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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 1, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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l00eaders" 00ournal: Wrong conclusion Editor, The Journal: Caleb Hayes once again rails on about a topic taken out of context and arrives at the wrong conclu- sion when he writes about House passage of a bill implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Com- mision (January 18 letter, "Secu- rity high on Demo list"). The measure itself, which is de- sirable for its proposed effect, has been made into a rather transpar- ent politically motivated means of tweaking President Bush's nose and to show that the Dims can pass a previously blocked bill. That is the reason U.S. Representative King labeled the presentation and approval of the bill as shameful. Never mind that neither the technology, manpower or funding exists to accomplish the goals of the 9/11 Commission's recommen- dations or the fact that it is eco- nomically unfeasible at this time to search every single piece of car- go that enters the U.S. There is little doubt that Lee Hamilton is delighted to see the bill pass in the House. He is, af- ter all, one of the participating au- thors of the 9/11 Commission rec- ommendations and a Dim as well. To infer that the approval of a single bill will suddenly make the Dims the party of national secu- rity is one of the greatest leaps of imagination that I've ever been a witness to, especially when consid- ering that the Democratic Party has not been a national security advocate for more than 60 years. Bill Hrbacek Shelton Three city issues Editor, The Journal: I received The Tollie Express (city newsletter) yesterday and read with much interest the "2007 Utility and General Facility Charges," "New Employee Corner" and "New Dual Stream Recycling Program." • 2007 Utility and General Facility Charges - New costs for connections are quite funny. We are connected to the sewer, but whenever it rains the corner by our house floods and often high enough so that the beauty bark is washed into the street. Besides being connected to the sewer, on either side of 13th Street at our corner there are deep holes filled with pea gravel to alleviate the problem. It never has. So, if you don't experience flooding now, why bother to pay the costs of hookup just so you'll be flooded? • New Employee Corner - Two more employees in offices in Shel- ton who do not live in Shelton or Mason County. Do we not have anybody who at least lives in Ma- son County who is qualified for these offices? Were these positions even advertised so that Mason County residents could apply? Do we not have unemlbloyed residents in Mason County? • New Dual Stream Recycling Program - In 2006 we purchased a carrier for our three recycle bins. Now we're going to get new, ex- pensive, recycle containers. So, do we return the carriers to the city for a refund? AND, bet my boots our rates will go up to pay for these new containers in the "effort to make recycling and composting more cost-effective and more ap- pealing." The city makes money from the items we carefully recy- cle (and those who pick it up are pretty particular what they take!) yet we get no money back. When we lived in King County we got an automatic percentage credit back for recycling. AND, with the bins, we can hide them in our garages or sheds. So where do we hide two 35-gallon wheeled recycling carts and a large garbage can? Just more items to make our already junky- looking neighborhoods more so. Does the city have a panel that spends all their time sitting around thinking up new ways to get money from the residents whether it ends up being cost-ef- fective or not? Ruth A. Casebolt Mountain View Mourn over them Editor, The Journal: Anthony H. Cordesman, a mili- tary expert at the Center for Stra- tegic and International Studies in Washington, said: "These days, wounded are a much better mea- sure of the intensity of the opera- tions than killed." While all Amer- icans mourn the more than 3,000 soldiers who have died in the Iraq conflict, the word "wounded" does not cause the average citizen to mourn. It should! Military experts say the num- ber of wounded is a more accurate gauge of the fierceness of fighting because advances in armor and medical care today allow many service members to survive who would have died in prior wars. The ratio of wounded to killed among U.S. forces in Iraq is reported to be 8 to 1, compared with 3 to 1 in Vietnam. The technology available to our military is keeping the death rate in