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At local elementary schools:
Students graduate from DARE Program
Mason County Sheriff Depart- Jaine Huenergard, Alneda Reim-
meat officials handed out nearly
200 DARE (Drug Abuse Resist-
ance Education) certificates last
month to fifth graders from area
schools.
Deputy Sheriff T.R. Rankin
and other officials handed out cer-
tificates to students from Sand
Hill Elementary, Belfair Elemen-
t0ary, and Grapeview Elementary
"oanuary 19-20. .
• DOZens of parents were m at-
tendance to witness their children
graduate from the 17-week DARE
class.
1 "THE DARE PROGRAM
ays the foundation to help build
a quality life by helping encour-
age Our young people to resist
drugs and alcohol, said Deputy
Rankin, who's administered the
Pr'am for the last six years.
Wh ,ason County Sheriff Steve
_^ Ybark offered his views on the
10"year old program. "Before
',a, there wasn't anything go-
,g on. About the closest thing we
had Was a Health and Wellness
..W.e, ek, held at local schools, where
we. d COme and talk about drugs,
a Whybark.
• The Sheriff said that in track-
it the benefits of DARE, he
fe !Is th
1) k- at about 85 percent of
RE graduates keep the pro-
ideology in mind when con-
fr 'ated • • • •
R with a difficult sltuahon.
aakin summarized several
Pqdats that are repeatedly dis-
cSSed during the 17 weeks of
classes. "We talk about peer pres-
ru re. And if you don't say 'No' to
gs and alcohol then there will
COnsequences to pay," he said.
akin teaches kids several ways
to Say 'No' to drug offers.
SELF ESTEEM AND asser-
are also discussed. "rake
d for what you believe, or
will take a stand for
hasized Rankin.
indicate that it costs
$53,000 a year for each
held in area detention
87 DARE graduates from
Elementary include the
lag: Kim Beck, Ashleigh
Amanda Lyon, Melissa
Lauren Rines, Kellie Rod-
Caressa Seymour, Ivan
Logan Dutton, Luke
Hammock, Joshua
els, Larry Reimer, Joshua
Jamie Bradley, Patricia
David Cardwell, Chris-
Durant, Houston Hamil-
Walter, Danial Border,
a Brown, Amanda Coates,
er, Rebecca Spaulding, Nathan
Altman, Hunter Hamilton, Chris-
topher Redfern, and Nicholas
Southerland.
Other Belfair students receiv-
ing DARE certificates were: Ash-
ley Brownlee, Meghan Claycomb,
Kendra Haskell, Kristina Hens-
lee, Victoria Hill, Lyndsay Hovee,
Kassi Jensen, Michelle Katz, Erin
Kaye, Amanda Knapp, Corina
Norman, Danielle Piety, Lauren
Roberts, Shahid Ahmed, Randy
Conger-Best, Jeremiah Donovan,
Alex Grzybinski IV, Cody Hurd,
Mark Jones, Tucker Lahn, Gar-
rett Landram, Jesse Martinez,
Benjamin Merrill, Nathan Mul-
ler, Jeffery Patterson, Aaron Pe-
tersen, Keith Saunders-White,
Orion Tooley, and Daniel Wal-
dron.
And the final wave of Belfair
DARE graduates include: Stepha-
nie Bartell, Katherine Carver,
Carly Davis, Amy Hansen, Susan
Hare, Christine Hoernke, Rachel
Keller, Hayli Kennedy, Toni
Moore, Kaye Newman, Kathryn
Nuttman, Whitney Pearson,
Emme Petcu, Rena Pugh, Whit-
ney Williams, Wesley Brittner,
Tristan Crites, Davis Empolen,
Louie Helm, Richard Hicks, Kev-
in Jong, Kristoffer Kimmel, Brian
Martin, Johnny Perez, Jesse
Pleines, Spencer Russell, Shawn
Sisco, and Jason Veitch.
