mentor
ter ,am, which started last Sep-
8t r, is in its first year. Those
e)lts who come to the library
thursday nights with their
lal ats are urimarilv third and
f ,- _
h graders, with a few second
J ers included.
TRY TO FOCUS on stu-
who haven't been quite as
sful in reading," Knight
Journal. "They're here
doing it. That follows
at home."
ten the state-mandated
assessment tests
uired of all students,
a crucial time for strug-
students, Knight
adding, "We wanted to pro-
Parents with tools to help
kids."
reliminary assessment,
months after the start
Program, shows it's help-
y. Students who
in the program have
an average improvement of
compared to those
lalified for the program,
participate. Those stu-
an average 6.7 per-
in reading skills.
who came to
sessions scored an
of 92.3 on the four-month
A score of 90 or
a student is able or
reading material at the
grade level. Those who
for but didn't attend the
Scored an average of 81.6
which means
them are not quite ready
material.
Phono-Graphix reading
that's used
sessions is designed
to use at home with
Costco provided a free
ay training session last
in Issaquah for three
teachers: Knight, read-
Vicki Owens and sec-
third-grade teacher Pat-
They also were given
Worth of supplies to go with
including training
include tips for par-
to read at home.
ll'utIS IS INSTRUCTION in
j w to read,- Knight s "d "It isn't
II re ' o al .
Rradmg a book It's a highly
"-TJ "tea program.
Its all bus
-l- iness during the
Th _..ng sessions. Well, mostly.
ts,Idren and some of the par-
°op at one table for treats:
cookies, pop or donuts. Then they
get right to work. The parents
and kids fan out inside the li-
brary, find empty chairs at the
round tables and start on the ex-
ercises that are provided within
the program. Horseplay is kept to
a bare minimum.
"I've noticed huge gains in my
class. It's a pretty.intensive pro-
gram. It lasts for 12 weeks,"
Knight said. "An extra hour a
week, one-on-one, makes a huge
difference."
Parents are seeing their chil-
dren make up ground. Perhaps
the most loyal cheerleader among
them is Kim Sloan, but she's not
alone in that.
"I'M A VERY enthusiastic
parent," she said. Her son, Aaron,
is a second-grader at Southside
and had been struggling with his
reading. But no more.
"His reading has come from -
he would get confused on 'A' or 'I.'
Since he started coming here, it's
like this program has unlocked ...
this magical thing has happened,"
Sloan said.
"He reads everything now. He
wants to buy books. He has books
lying by his bed," she added.
Now, when Aaron writes
things, he can sound words out,
which he never did before, ever,
Sloan said.
"My parents (who live next
door) are just like, 'Wow, what's
happened to Aaron?'"
WHAT'S HAPPENED and
what continues to happen, not
just with Aaron but with others
in the reading mentor program, is
a transformation.
"I think the biggest thing for us
is, he's not getting frustrated,"
Sloan said of her son. The read-
ing, she adds, is also helping Aar-
on with his speech. "His speech is
clearer. You can understand
every word now," Sloan said with
a smile.
Since starting in the program
last September, Aaron has gone
from a reading level below the
first-grade level to nearly three-
quarters of the way through the
first-grade level.
"I'm a total believer," Sloan
said. Like many kids, Aaron likes
to play computer games, but now
he chooses games where players
read a story and then are asked
to answer questions about that
story.
JAMES BYFORD IS happy
with his son Jordan's progress.
"He's starting to sound out
things," Byford said. "He's read-
ing more at home now, and better
books."
Jordan looks forward to coming
to the weekly sessions, his father
said.
"He likes the program. He's
had real good teachers all the way
through here," Byford said.
"He needed a little bit of extra
help and this is right up his alley.
Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Madison
have a real good way with kids.
Heather Knight has a real good
rapport with kids. Mrs. Madison's
the same way," the elder Byford
said.
DON ROBBINS, who's also a
Southside School Board member,
brings his daughter, Courtney, to
the sessions. "It's helped out a
lot," he said. "She's reading
better."
Courtney is able to pronounce
the words she reads now, he add-
ed.