Iraq much lower than .during the Vietnam War and World War II. But Dr. Colonel Vito Imbascini, a urologist and state surgeon with the California Army National Guard, reports that soldiers who survive attacks are often severely disabled for life. Dr. Imbascini would know. He was deployed to Germany for a four-month tour of duty during which time he treated the worst of the U.S. war wound- ed. Dr. Imbascini reported that an extremely high number of wound- ed soldiers are coming home with their arms or legs amputated. Dr. Imbascini further reports that he amputated the genitals of one or two men every day during his four-month tour. Now we know what George Bush's legacy will be: "The Presi- dent who unmanned America's youth." If hearing about the amputa- tion of soldiers' genitals makes you sick, and it should, now is the time to write that letter, AND to make those telephone calls to the folks we sent to Washington to represent us. Tell them that send- ing 21,000 more soldiers to Iraq is not acceptable; tell them that this administration's failed policy in Iraq is not worth the life, the arm, the leg, the face, the mind or the genitals of one more American soldier. (Senator Murray: 202-224- 2621; Senator Cantwell: 202-224- 3441; Congressman Dicks: 202- 225-5916) Katherine A. Farr Angleside THANK YOU SHELTON-MASON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE To be honored by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce as their "Citizen of the Year" is the greatest honor I could have been given. There are so many indi- viduals I know who do so much for this great community of ours. To be singled out for this great honor I can only say "thank you." I also want to thank everyone who helps me with the Christmas basket project. Also to my wife for her under- standing when I am gone so much. This community of ours is # i when it comes to helping our needy. I am proud to have been a member of this community for all these years and honored to be recognized with this award. All I can say Is "WOWl" and thanks again, chamber. A proud citizen of your community, Gene Strozyk Page 6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 1, 2007 On track for more subsidies Editor, The Jouraal: That loud sucking sound you hear these days is created by the International Speedway Corpora- tion, a partner of NASCAR, try- ing to suck in our local powers that be to have our legislature introduce and pass a bill to help build a racetrack with Washing- ton taxpayer bonding. They have already sucked in our lieutenant governor, who publicly supports their efforts to build the track just north of the Mason County line in Kitsap County. Fortunately, our local legisla- tors have been smart enough not to introduce such a bill, let alone support it. State representatives Eickmeyer and Haigh have said chances are not good for such a bill to pass if introduced. We can count on State Senator Sheldon not to support it since he keeps a watchful eye on unwarranted ex- penditures of taxpayers' money. This has not stopped the com- pany from trying though, since they seem to have slush money to keep the suction going with their presentations to influential groups in Mason County such as our chamber of commerce, the Economic Development Council and anybody else who will listen. They have already tried their ploy in counties north of Seattle that were smart enough to resist. Maybe they think the people in our area are more likely to get taken in. They are saying this is really a swell opportunity for our region, there will be no increased taxes if it is built, it will be a community resource that can be used by the local organizations when not be- ing used for NASCAR-sponsored races, and finally, a great num- ber of jobs will be created if it is built. They also say there will be no problems with traffic since the NASCAR events would be on weekends, with only three NAS- CAR races a year. Let's assume they suck in enough people to get the track built. First of all, since we have few contractors that could under- take the track-building job, the jobs created would likely be for workers from outside our area who are employees of a large con- tracting company that could build a thcility of that magnitude. And after it is built, the jobs of run- ning and maintaining the track will certainly not be desirable jobs with only three major events a year. Then there is the problem of fans getting to the track. Most of them will probably be from the other side of lower Puget Sound. The fans would have several ways to get here, including Highway 16 across the Narrows Bridge with the new