SAND HILL Elementary fifth
graders receiving DARE certifi-
cates totaled 77. They include:
Alyssa Bagwell, Donnielle Baum-
er, Danielle Beaton, Kevin Black-
well, Jamie Bright, Paul Brooks,
Carlie Butcher, Kimberly Carna-
han, Tyler Casteel, Gina Char-
gualaf, Corey Choffin, Tarrant
Collett, Spencer Cooper, Timothy
Dixon, Melea Douglas, Mystic
Eggiman, Brittany Esselstrom,
Lindsay Fitzmorris, Amanda Fry,
Jovian Fry, Joseph Garcia, Chas-
tine Gasper, Nicole Gay, Gordon
Gibson, William Gilbert, Keiler
Graham, Megan Graham,
Michael Griffith, and Anthony
Hale.
Other Sand Hill DARE gradu-
ates were Mary Heather Harper,
Megan Hart, Charity Holst,
Joshua Huddle, Gary Hull, Lisa
Isbell, Jared Jackson, Ashlee
Jones, Kayla Kehoe, Derek King,
Brian Kirkpatrick, Joseph
Knight, Nathan Knittel, Ashley
LaBreck, Nicholas Lanning, Kris-
si LaRue, Alexander Lincoln,
Joshua Lomax, Zachary McDon-
ald, Lisa McNamara, Blaire
!ii!(i: i li !!!iiii
:iiii!i! :I i i !i ': i
iiii!:!iiiiiil i:il i
:i:ii ?i!ii!ii: , !
GRAPEVIEW FIFTH-GRADER Ariana Wenger is con-
gratulated by Mason County Sheriff's Deputy T.R.
Rankin. Please see additional DARE photos on page 2.
Moore, Zachary Nall, Jimmie
Nichols, Dawn Norcross, Nicholas
Olsen, Tisa Paquette, and Bran-
don Pittard.
DARE recipients from Sand
Hill also include: Christopher
Pitts, Rosa Rabinovitz, Shaughn
Ringland, Jessica Roll, Anthony
Rooks, Clarissa Sackett, Angela
Schauer-Marrooco, Christopher
Schmitt, Kenneth Simon, John
Siniscalchi, Joshua Socha, Kate-
lin Stephenson, William Stephen-
son, Ethian Strickland, Trisha
Thaves, Michael Veach, Joshua
Warren, Rick Wettig, Megan
Withers, Katie Woodland, and
Marty Wright
Grapeview Elementary saw 13
fifth graders graduate from the
DARE program. They include
Casey Walton, Marissa Goodell,
Lacey Ruddy, Kevin Wyble, Jacob
Ritter, Andrew Stevens, Michaela
Ressler, Karl Leitz, Jacob Wis-
niewski, Tracey Eldridge, Amy
Sumpter, Ariana Wenger, and
Micaila Maesner.
20 years:
I00erttula bids school district farewell
20 years of driving chil-
and from school, Mike
has retired.
quite the send-off he had.
at the North Mason
District bus garage threw
party mid-morning on
January 28, inbe-
routes. There were 30-
present, that number
as drivers came back
morning tasks.
cake read "Hallelujah!
But Mike's wife
said, "He's not retiring,
aging occupations. And I
list of things to keep
ded!"
expressed his respect for
s co-workers and stu-
20 years of driving, he
of kids and these
are the best. "The
Ve had the last three years
.a superb," he said. His
said, includes the
Collins, Tee, Haven,
and Christine.
say enough for Willa
for of Transpor-
and Annie (Bell, Dis-
The 've
y been superior
them over the years."
er, addressing the as-
group he said, "Tom,
great mechanic you've
Tom Culliton, the Shop
addition to driving bus,
ras a time when he moni-
lunch room, back when
school and high
were together.
problems would come
with him after lunch,
he had time to listen
cleaned off tables.
s also conducted driver
Over the years, and as
got into a party mood,
some teasing state-
g around. "You took
me out to drive that stick bus, and
I was crying," said one driver.
Another could top that with,
"When he trained me, I was cry-
ing, and he was crying, too!" The
group howled with laughter• "He
told me, 'Get tough, get mean, get
ornery!'" said a third.
They reminisced and shared
inside stories with the group, they
laughed, they choked up from
time to time, and they even used
the words, "I love you, Mike."
Alice Stites, a driver for 21
years, said, "It's been 20 years of
fun with him. We smile, have
fun, and joke... I couldn't have
done it without Mike and his
joy."