"We've got really good teachers
here. The teachers can only do so
much; it's got to start at home,"
Robbins said.
"It's encouraging to see the
parents that are involved in this.
It's proof that they care and want
to help," he said. "It really doesn't
take much as long as you're will-
ing to work."
L 'II , , ............... /IIF i:!,i; :: :/ :
.... :00ii il 00iii0000i000000iiii:i,:00 iii00
SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL parent James Byford works with his son, Jor-
dan, in the school's Reading Mentor program. The weekly, one-on-
one sessions with.parents and students has helped the youngsters
make gains in thezr reading abilities.
Wedeliver I-IIEATING UIL
COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES!
Located at Sanderson
We carry kerosene. Industrial Park
uNo00tO 427-8084
SHELTON CITY COMMISSIONERS Janet Thornbrue, left, and John
Tarrant, right, discuss the Shelton Civic Center project with Jim
Quillin, the city's project inspector. The area behind them will be
the site of the new emergency communications center.
Deputies invited out:
MMK kids hot about
smoking on campus
Student body representatives at Mary M.
Knight School are doing a slow burn.
The issue, they say, is smoking. On Monday,
the school's Associated Student Body president
Erik Larson, vice president Aaron Brear and
treasurer Jeremy Brehmeyer penned a letter to
Mason County Sheriff Steve Whybark to air
their concern over "a blatant disregard for the
law."
Citing state law that prohibits the use of to-
bacco products on school grounds, they called the
sheriff's attention to their concern that adults at-
tending sports events or programs at the school
don't seem to care.
"Ironically," the trio wrote, "they smoke right
in front of the sign which states the RCW
(Revised Code of Washington) that prohibits
such acts."
The smokers "set a poor example for children
and other adults," the ASB reps wrote. "This is
the most impressionable time in many students'
lives, and when they see adults nonchalantly
breaking the law, what lesson are they teaching?
What kind of future leaders are they forming?"
Being ASB leaders or even school administra-
tors, they pointed out, doesn't involve the right
to enforce the law. "Therefore," they wrote, "we
are requesting occasional patrols on campus and
ask that your deputies enforce the law and tick
offenders.
"Your deputies," they added, "are also invited
to stay and enjoy some good old-fashioned high
school sports, as well."
Shelton board lauds
four student leaders
Four Shelton High School stu-
dents were recognized at Tues-
day's Shelton School Board meet-
ing for their community efforts.
All four are members of social
studies teacher Ed Stewart's lead-
ership class at SHS, which stress-
es, among other things, communi-
ty involvement.
Crystal Brush and Rebecca
Haertel organized a stories-and-
sweets program at the high
school. On January 13, some 40
children attended the program at
the SHS Student Union Building
where, they listened to stories
read by 30 high-school student
volunteers. They also munched on
sweets and received books collect-
ed during a book drive the two
girls started.
Susanne Feucht and Aimee
Pierce coordinated a swing dance
at the school on January 16. The
dance raised nearly $300 for Ma-
son County Habitat for Humani-
ty. The two students organized
the dance, bought cookies and ad-
vertised the dance through a loan
from the SHS Associated Student
Body and arranged for soda pop
to be donated by local grocery
stores.
The dance was attended by 150
community members. "The two of
us found this to be a very reward-
ing experience," Pierce told the
school board.
Drop in, Neighbor
:D:[:LicioIIS
, at Little Creek Casino
%
• MON DAYS
le 5PM TO 9PM
YOUR CHOICE OF: •
• 2 pancakes, legg, and • - "8oz. Top Sirlo,n
sausage or bacon ,, Red Potatoes
• -or. " ._ Vegetables
• The Daffy Breakfast Special $ Dinner Roll /
00$199 *395.