bridge soon to be opera- tional. But Highway 16 is already one big traffic jam, and after the new bridge is operating, with a toll to cross it, will tend to be one giant parking lot as traffic creeps along to get to Purdy, Port Or- chard and points.in between. The fans could take a ferry across Puget Sound too, but right now the wait to get on a ferry to cross anywhere from north of Seattle is say the least. They Olympia on I-5 101 to Shelton and then up way 3 through Belfair, but who drive that route crowded that is even hard it is to get throu The average racing decide to stay home and major NASCAR event on sion instead of creeping the highway or queuemg get on a ferry at their rates. The track is supposed about $345 million and the way company wants pony up half. The question to mind as to whether it is a deal or not. If the track is a good deal, why don't some of the big banks to it? Banks would probably lighted to finance it if it were a good deal. It is obvious] good deal, since the state ly getting enough money to: off the bonds on the big football stadium or the league baseball stadium that taxpayers got sucked into pay for even though they are considerably more frec lots more fans than the would ever have. baseball and football into paying for their let's be a bit smarter and no! sucked into financing the of a NASCAR track. Mankind disobeys God's Editor, The Journal: Public hearings are held in the legislature for the benefit of the public. The chairman (always a member of the political party in the majority) overseas protocol. Anyone can sign in either pro or con the bill and indicate they want to testify or submit a written state- ment. Senate Bill 5336, "Protecting Individuals and Domestic Partner- ships by Granting Certain Rights and Benefits," was discussed in a public hearing in the Senate January 25 as though it was a le- gitimate subject for discussion for purposes of becoming law. Since when is the deliberate breaking of God's laws legitimate anywhere, especially in our state- house? Animals, plants, trees, etc. are fulfilling their instructions to be fruitful and multiply. The universe obeys its laws of gravity, math (2x2=4), physics, etc., or there wouldn't be an orderly universe. Mankind disobeys the instruc- tions of their Maker by making their own sets of rules in direct disobedience to the Ten Com- mandments: love and worship God, have no other gods, don't use God's name in vain, keep the Sabbath holy, honor your parents, don't lie, steal, kill or covet and do not commit adultery. God's laws are written in our conscience, but if we convince our- selves God doesn't exist to judge us, we Can do whatever we want and not pay the consequences, which is the Lake of" Fire for eternity. God reveals himself in the world all around us, so we are not blame- less - the heavens and Earth are His witnesses, together with His Holy Word. If those in our stat.ehouse legiti- mize the breaking of God's laws, we'll all suffer the consequences. Only true believers who repent and accept the finished work on the cross of' Jesus Christ are par- doned. How God dealt with Jo- nah should alert us to be our lawmakers that (breaking God's laws) result His judgment and wrath. Call 1-800-562-6000 for mation or to send a your, legislator. Public were held this week on HouSe 1351, "Protecting Individuals I Domestic Partnerships by ing Certain Rights and and Senate Bill 5335, Civil Marriage bill, SB 5069, "Extending efits to Domestic as of this writing has not yet scheduled for public I c,an't tell rhich iS  better dead... the 200 elS e'll never for $ 3q.. 95 ... ... or the 500 dmrmel6 we'll never watch for $67.@s/moh... SPECIALS OF THE WEEK 2/1.2/7 At the of Highway 101 108, just away from and Shelton SKOOK00C00 FACTO STORE TOBACCO Made flesh at our own COMPLETE CIG00ES - . II dFmNA cA,Tolr Reg. $21.95 + OWTG BOX COMPLETE ROLL-YOUR-OWN $12gg+ One Pound Bag PREMIS CIGARETTES $'lSgg A CARTOI + tax --NEW-- Walk-In Humidor GREAT SELECTION of Fine Cigars & Humidor Accessories Little Cigars SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Ouittir Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Rtsks to Your Health, M4ELBORO C|l&'ottoll +tax A cA00Tor'00j99 $12.99 + tax "  CIGARS GREAT Try our own ISLAND BLENDZ Hand rolled-Fine LARGE RECEIVE 5 PRGALLON GAS DISCOUNT ' [et, eld thl coupvu Iol youl FRkE KII  Ihlb (al J 5,.,il tvl ALl FI]'I'RE GAS PURCHASES at Kalllilche ahng Post HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. * Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p..m. The Kamilche Trading Post operates under a compact with the State of