The room was decorated with
all manner of school bus toys,
there were cards, both the store
bought ones and the pencil and
crayon ones. A license plate
holder read, "Retirement - Mi-
key likes it!" Balloons, gifts and
food fought with the gathering
crowd for space in the break
room of the school district's bus
garage.
Mike would go home with his
autographed shirt, to be treasured
along with the "World's Best Bus
Driver" shirt he received from
some of his children for Christ-
mas. He also received flowers,
gifts and a gift certificate from
his fellow drivers. The children
gave him smiles, tears and hugs
that morning, he said.
Serving Belfair - Allyn - Grapeview - Tahuya - Mason Lake - South Shore - Victor
Thursday, February 4, 1999
Section of the Shelton-Mason County Journal
Daroff a.t,pointed pastor
at BelIalr Baptist Church
By LINDA THOMSON
Pastor David Daroff came to
the Belfair Community Baptist
Church in September 1998, as the
Associate Pastor. However, when
Reverend Roland Shanks was
called to pastor a church in Camp
Hill, Pennsylvania, Daroff began
filling the role of senior pastor.
Pastor Daroff is quick to point
out that he did not kick Shanks
out, nor did Shanks actively seek
to leave the North Mason church.
The opportunity came, and he
acted upon it..
The church held a special vote
on Sunday, January 31, as a "vote
of confidence" to officially call
Daroff as senior pastor here.
DAROFF AND HIS wife Pa-
mela have a son Jamie, who is 12,
and a daughter Katie, who is 9
years old. Both children attend
Grapeview Elementary, and the
family is very happy with the
school there. Daroff also appreci-
ates the friendliness of his neigh-
bors in Grapeview.
They moved here from Mary-
land where he had served as an
associate pastor, and she had
been an international analyst for
a defense contractor.
Daroff was born in Hollywood,
California, spent much of his
childhood in Juneau, Alaska, then
went to high school in E1 Segun-
do, California.
He was in high school when he
"couldn't ignore the call of God"
into the ministry, Daroff said.
That was followed by college and
seminary training in California.
He has done short-term mis-
sion work, held secular jobs deal-
ing with microfilm and play-
ground equipment, and then done
full-time ministry since graduat-
ing from the American Baptist
Seminary of the West at Berke-
ley, California in 1992.
SINCE SERVING AN in-
ternship at an Olympia church
while a seminary student on sum-
mer break, Daroff has had desires
of moving to this area. "I love the
Pacific Northwest," he said.
As for the pastor's goals fbr
Belfair Baptist, he said, "The
church has been very warm and
receptive. We are hoping and
praying that we can develop more
small groups, and also work on
discipleship."
He sees the success of the
church revolving around all mem-
bers doing ministry, not merely
the pastor doing such acts. Small
groups can give opportunity for
leadership to thcilitate this, Dar-
()ft' said.
He stated that the church will
be participating in a 50-Day Spir-
itual Adventure, which is a na-
tional program. The adventure
topic for this year is "Promises
Worth Keeping," and will begin
Sunday, February 14, going
through Easter Sunday.
DAROFF JOINS HIS neigh-
bors in being frustrated by the de-
tour between Allyn and Belfhir.
Ills wife stated that it cost them a
tire, not just a flat, but a de-
stroyed tire!
How does a man of the cloth re-
act? "God doesn't protect us fi'om
irritations. I actually expect to
have more of them, because I
have multiple opportunities to of:
fend people (although not
purposely!)." He went on to ex-
press thankfulness for having a
car to get a fiat. "We all must deal
with these things because they
happen to everybody. It is part of
Pastor David Daroff
lit(i," he stated.
The 41-year oht and his family
came here from northeast Mary-
land. One thrust of his ministry
already has been trying to "close
the back door to the church," he
said. By way of explanation, he
said he wants to make people feel
a part of church lit'e, and make
them comfi)rtable enough to stay.
Each one, he repeated, "should
become an active part of serving
through the church."
DAROFF HAS BEEN en- .
couraged by the local ministerial
association, and appreciates the
cooperation among denomina-
tions here. "I believe we're not
competitors," he remarked.
The pastor enjoys fishing, play-
ing the guitar, backpacking, and
travel.
