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JOURNALEDITORIAL
Legislation would improve the Discover Pass program
egislators in Olympia are
considering a bill that allows
for the use of one Discover
Pass for two vehicles registered to
the same address. We think this
is a common-sense piece of legis-
lation that should be passed and
signed by the governor.
Last year's introduction of
the $30 Discover Pass to ac-
cess Washington State Parks,
Washington State Department
of Natural Resources and Wash-
ington Department of Fish and
Wildlife lands and waterways
was an unpopular, but necessary
move. In 2007, $98.5 million from
the state's general fund went
to parks. In 2011, that amount
dropped to $17.8 million. The
Discover Pass was meant to help
fill the gap.
Here in Mason County, we
are fortunate to have so much
wonderful public access to public
land. Many folks resent the fact
they have to buy a pass to use
public property, but even more
folks resent the fact that they
often have to buy multiple passes
for one household. The legislation
being considered, which passed
in the Senate this past Friday,
would close a silly loophole that
forces some families to get hit
twice in order to go camping,
spend a day on the water or sim,
ply have lunch at state park pic-
nic areas.
As part of the legislation, the
Discover Pass would also replace
the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife's vehicle-access
pass. The legislation also in-
cludes a section stating that the
parks department must provide a
50 percent discount on the price
of the Discover Pass if it is pur-
chased with certain fishing and
hunting licenses or with the pur-
chase of a campsite permit.
We hope that the House fol-
lows the Senate's lead on this leg-
islation and passes it along to the
governor for her signature.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR
Thanks
to all the
crews
during the
storm
Editor, the Journal
This letter is intended for
the many people involved
in the safety and service to
the people of Mason County
during our recent winter
storm.
We give many thanks
and kudos to our PUD 3
employees and especially
the linemen. They worked
m such dangerous and un-
comfortable conditions to
ease our situations.
The ladies who answered
the phone calls reporting
Jutages were so very nice
,rod reassuring. Everyone
was patient and profes-
sional.
Thanks also to the cable
company for a prompt re-
sponse to downed lines and
our thanks to the postal
service and the paper deliv-
ery people.
Yes we missed a few
days service, but you got us
caught up as soon as pos-
sible.
The road crews have
been prompt to clear the
roads and especially deal-
mg with all the downed
trees and branches.
We really appreciate the
'esponse of everyone and
their dedication to their
jobs.
Gary and Barbara Nutt
Shelton
Invest your
vote in the
future
Editor, the Journal
In the interest of dis-
closure, I am a retired
educator. My husband is
too if someone who returns
almost daily to classrooms
in North Mason School
Distrct can be considered
retired. Substitute teaching
keeps him involved with,
and inspired by, young peo-
ple, the ones we recognize
as our nation's future.
We reside in the south-
west corner of Kitsap
County, sandwiched be-
tween two school districts
that are bravely running
school levy elections during
an unlikely, almost desper-
ate economic downturn.
Why even try? Why now,
when so many voters would
welcome any opportunity
to lessen their personal tax
burdens? Only having their
backs to the wall, caring
deeply about kids and pro-
grams, when state budget
cuts continue to eviscerate
districts' abilities to provide
even basic education, would
force school administrators
to take this step, that level
of desperation and an en-
during faith in the voters of
their own communities.
I was sickened today as
I drove, around Gig Harbor,
to see a string of"Vote No"
signs, indicating a need
for "reforms" and that too
much is already expended
for each Peninsula School
District student. Most of
us attended public schools,
and have sent our children
maybe even grandchil-
dren through public
schools. For most American
children, public schooling
provides the door to their
economic futures, enhanced
by their own work and mo-
tivation.
How can we adults not
accept the responsibility for
educating the next genera-
tion, for ensuring oppor-
tunities to embrace those
futures? I know little of the
details of the Peninsula
School District levy pro-
posal, but the North Mason
levy is simply a continu-
ation of the current levy,
buying time and education-
al opportunities until the
economy improves. Voting
"no" tells children they are
not important and we are
unwilling to invest in them.
How can we turn our backs
on the coming generation
and still face ourselves in
that mirror in front of us?
Jo Reasons
Port Orchard
Rush to
action
unwise
Editor, the Journal
The letter to the editor
written by Debbie Riley of
the Mason County Public
Health, indicates a rush to
hand over the responsibility
and authority of the county
to the Department of Ecol-
ogy in respect to the final
solution of the Simpson
Timber Co. Dayton Wood
and Ash Landfill. There is
little information given in
the supporting document
that was available before
the commissioners meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 24. Salient
points were not mentioned
and the most egregious con-
cerns were also omitted. I
requested a public hearing
before anything was voted
on and was totally ignored.
The information that was
given states that Ecology
will issue a document after
seven days of submitting
this request from Mason
County Public Health.
why is there such a rush
to have this done? Simpson
has been dumping into this
landfill since 1984. Are a
few more months going to
make such a difference?
The public has the right to
know and comment on what
is happening in this com-
munity. The WAC173-350
has 108 pages. The public
should have the opportuni-
ty to read this information
in order to make informed
comments either pro or con
as to how this should be
handled. There is also the
EPA rules and regulations
to check, as these are some-
times different than what
Ecology uses.
It is true that this
landfill is a mixed bag of
wastes. According to the
last report dated April 15,
2011 there are several high
readings for elements and
compounds. In particular
it states, "Two ash samples
were analyzed for total
RCRA 8 metals. Barium,
cadmium, chromium and
lead were detected in the
samples. Chromium con-
centrations exceeded the
MTCA Method A soil clean
up level for chromium VI.