Washington "Safe To Shop" TOK4CCO PRODUCTS DRIVE -THRU Sun-Thurs 7am-9pm Fri & Sat 7am-10pm 360-426-5254 l00eaders" 00ournal: Wrong conclusion Editor, The Journal: Caleb Hayes once again rails on about a topic taken out of context and arrives at the wrong conclu- sion when he writes about House passage of a bill implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Com- mision (January 18 letter, "Secu- rity high on Demo list"). The measure itself, which is de- sirable for its proposed effect, has been made into a rather transpar- ent politically motivated means of tweaking President Bush's nose and to show that the Dims can pass a previously blocked bill. That is the reason U.S. Representative King labeled the presentation and approval of the bill as shameful. Never mind that neither the technology, manpower or funding exists to accomplish the goals of the 9/11 Commission's recommen- dations or the fact that it is eco- nomically unfeasible at this time to search every single piece of car- go that enters the U.S. There is little doubt that Lee Hamilton is delighted to see the bill pass in the House. He is, af- ter all, one of the participating au- thors of the 9/11 Commission rec- ommendations and a Dim as well. To infer that the approval of a single bill will suddenly make the Dims the party of national secu- rity is one of the greatest leaps of imagination that I've ever been a witness to, especially when consid- ering that the Democratic Party has not been a national security advocate for more than 60 years. Bill Hrbacek Shelton Three city issues Editor, The Journal: I received The Tollie Express (city newsletter) yesterday and read with much interest the "2007 Utility and General Facility Charges," "New Employee Corner" and "New Dual Stream Recycling Program." • 2007 Utility and General Facility Charges - New costs for connections are quite funny. We are connected to the sewer, but whenever it rains the corner by our house floods and often high enough so that the beauty bark is washed into the street. Besides being connected to the sewer, on either side of 13th Street at our corner there are deep holes filled with pea gravel to alleviate the problem. It never has. So, if you don't experience flooding now, why bother to pay the costs of hookup just so you'll be flooded? • New Employee Corner - Two more employees in offices in Shel- ton who do not live in Shelton or Mason County. Do we not have anybody who at least lives in Ma- son County who is qualified for these offices? Were these positions even advertised so that Mason County residents could apply? Do we not have unemlbloyed residents in Mason County? • New Dual Stream Recycling Program - In 2006 we purchased a carrier for our three recycle bins. Now we're going to get new, ex- pensive, recycle containers. So, do we return the carriers to the city for a refund? AND, bet my boots our rates will go up to pay for these new containers in the "effort to make recycling and composting more cost-effective and more ap- pealing." The city makes money from the items we carefully recy- cle (and those who pick it up are pretty particular what they take!) yet we get no money back. When we lived in King County we got an automatic percentage credit back for recycling. AND, with the bins, we can hide them in our garages or sheds. So where do we hide two 35-gallon wheeled recycling carts and a large garbage can? Just more items to make our already junky- looking neighborhoods more so. Does the city have a panel that spends all their time sitting around thinking up new ways to get money from the residents whether it ends up being cost-ef- fective or not? Ruth A. Casebolt Mountain View Mourn over them Editor, The Journal: Anthony H. Cordesman, a mili- tary expert at the Center for Stra- tegic and International Studies in Washington, said: "These days, wounded are a much better mea- sure of the intensity of the opera- tions than killed." While all Amer- icans mourn the more than 3,000 soldiers who have died in the Iraq conflict, the word "wounded" does not cause the average citizen to mourn. It should! Military experts say the num- ber of wounded is a more accurate gauge of the fierceness of fighting because advances in armor and medical care today allow many service members to survive who would have died in prior wars. The ratio of wounded to killed among U.S. forces in Iraq is reported to be 8 to 1, compared with 3 to 1 in Vietnam. The technology available to our military is keeping the death rate in Iraq much lower than .during the Vietnam War and World War II. But Dr. Colonel Vito Imbascini, a urologist