North Mason levy passing
It was Tuesday, February 2, Groundhog Day
and Levy Election Day. Somewhere a groundhog
may have been frightened by its own shadow,
but North Mason Schools Superintendent Dr.
Marie Pickel was seeing bright sunshine ahead.
"Unless an extraordinary number of absentee
ballots were returned, and they were all
negative," Pickel said, "it appears that the levy
has passed. That will provide us with funding
stability for the next four years." The final count
will be conducted on Wednesday, February 10.
The tally on election night was 1,581 "yes" and
1,005 "no," or 61.1 percent in favor. A 60 percent
super-majority is required for passage. The four-
year maintenance-and-operations levy will pro-
vide $2.3 million per year to the district.
"I am really thrilled," Pickel acknowledged
outside the courthouse Tuesday night.
Tim Wing, chairman of the citizens' levy com-
mittee added, "I'm delighted! Now our educators
can focus for four years on educating our kids in-
stead of on counting ballots."
Former l'esidentjoins
Willa Werner said, "Mike is
so dependable. I'd count on him Air Force Thunderbirds
walking through that door at 20
after five every morning..."
And then she was unable to
speak, caught up in emotion.
After more visiting, laughing
and eating, the party was over,
and drivers were back on their
routes. Mike will be taking and
leaving some fond memories
from his 20 years with NMSD.
MIKE KERTTULA drove a school bus for North Mason School Dis-
trict for 20 years. He retired last week.
By LINDA THOMSON
Senior Airman Ted V. Byer-
ly, formerly of Belfair, has re-
cently been named an Aerospace
Ground Equipment (AGE) me-
chanic for the Air Force Thun-
derbirds team.
Byerly, a four-year veteran,
has been stationed at McChord
Air Force Base in Tacoma since
1995. He and his wife will be
moving this month to Nevada's
Nellis Air Force Base, the home
of "America's Ambassadors in
Blue." This is a four-year tour,
and something Byerly says, "I
always wanted to do."
Byerly graduated 4th in his
class in 1990 from North Mason
High School, having served as
student body president and editor
for the school newspaper. Fol-
lowing graduation he coached
the school soccer team until en-
listing in the Air Force. His par-
ents are Cheryl Nute and the late
Jerry Byerly.
BYERLY WAS NAMED air-
man of the quarter for McChord
for the first part of 1998. There
are about 10,000 airmen serving
on the base, he said.
The airman has had several
interesting experiences with the
Air Force. From July through
December, 1996, he was in Italy
in support of the American troops
in Bosnia.
In November, 1997, he was part
of the ground crew for Air Force
One, the plane used by President
Airman Ted Byerly
Clinton. The President was in
Vancouver, B.C., for the Asian
Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) along with heads of state
from several Pacific Rim na-
tions, according to Byerly.
Taking care of the president's
plane is the most prestigious job
in the air force, with the second
being part of the Thunderbirds,
said the airman. He will not be
looking to become a pilot, but to
spend his four years as their sup-
port crew on the ground, he said.
HIS WIFE REBECCA is the
daughter of Harry and Stephanie
Fredrickson, who live on the Old
Belfair Highway. She is a ballet
student who looks forward to
continuing her studies in Neva-
da.
The airman has been a stu-
dent at Pierce College, having
just completed requirements to
earn his Associate's degree in
arts and sciences. Meanwhile,
he said, he has also earned a de-
gree in aerospace technology
through the Air Force.
Techical Sargeant Jon
Krause, 62nd AGE Flight pro-
duction control superintendent
said, "Senior Airman Byerly is
one of the most dedicated people
you will ever find. He will rep-
resent the Air Force and the
Thunderbirds very well."
The team flies 50 weeks out of
the year, so the Air Force actual-
ly required Byerly's wife to write
a letter acknowledging the hard-
ship of frequent temporary du-
ties. Byerly will probably be in-
volved in about 21 of the shows,
on a rotation basis.
BESIDES BEING AN AGE
mechanic, he will also be mov-
ing the jets, loading and palle-
tizing cargo, and filling the jets
with oil for their smoke.
He intends to continue on with
his career in the Air Force, and
hopes to serve in Europe after his
tour with the Thunderbirds.