Yes, this is the same chemi-
cal that Erin Brockovich
sued Pacific Gas and Elec-
tric Co. in Hinckley, Calif.,
for and won the case be-
cause of the cancer caus-
ing effects it has. We also
need the environmental
impact statement that was
required in 1989 for the
permit application.
These are important
reports that need to be
taken seriously. If contami-
nants like these get into
groundwater, it can cost
millions and millions of
dollars to clean up if it can
be cleaned up. It is over an
aquifer with Vance Creek
running through it into
the Skokomish River and
then into Hood Canal. We
would do well by slowing
down the rush to get this
site closed before all the
information is available
and a way to resolve this
problem is planned in a
very careful comprehensive
way to ensure safety for our
groundwater and ensure
the responsibility and cost
for all cleanups is borne by
the contaminator.
Patricia Vandehey
Shelton
Children of
WaShington
state take
a back seat
again
Editor, the Journal
Children of Washington
state take a back seat in
the legislature again. Plas-
tic bags, driving in the rain
with headlights and gay
marriage are much more
important in Olympia. Kids
can't vote, so year after
year the arrogant, self-
centered elected "leaders" of
our state ignore our schools.
Frank Chopp has an iron
grip on every Democrat in
the House. Nothing sees
the light of day without
his blessing. The Senate
is the same. The Gover-
nor gives lip service. She
called a special session of
the legislature, paid them
for doing nothing and still
has no budget solution.
while bloated bureaucra-
cies mushroom and gorge
on tax dollars, children in
our schools receive less and
less. But teachers and prin-
cipals are held accountable
when their schools cannot
meet all the mandates the
State imposes.
The state Supreme Court
ruled the legislature is not
meeting its constitutional
responsibility; Frank Chopp
says they'll "try" to fix that
by 2018. So, what happens
to our children between
now and then? It will take
a decade to rebuild the pro-
grams, libraries, teaching
staff, etc., and in the mean-
time, more kids are robbed
of the one thing that most
parents can't provide with-
out public schools.
This illegal and sense-
less tragedy has occurred
over several terms, but
Gov. Chris Gregoire has
presided over the latest
most egregious attacks on
our schools. Her legacy and
that of her legislative body
of friends will be the dis-
integration of Washington
state public schools. Thanks
Queen Chris, you'll be re-
membered.
Carrie Riplinger
Seabeck
Mason
County
lacks
legislative
clout
Editor, the Journal
I can't help but look with
envy when I see Tacoma
bull d a new bridge, and do
extensive repairs on anoth-
er, and see Seattle building
a very expensive tunnel.
We have one of the highet
gas taxes in the nation, but
can't seem to corral our
share down here in Mason
County.
We have been living with
a killer intersection for
many years (Lynch Road
and U.S. Highway 101).
They need to close it off and
build a connector road down
to the large intersection a
half-mile away, but it never
seems to happen.
We have a road that has
been crumbling into the bay
(State Route 302) just past
Victor for years and the
best we can do is keep pil-
ing blacktop on it and put-
ting up traffic cones.
l get the impression Ma-
son County has no clout in
the legislature. Perhaps new
faces over there are in order.
Don Stacy
Allyn
Help
needed for
transplant
Editor, the Journal
An account has been
opened at Our Community
Credit Union for Bill Morton
and Ramona Brehmeyer.
Bill needs a kidney trans-
plant and Ramona is going
to be his donor. Bill was em-
ployed at Little Creek Casi-
no as a facilities tech and is
the husband of Tami Morton
who works in the cage and
Ramona Brehmeyer works
in TLS. They need help with
expenses as Ramona and
Tami are out of vacation
and sick leave. Tami will be
out of work to take care of
Bill. The families of Bill and
Ramona would very much
appreciate your help.
Donna Wells
Shelton
PAPERBOY
like
Add as many zeros as you
"n the 1970s then-standup come- tin said it was the last number before Here's my evidence: You and I don't
| dian Steve Martin had a bit he infinity. . read emails very thoroughly because
.,L called googlephonics. There is comfort in this for me today they are so prolific and Google makes
Google, as almost no one knows because it is the beginning and the its money by selling advertisers data
today, was originally derived from a near end of the most prolific media so those advertisers can send you more
By TOM mathematical term which was simply company of my lifetime. And it is iron- ' emails. The more emails they send
a really, really big number (a one, fol- ic (and comforting to a paperboy) that (and it may double by the time you put
MULLEN lowed by a hundred zeros). Steve Mar- their name will be their own end. this paper down) the less you pay at-
---it means nothing
tention.
The U.S. Post Office is on the brink
of collapse and the main reason is the
postman carries about half the junk
mail he once did to your mailbox.
Hurray for us when we open our
See Paper Boy on page A-5
lr:: Shelton-Mason County ii
USPS 492-800
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, RO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com
Periodicals postage paid at Slelton. Washington
Sheton-Mason County Journal is a member of
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SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
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$51 per year in state of Washington but outside
Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
Owned and published by
Sheton-Mason County Journal, Inc
Kari Sleight, publisher Advertising:
Jesse MuUen, general mgr. Dave Pierik, St. Acct. Executive
Harvey Morris, ad representative
Newsroom:
Kevan Moore, managing editor Front office:
Aria Shephard, North Mason, Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
environment, reporter Margot Brand, circulation
Natalie Johnson, reporter Cricket Carter, mailroom
Emily Hanson, sports reporter supervisor
Adam Rudnick, copy editor
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, February 2, 2012
Corn posing room:
William Adams, graphics
Koleen Wood, c lassifieds/legals
Becky Corr, typing
Pressroom:
Kelly Riordan, production manager
Travis Miller press operator