\\; You also .et th00s st00-ke: i
EVERYDAY 10AM-NOON ";" e ,.. ; . • U
FRIDAY, SATURDAY 1| PM-SAM D matcnpay, or
SUNDAY=THURSDAY | | PM-2AM e coupon for Megamama/Flashcash
C A S I. N" " " " u 0 ---- r':: :''" t "
Open Daily Interchange Hwy 1011108 * Shelton • (360) 427-7711 * re.little-creek.corn
Check out our new hours: Sunday thru Wednesday 10am to 4am, Thurla)' thru Saturday 10am to 6am
.... 'r'l A Ak At, Ak Ak At, Ak Ak AIk
Thursday, January20, 1999 - Shelton-Mason County Journal. Page 3
City commission roundup:
Citizens join commissioners
in tour of civic center project
sAn informal inspection of the
helton Civic Center project high-
!ighted Monday afternoon's meet-
L?.g of the Shelton City Commis-
Sion.
Ve've got a cold tour on a hot
subject,. Mayor Scott Hilburn an-
A handful of citizens
the commissioners inside
unheated building on
project is about one-third
Jim Quillin, the city's
ect inspector, told The Jour-
nal. The contractor anticipates
l.pleting the project by mid to
May. The deadline for finish-
g the work is in mid June.
,. We're still on schedule," Quil-
l.said. "It's moving along good.
• alngs will really start coming
along now." 1
. Most of the work on the bu'Id-
g's infrastructure is done, he
i(d. That includes excavation
d forrnwork for foundation foot-
ings inside the building and foun-
dation footings for the adjacent
new building that will house the
communications center.
IN A RELATED MATTER,
commissioners agreed that fold-
ing panel walls are the way to go
to provide small meeting rooms
inside the large public area of the
civic center.
Last week Hilburn suggested
installing a solid, permanent wall
across the front of the smaller
area, with room dividers behind
that wall so that one to three
small meeting rooms could be
formed. But this week he backed
off that proposal, saying that fol-
ding-panel walls give the public
area more flexibility.
The solid wall would limit op-
tions for the large public area,
Commissioner John Tarrant
noted. A letter from Dick Taylor
of the Homebuilders Association
of Mason County advocated the
small meeting rooms but not the
solid wall, which he wrote would
break up the large space.
THE MOVABLE panel-type
walls would cost an estimated
$84,542, while accordiOn-type
movable walls would cost an esti-
mated $71,762, according to esti-
mates provided earlier by project
architect Len Williams.
Commission secretary Jeanette
Valley reported that people told
her the accordion-type walls were
a waste because they could hear
conversations in adjoining rooms
right through them.
As for paying for the movable
walls, Commissioner Janet
Thornbrue said that even with
change orders at the civic center
the city isn't coming close to
spending the 10 percent contin-
gency fund it established for the
project. Williams said he would
prepare a bid proposal request for
contractors.
In other city business, commis-
sioners:
* Heard a report on the city's
curbside recycling program by co-
ordinator Toni Clement. Last
year Shelton residents recycled a
total of 411.9 tons of materials.
Residents stayed steady at a 32
percent participation rate. The
statewide participation rate
dropped from 38 to 32 percent,
she said.
Hilburn asked her about a pos-
sible discount for senior citizens,
who already receive discounts of
water and sewer rates. Clement
said she thinks that's a good idea
and that the city should look into
giving seniors a discount on their
recycling rates. Hilburn said the
commission should add that to its
agenda this spring when it starts
the budget process for next year.
Southside's reading mentor
program builds on successes
ly JEFF GREEN
w F.Or one hour, one night a
eek t
h-' ' hey come back to school to
'tclP their own children improve
aeir reading skills.
And, so far, the extra efforts by
eral parents and students at
thside are paying
School
off.
; e children are showing marked
aProvement.
'[.think it's succeeding for a
Iber reasons, said Heather
of
ght, who teaches in a corn-
k;.
cl' d third- and fourth-grade
8 at Southside. "The class-
rocra instruction is good. They
hare excellent support, strong
Pa !s t involvement and get one-
On
to one (involvement) in addition
]'nat's being, done in school."
°tlthslde's
Reading Mentor
ter ,am, which started last Sep-
8t r, is in its first year. Those
e)lts who come to the library
thursday nights with their
lal ats are urimarilv third and
f ,- _
h graders, with a few second
J ers included.