At local elementary schools:
Students graduate from DARE Program
Mason County Sheriff Depart- Jaine Huenergard, Alneda Reim-
meat officials handed out nearly
200 DARE (Drug Abuse Resist-
ance Education) certificates last
month to fifth graders from area
schools.
Deputy Sheriff T.R. Rankin
and other officials handed out cer-
tificates to students from Sand
Hill Elementary, Belfair Elemen-
t0ary, and Grapeview Elementary
"oanuary 19-20. .
• DOZens of parents were m at-
tendance to witness their children
graduate from the 17-week DARE
class.
1 "THE DARE PROGRAM
ays the foundation to help build
a quality life by helping encour-
age Our young people to resist
drugs and alcohol, said Deputy
Rankin, who's administered the
Pr'am for the last six years.
Wh ,ason County Sheriff Steve
_^ Ybark offered his views on the
10"year old program. "Before
',a, there wasn't anything go-
,g on. About the closest thing we
had Was a Health and Wellness
..W.e, ek, held at local schools, where
we. d COme and talk about drugs,
a Whybark.
• The Sheriff said that in track-
it the benefits of DARE, he
fe !Is th
1) k- at about 85 percent of
RE graduates keep the pro-
ideology in mind when con-
fr 'ated • • • •
R with a difficult sltuahon.
aakin summarized several
Pqdats that are repeatedly dis-
cSSed during the 17 weeks of
classes. "We talk about peer pres-
ru re. And if you don't say 'No' to
gs and alcohol then there will
COnsequences to pay," he said.
akin teaches kids several ways
to Say 'No' to drug offers.
SELF ESTEEM AND asser-
are also discussed. "rake
d for what you believe, or
will take a stand for
hasized Rankin.
indicate that it costs
$53,000 a year for each
held in area detention
87 DARE graduates from
Elementary include the
lag: Kim Beck, Ashleigh
Amanda Lyon, Melissa
Lauren Rines, Kellie Rod-
Caressa Seymour, Ivan
Logan Dutton, Luke
Hammock, Joshua
els, Larry Reimer, Joshua
Jamie Bradley, Patricia
David Cardwell, Chris-
Durant, Houston Hamil-
Walter, Danial Border,
a Brown, Amanda Coates,
er, Rebecca Spaulding, Nathan
Altman, Hunter Hamilton, Chris-
topher Redfern, and Nicholas
Southerland.
Other Belfair students receiv-
ing DARE certificates were: Ash-
ley Brownlee, Meghan Claycomb,
Kendra Haskell, Kristina Hens-
lee, Victoria Hill, Lyndsay Hovee,
Kassi Jensen, Michelle Katz, Erin
Kaye, Amanda Knapp, Corina
Norman, Danielle Piety, Lauren
Roberts, Shahid Ahmed, Randy
Conger-Best, Jeremiah Donovan,
Alex Grzybinski IV, Cody Hurd,
Mark Jones, Tucker Lahn, Gar-
rett Landram, Jesse Martinez,
Benjamin Merrill, Nathan Mul-
ler, Jeffery Patterson, Aaron Pe-
tersen, Keith Saunders-White,
Orion Tooley, and Daniel Wal-
dron.
And the final wave of Belfair
DARE graduates include: Stepha-
nie Bartell, Katherine Carver,
Carly Davis, Amy Hansen, Susan
Hare, Christine Hoernke, Rachel
Keller, Hayli Kennedy, Toni
Moore, Kaye Newman, Kathryn
Nuttman, Whitney Pearson,
Emme Petcu, Rena Pugh, Whit-
ney Williams, Wesley Brittner,
Tristan Crites, Davis Empolen,
Louie Helm, Richard Hicks, Kev-
in Jong, Kristoffer Kimmel, Brian
Martin, Johnny Perez, Jesse
Pleines, Spencer Russell, Shawn
Sisco, and Jason Veitch.