and state surgeon with the California Army National Guard, reports that soldiers who survive attacks are often severely disabled for life. Dr. Imbascini would know. He was deployed to Germany for a four-month tour of duty during which time he treated the worst of the U.S. war wound- ed. Dr. Imbascini reported that an extremely high number of wound- ed soldiers are coming home with their arms or legs amputated. Dr. Imbascini further reports that he amputated the genitals of one or two men every day during his four-month tour. Now we know what George Bush's legacy will be: "The Presi- dent who unmanned America's youth." If hearing about the amputa- tion of soldiers' genitals makes you sick, and it should, now is the time to write that letter, AND to make those telephone calls to the folks we sent to Washington to represent us. Tell them that send- ing 21,000 more soldiers to Iraq is not acceptable; tell them that this administration's failed policy in Iraq is not worth the life, the arm, the leg, the face, the mind or the genitals of one more American soldier. (Senator Murray: 202-224- 2621; Senator Cantwell: 202-224- 3441; Congressman Dicks: 202- 225-5916) Katherine A. Farr Angleside THANK YOU SHELTON-MASON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE To be honored by the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce as their "Citizen of the Year" is the greatest honor I could have been given. There are so many indi- viduals I know who do so much for this great community of ours. To be singled out for this great honor I can only say "thank you." I also want to thank everyone who helps me with the Christmas basket project. Also to my wife for her under- standing when I am gone so much. This community of ours is # i when it comes to helping our needy. I am proud to have been a member of this community for all these years and honored to be recognized with this award. All I can say Is "WOWl" and thanks again, chamber. A proud citizen of your community, Gene Strozyk Page 6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 1, 2007 On track for more subsidies Editor, The Jouraal: That loud sucking sound you hear these days is created by the International Speedway Corpora- tion, a partner of NASCAR, try- ing to suck in our local powers that be to have our legislature introduce and pass a bill to help build a racetrack with Washing- ton taxpayer bonding. They have already sucked in our lieutenant governor, who publicly supports their efforts to build the track just north of the Mason County line in Kitsap County. Fortunately, our local legisla- tors have been smart enough not to introduce such a bill, let alone support it. State representatives Eickmeyer and Haigh have said chances are not good for such a bill to pass if introduced. We can count on State Senator Sheldon not to support it since he keeps a watchful eye on unwarranted ex- penditures of taxpayers' money. This has not stopped the com- pany from trying though, since they seem to have slush money to keep the suction going with their presentations to influential groups in Mason County such as our chamber of commerce, the Economic Development Council and anybody else who will listen. They have already tried their ploy in counties north of Seattle that were smart enough to resist. Maybe they think the people in our area are more likely to get taken in. They are saying this is really a swell opportunity for our region, there will be no increased taxes if it is built, it will be a community resource that can be used by the local organizations when not be- ing used for NASCAR-sponsored races, and finally, a great num- ber of jobs will be created if it is built. They also say there will be no problems with traffic since the NASCAR events would be on weekends, with only three NAS- CAR races a year. Let's assume they suck in enough people to get the track built. First of all, since we have few contractors that could under- take the track-building job, the jobs created would likely be for workers from outside our area who are employees of a large con- tracting company that could build a thcility of that magnitude. And after it is built, the jobs of run- ning and maintaining the track will certainly not be desirable jobs with only three major events a year. Then there is the problem of fans getting to the track. Most of them will probably be from the other side of lower Puget Sound. The fans would have several ways to get here, including Highway 16 across the Narrows Bridge with the new bridge soon to be opera- tional. But Highway 16 is already one big traffic jam, and after the new bridge