TRY TO FOCUS on stu-
who haven't been quite as
sful in reading," Knight
Journal. "They're here
doing it. That follows
at home."
ten the state-mandated
assessment tests
uired of all students,
a crucial time for strug-
students, Knight
adding, "We wanted to pro-
Parents with tools to help
kids."
reliminary assessment,
months after the start
Program, shows it's help-
y. Students who
in the program have
an average improvement of
compared to those
lalified for the program,
participate. Those stu-
an average 6.7 per-
in reading skills.
who came to
sessions scored an
of 92.3 on the four-month
A score of 90 or
a student is able or
reading material at the
grade level. Those who
for but didn't attend the
Scored an average of 81.6
which means
them are not quite ready
material.
Phono-Graphix reading
that's used
sessions is designed
to use at home with
Costco provided a free
ay training session last
in Issaquah for three
teachers: Knight, read-
Vicki Owens and sec-
third-grade teacher Pat-
They also were given
Worth of supplies to go with
including training
include tips for par-
to read at home.
ll'utIS IS INSTRUCTION in
j w to read,- Knight s "d "It isn't
II re ' o al .
Rradmg a book It's a highly
"-TJ "tea program.
Its all bus
-l- iness during the
Th _..ng sessions. Well, mostly.
ts,Idren and some of the par-
°op at one table for treats:
cookies, pop or donuts. Then they
get right to work. The parents
and kids fan out inside the li-
brary, find empty chairs at the
round tables and start on the ex-
ercises that are provided within
the program. Horseplay is kept to
a bare minimum.
"I've noticed huge gains in my
class. It's a pretty.intensive pro-
gram. It lasts for 12 weeks,"
Knight said. "An extra hour a
week, one-on-one, makes a huge
difference."
Parents are seeing their chil-
dren make up ground. Perhaps
the most loyal cheerleader among
them is Kim Sloan, but she's not
alone in that.
"I'M A VERY enthusiastic
parent," she said. Her son, Aaron,
is a second-grader at Southside
and had been struggling with his
reading. But no more.
"His reading has come from -
he would get confused on 'A' or 'I.'
Since he started coming here, it's
like this program has unlocked ...
this magical thing has happened,"
Sloan said.
"He reads everything now. He
wants to buy books. He has books
lying by his bed," she added.
Now, when Aaron writes
things, he can sound words out,
which he never did before, ever,
Sloan said.
"My parents (who live next
door) are just like, 'Wow, what's
happened to Aaron?'"
WHAT'S HAPPENED and
what continues to happen, not
just with Aaron but with others
in the reading mentor program, is
a transformation.
"I think the biggest thing for us
is, he's not getting frustrated,"
Sloan said of her son. The read-
ing, she adds, is also helping Aar-
on with his speech. "His speech is
clearer. You can understand
every word now," Sloan said with
a smile.
Since starting in the program
last September, Aaron has gone
from a reading level below the
first-grade level to nearly three-
quarters of the way through the
first-grade level.
"I'm a total believer," Sloan
said. Like many kids, Aaron likes
to play computer games, but now
he chooses games where players
read a story and then are asked
to answer questions about that
story.
JAMES BYFORD IS happy
with his son Jordan's progress.
"He's starting to sound out
things," Byford said. "He's read-
ing more at home now, and better
books."
Jordan looks forward to coming
to the weekly sessions, his father
said.
"He likes the program. He's
had real good teachers all the way
through here," Byford said.
"He needed a little bit of extra
help and this is right up his alley.
Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Madison
have a real good way with kids.
Heather Knight has a real good
rapport with kids. Mrs. Madison's
the same way," the elder Byford
said.
DON ROBBINS, who's also a
Southside School Board member,
brings his daughter, Courtney, to
the sessions. "It's helped out a
lot," he said. "She's reading
better."
Courtney is able to pronounce
the words she reads now, he add-
ed.
"We've got really good teachers
here. The teachers can only do so
much; it's got to start at home,"
Robbins said.
"It's encouraging to see the
parents that are involved in this.
It's proof that they care and want
to help," he said. "It really doesn't
take much as long as you're will-
ing to work."