SAND HILL Elementary fifth
graders receiving DARE certifi-
cates totaled 77. They include:
Alyssa Bagwell, Donnielle Baum-
er, Danielle Beaton, Kevin Black-
well, Jamie Bright, Paul Brooks,
Carlie Butcher, Kimberly Carna-
han, Tyler Casteel, Gina Char-
gualaf, Corey Choffin, Tarrant
Collett, Spencer Cooper, Timothy
Dixon, Melea Douglas, Mystic
Eggiman, Brittany Esselstrom,
Lindsay Fitzmorris, Amanda Fry,
Jovian Fry, Joseph Garcia, Chas-
tine Gasper, Nicole Gay, Gordon
Gibson, William Gilbert, Keiler
Graham, Megan Graham,
Michael Griffith, and Anthony
Hale.
Other Sand Hill DARE gradu-
ates were Mary Heather Harper,
Megan Hart, Charity Holst,
Joshua Huddle, Gary Hull, Lisa
Isbell, Jared Jackson, Ashlee
Jones, Kayla Kehoe, Derek King,
Brian Kirkpatrick, Joseph
Knight, Nathan Knittel, Ashley
LaBreck, Nicholas Lanning, Kris-
si LaRue, Alexander Lincoln,
Joshua Lomax, Zachary McDon-
ald, Lisa McNamara, Blaire
!ii!(i: i li !!!iiii
:iiii!i! :I i i !i ': i
iiii!:!iiiiiil i:il i
:i:ii ?i!ii!ii: , !
GRAPEVIEW FIFTH-GRADER Ariana Wenger is con-
gratulated by Mason County Sheriff's Deputy T.R.
Rankin. Please see additional DARE photos on page 2.
Moore, Zachary Nall, Jimmie
Nichols, Dawn Norcross, Nicholas
Olsen, Tisa Paquette, and Bran-
don Pittard.
DARE recipients from Sand
Hill also include: Christopher
Pitts, Rosa Rabinovitz, Shaughn
Ringland, Jessica Roll, Anthony
Rooks, Clarissa Sackett, Angela
Schauer-Marrooco, Christopher
Schmitt, Kenneth Simon, John
Siniscalchi, Joshua Socha, Kate-
lin Stephenson, William Stephen-
son, Ethian Strickland, Trisha
Thaves, Michael Veach, Joshua
Warren, Rick Wettig, Megan
Withers, Katie Woodland, and
Marty Wright
Grapeview Elementary saw 13
fifth graders graduate from the
DARE program. They include
Casey Walton, Marissa Goodell,
Lacey Ruddy, Kevin Wyble, Jacob
Ritter, Andrew Stevens, Michaela
Ressler, Karl Leitz, Jacob Wis-
niewski, Tracey Eldridge, Amy
Sumpter, Ariana Wenger, and
Micaila Maesner.
20 years:
I00erttula bids school district farewell
20 years of driving chil-
and from school, Mike
has retired.
quite the send-off he had.
at the North Mason
District bus garage threw
party mid-morning on
January 28, inbe-
routes. There were 30-
present, that number
as drivers came back
morning tasks.
cake read "Hallelujah!
But Mike's wife
said, "He's not retiring,
aging occupations. And I
list of things to keep
ded!"
expressed his respect for
s co-workers and stu-
20 years of driving, he
of kids and these
are the best. "The
Ve had the last three years
.a superb," he said. His
said, includes the
Collins, Tee, Haven,
and Christine.
say enough for Willa
for of Transpor-
and Annie (Bell, Dis-
The 've
y been superior
them over the years."
er, addressing the as-
group he said, "Tom,
great mechanic you've
Tom Culliton, the Shop
addition to driving bus,
ras a time when he moni-
lunch room, back when
school and high
were together.
problems would come
with him after lunch,
he had time to listen
cleaned off tables.
s also conducted driver
Over the years, and as
got into a party mood,
some teasing state-
g around. "You took
me out to drive that stick bus, and
I was crying," said one driver.
Another could top that with,
"When he trained me, I was cry-
ing, and he was crying, too!" The
group howled with laughter• "He
told me, 'Get tough, get mean, get
ornery!'" said a third.
They reminisced and shared
inside stories with the group, they
laughed, they choked up from
time to time, and they even used
the words, "I love you, Mike."
Alice Stites, a driver for 21
years, said, "It's been 20 years of
fun with him. We smile, have
fun, and joke... I couldn't have
done it without Mike and his
joy."