is operating, with a toll to cross it, will tend to be one giant parking lot as traffic creeps along to get to Purdy, Port Or- chard and points.in between. The fans could take a ferry across Puget Sound too, but right now the wait to get on a ferry to cross anywhere from north of Seattle is say the least. They Olympia on I-5 101 to Shelton and then up way 3 through Belfair, but who drive that route crowded that is even hard it is to get throu The average racing decide to stay home and major NASCAR event on sion instead of creeping the highway or queuemg get on a ferry at their rates. The track is supposed about $345 million and the way company wants pony up half. The question to mind as to whether it is a deal or not. If the track is a good deal, why don't some of the big banks to it? Banks would probably lighted to finance it if it were a good deal. It is obvious] good deal, since the state ly getting enough money to: off the bonds on the big football stadium or the league baseball stadium that taxpayers got sucked into pay for even though they are considerably more frec lots more fans than the would ever have. baseball and football into paying for their let's be a bit smarter and no! sucked into financing the of a NASCAR track. Mankind disobeys God's Editor, The Journal: Public hearings are held in the legislature for the benefit of the public. The chairman (always a member of the political party in the majority) overseas protocol. Anyone can sign in either pro or con the bill and indicate they want to testify or submit a written state- ment. Senate Bill 5336, "Protecting Individuals and Domestic Partner- ships by Granting Certain Rights and Benefits," was discussed in a public hearing in the Senate January 25 as though it was a le- gitimate subject for discussion for purposes of becoming law. Since when is the deliberate breaking of God's laws legitimate anywhere, especially in our state- house? Animals, plants, trees, etc. are fulfilling their instructions to be fruitful and multiply. The universe obeys its laws of gravity, math (2x2=4), physics, etc., or there wouldn't be an orderly universe. Mankind disobeys the instruc- tions of their Maker by making their own sets of rules in direct disobedience to the Ten Com- mandments: love and worship God, have no other gods, don't use God's name in vain, keep the Sabbath holy, honor your parents, don't lie, steal, kill or covet and do not commit adultery. God's laws are written in our conscience, but if we convince our- selves God doesn't exist to judge us, we Can do whatever we want and not pay the consequences, which is the Lake of" Fire for eternity. God reveals himself in the world all around us, so we are not blame- less - the heavens and Earth are His witnesses, together with His Holy Word. If those in our stat.ehouse legiti- mize the breaking of God's laws, we'll all suffer the consequences. Only true believers who repent and accept the finished work on the cross of' Jesus Christ are par- doned. How God dealt with Jo- nah should alert us to be our lawmakers that (breaking God's laws) result His judgment and wrath. Call 1-800-562-6000 for mation or to send a your, legislator. Public were held this week on HouSe 1351, "Protecting Individuals I Domestic Partnerships by ing Certain Rights and and Senate Bill 5335, Civil Marriage bill, SB 5069, "Extending efits to Domestic as of this writing has not yet scheduled for public I c,an't tell rhich iS  better dead... the 200 elS e'll never for $ 3q.. 95 ... ... or the 500 dmrmel6 we'll never watch for $67.@s/moh... SPECIALS OF THE WEEK 2/1.2/7 At the of Highway 101 108, just away from and Shelton SKOOK00C00 FACTO STORE TOBACCO Made flesh at our own COMPLETE CIG00ES - . II dFmNA cA,Tolr Reg. $21.95 + OWTG BOX COMPLETE ROLL-YOUR-OWN $12gg+ One Pound Bag PREMIS CIGARETTES $'lSgg A CARTOI + tax --NEW-- Walk-In Humidor GREAT SELECTION of Fine Cigars & Humidor Accessories Little Cigars SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Ouittir Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Rtsks to Your Health, M4ELBORO C|l&'ottoll +tax A cA00Tor'00j99 $12.99 + tax "  CIGARS GREAT Try our own ISLAND BLENDZ Hand rolled-Fine LARGE RECEIVE 5 PRGALLON GAS DISCOUNT ' [et, eld thl coupvu Iol youl FRkE KII  Ihlb (al J 5,.,il tvl ALl FI]'I'RE GAS PURCHASES at Kalllilche ahng Post HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. * Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p..m. The Kamilche Trading Post operates under a compact with the State of Washington "Safe To Shop" TOK4CCO PRODUCTS DRIVE -THRU Sun-Thurs 7am-9pm Fri & Sat 7am-10pm 360-426-5254