L 'II , , ............... /IIF i:!,i; :: :/ :
.... :00ii il 00iii0000i000000iiii:i,:00 iii00
SOUTHSIDE SCHOOL parent James Byford works with his son, Jor-
dan, in the school's Reading Mentor program. The weekly, one-on-
one sessions with.parents and students has helped the youngsters
make gains in thezr reading abilities.
Wedeliver I-IIEATING UIL
COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES!
Located at Sanderson
We carry kerosene. Industrial Park
uNo00tO 427-8084
SHELTON CITY COMMISSIONERS Janet Thornbrue, left, and John
Tarrant, right, discuss the Shelton Civic Center project with Jim
Quillin, the city's project inspector. The area behind them will be
the site of the new emergency communications center.
Deputies invited out:
MMK kids hot about
smoking on campus
Student body representatives at Mary M.
Knight School are doing a slow burn.
The issue, they say, is smoking. On Monday,
the school's Associated Student Body president
Erik Larson, vice president Aaron Brear and
treasurer Jeremy Brehmeyer penned a letter to
Mason County Sheriff Steve Whybark to air
their concern over "a blatant disregard for the
law."
Citing state law that prohibits the use of to-
bacco products on school grounds, they called the
sheriff's attention to their concern that adults at-
tending sports events or programs at the school
don't seem to care.
"Ironically," the trio wrote, "they smoke right
in front of the sign which states the RCW
(Revised Code of Washington) that prohibits
such acts."
The smokers "set a poor example for children
and other adults," the ASB reps wrote. "This is
the most impressionable time in many students'
lives, and when they see adults nonchalantly
breaking the law, what lesson are they teaching?
What kind of future leaders are they forming?"
Being ASB leaders or even school administra-
tors, they pointed out, doesn't involve the right
to enforce the law. "Therefore," they wrote, "we
are requesting occasional patrols on campus and
ask that your deputies enforce the law and tick
offenders.
"Your deputies," they added, "are also invited
to stay and enjoy some good old-fashioned high
school sports, as well."
Shelton board lauds
four student leaders
Four Shelton High School stu-
dents were recognized at Tues-
day's Shelton School Board meet-
ing for their community efforts.
All four are members of social
studies teacher Ed Stewart's lead-
ership class at SHS, which stress-
es, among other things, communi-
ty involvement.
Crystal Brush and Rebecca
Haertel organized a stories-and-
sweets program at the high
school. On January 13, some 40
children attended the program at
the SHS Student Union Building
where, they listened to stories
read by 30 high-school student
volunteers. They also munched on
sweets and received books collect-
ed during a book drive the two
girls started.
Susanne Feucht and Aimee
Pierce coordinated a swing dance
at the school on January 16. The
dance raised nearly $300 for Ma-
son County Habitat for Humani-
ty. The two students organized
the dance, bought cookies and ad-
vertised the dance through a loan
from the SHS Associated Student
Body and arranged for soda pop
to be donated by local grocery
stores.
The dance was attended by 150
community members. "The two of
us found this to be a very reward-
ing experience," Pierce told the
school board.
Drop in, Neighbor
:D:[:LicioIIS
, at Little Creek Casino
%
• MON DAYS
le 5PM TO 9PM
YOUR CHOICE OF: •
• 2 pancakes, legg, and • - "8oz. Top Sirlo,n
sausage or bacon ,, Red Potatoes
• -or. " ._ Vegetables
• The Daffy Breakfast Special $ Dinner Roll /
00$199 *395.
\\; You also .et th00s st00-ke: i
EVERYDAY 10AM-NOON ";" e ,.. ; . • U
FRIDAY, SATURDAY 1| PM-SAM D matcnpay, or
SUNDAY=THURSDAY | | PM-2AM e coupon for Megamama/Flashcash
C A S I. N" " " " u 0 ---- r':: :''" t "
Open Daily Interchange Hwy 1011108 * Shelton • (360) 427-7711 * re.little-creek.corn
Check out our new hours: Sunday thru Wednesday 10am to 4am, Thurla)' thru Saturday 10am to 6am
.... 'r'l A Ak At, Ak Ak At, Ak Ak AIk
Thursday, January20, 1999 - Shelton-Mason County Journal. Page 3