The room was decorated with
all manner of school bus toys,
there were cards, both the store
bought ones and the pencil and
crayon ones. A license plate
holder read, "Retirement - Mi-
key likes it!" Balloons, gifts and
food fought with the gathering
crowd for space in the break
room of the school district's bus
garage.
Mike would go home with his
autographed shirt, to be treasured
along with the "World's Best Bus
Driver" shirt he received from
some of his children for Christ-
mas. He also received flowers,
gifts and a gift certificate from
his fellow drivers. The children
gave him smiles, tears and hugs
that morning, he said.
Serving Belfair - Allyn - Grapeview - Tahuya - Mason Lake - South Shore - Victor
Thursday, February 4, 1999
Section of the Shelton-Mason County Journal
Daroff a.t,pointed pastor
at BelIalr Baptist Church
By LINDA THOMSON
Pastor David Daroff came to
the Belfair Community Baptist
Church in September 1998, as the
Associate Pastor. However, when
Reverend Roland Shanks was
called to pastor a church in Camp
Hill, Pennsylvania, Daroff began
filling the role of senior pastor.
Pastor Daroff is quick to point
out that he did not kick Shanks
out, nor did Shanks actively seek
to leave the North Mason church.
The opportunity came, and he
acted upon it..
The church held a special vote
on Sunday, January 31, as a "vote
of confidence" to officially call
Daroff as senior pastor here.
DAROFF AND HIS wife Pa-
mela have a son Jamie, who is 12,
and a daughter Katie, who is 9
years old. Both children attend
Grapeview Elementary, and the
family is very happy with the
school there. Daroff also appreci-
ates the friendliness of his neigh-
bors in Grapeview.
They moved here from Mary-
land where he had served as an
associate pastor, and she had
been an international analyst for
a defense contractor.
Daroff was born in Hollywood,
California, spent much of his
childhood in Juneau, Alaska, then
went to high school in E1 Segun-
do, California.
He was in high school when he
"couldn't ignore the call of God"
into the ministry, Daroff said.
That was followed by college and
seminary training in California.
He has done short-term mis-
sion work, held secular jobs deal-
ing with microfilm and play-
ground equipment, and then done
full-time ministry since graduat-
ing from the American Baptist
Seminary of the West at Berke-
ley, California in 1992.
SINCE SERVING AN in-
ternship at an Olympia church
while a seminary student on sum-
mer break, Daroff has had desires
of moving to this area. "I love the
Pacific Northwest," he said.
As for the pastor's goals fbr
Belfair Baptist, he said, "The
church has been very warm and
receptive. We are hoping and
praying that we can develop more
small groups, and also work on
discipleship."
He sees the success of the
church revolving around all mem-
bers doing ministry, not merely
the pastor doing such acts. Small
groups can give opportunity for
leadership to thcilitate this, Dar-
()ft' said.
He stated that the church will
be participating in a 50-Day Spir-
itual Adventure, which is a na-
tional program. The adventure
topic for this year is "Promises
Worth Keeping," and will begin
Sunday, February 14, going
through Easter Sunday.
DAROFF JOINS HIS neigh-
bors in being frustrated by the de-
tour between Allyn and Belfhir.
Ills wife stated that it cost them a
tire, not just a flat, but a de-
stroyed tire!
How does a man of the cloth re-
act? "God doesn't protect us fi'om
irritations. I actually expect to
have more of them, because I
have multiple opportunities to of:
fend people (although not
purposely!)." He went on to ex-
press thankfulness for having a
car to get a fiat. "We all must deal
with these things because they
happen to everybody. It is part of
Pastor David Daroff
lit(i," he stated.
The 41-year oht and his family
came here from northeast Mary-
land. One thrust of his ministry
already has been trying to "close
the back door to the church," he
said. By way of explanation, he
said he wants to make people feel
a part of church lit'e, and make
them comfi)rtable enough to stay.
Each one, he repeated, "should
become an active part of serving
through the church."
DAROFF HAS BEEN en- .
couraged by the local ministerial
association, and appreciates the
cooperation among denomina-
tions here. "I believe we're not
competitors," he remarked.
The pastor enjoys fishing, play-
ing the guitar, backpacking, and
travel.
North Mason levy passing
It was Tuesday, February 2, Groundhog Day
and Levy Election Day. Somewhere a groundhog
may have been frightened by its own shadow,
but North Mason Schools Superintendent Dr.
Marie Pickel was seeing bright sunshine ahead.
"Unless an extraordinary number of absentee
ballots were returned, and they were all
negative," Pickel said, "it appears that the levy
has passed. That will provide us with funding
stability for the next four years." The final count
will be conducted on Wednesday, February 10.
The tally on election night was 1,581 "yes" and
1,005 "no," or 61.1 percent in favor. A 60 percent
super-majority is required for passage. The four-
year maintenance-and-operations levy will pro-
vide $2.3 million per year to the district.
"I am really thrilled," Pickel acknowledged
outside the courthouse Tuesday night.
Tim Wing, chairman of the citizens' levy com-
mittee added, "I'm delighted! Now our educators
can focus for four years on educating our kids in-
stead of on counting ballots."
Former l'esidentjoins
Willa Werner said, "Mike is
so dependable. I'd count on him Air Force Thunderbirds
walking through that door at 20
after five every morning..."
And then she was unable to
speak, caught up in emotion.
After more visiting, laughing
and eating, the party was over,
and drivers were back on their
routes. Mike will be taking and
leaving some fond memories
from his 20 years with NMSD.
MIKE KERTTULA drove a school bus for North Mason School Dis-
trict for 20 years. He retired last week.
By LINDA THOMSON
Senior Airman Ted V. Byer-
ly, formerly of Belfair, has re-
cently been named an Aerospace
Ground Equipment (AGE) me-
chanic for the Air Force Thun-
derbirds team.
Byerly, a four-year veteran,
has been stationed at McChord
Air Force Base in Tacoma since
1995. He and his wife will be
moving this month to Nevada's
Nellis Air Force Base, the home
of "America's Ambassadors in
Blue." This is a four-year tour,
and something Byerly says, "I
always wanted to do."
Byerly graduated 4th in his
class in 1990 from North Mason
High School, having served as
student body president and editor
for the school newspaper. Fol-
lowing graduation he coached
the school soccer team until en-
listing in the Air Force. His par-
ents are Cheryl Nute and the late
Jerry Byerly.
BYERLY WAS NAMED air-
man of the quarter for McChord
for the first part of 1998. There
are about 10,000 airmen serving
on the base, he said.
The airman has had several
interesting experiences with the
Air Force. From July through
December, 1996, he was in Italy
in support of the American troops
in Bosnia.
In November, 1997, he was part
of the ground crew for Air Force
One, the plane used by President
Airman Ted Byerly
Clinton. The President was in
Vancouver, B.C., for the Asian
Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) along with heads of state
from several Pacific Rim na-
tions, according to Byerly.
Taking care of the president's
plane is the most prestigious job
in the air force, with the second
being part of the Thunderbirds,
said the airman. He will not be
looking to become a pilot, but to
spend his four years as their sup-
port crew on the ground, he said.
HIS WIFE REBECCA is the
daughter of Harry and Stephanie
Fredrickson, who live on the Old
Belfair Highway. She is a ballet
student who looks forward to
continuing her studies in Neva-
da.
The airman has been a stu-
dent at Pierce College, having
just completed requirements to
earn his Associate's degree in
arts and sciences. Meanwhile,
he said, he has also earned a de-
gree in aerospace technology
through the Air Force.
Techical Sargeant Jon
Krause, 62nd AGE Flight pro-
duction control superintendent
said, "Senior Airman Byerly is
one of the most dedicated people
you will ever find. He will rep-
resent the Air Force and the
Thunderbirds very well."
The team flies 50 weeks out of
the year, so the Air Force actual-
ly required Byerly's wife to write
a letter acknowledging the hard-
ship of frequent temporary du-
ties. Byerly will probably be in-
volved in about 21 of the shows,
on a rotation basis.
BESIDES BEING AN AGE
mechanic, he will also be mov-
ing the jets, loading and palle-
tizing cargo, and filling the jets
with oil for their smoke.
He intends to continue on with
his career in the Air Force, and
hopes to serve in Europe after his
tour with the Thunderbirds.