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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 12, 2015     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 12, 2015
 
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I~age A-16 - Mason County Journal - Thursday, Feb. 12,2015 By NATALIE JOHNSON natalie@masoncoun com Mason County PUD 1 marked its 80th anniversary providing public power to Ma- son County residents on Hood Canal last week. '~Ne're not a profit-based organization. We don't try to make any money for private stockholders," said PUD 1 Commissioner Ron Gold. "The ratepayers are our stockhold- ers. Everyone benefits by being part of the system." Eight decades after vot- ers approved the creation of a publicly funded power utility, PUD 1 staff, board members and customers celebrated the district's anniversary on Feb. 4. The district plans to have a celebration with its customers this fall in conjunction with the PUD's annual customer appre- ciation event and public power week celebration. PIED l's history began in the late 1920s, when the Washing- ten Grange Association put for- ward an initiative to authorize the creation of public utility districts. Photo courtesy of Mason County PUD I Linemen Don Young, Jim Reeder and Jim Lahey stand next to a Mason County PUD 1 truck in the 1950s. Mason County PUD 1 celebrated its 80th anniversary on Feb. 4. Voters approved the initia-Commissioner Karl Denison. tive in a statewide ballot mea- "Our role as PUDs was to pro- sure in 1930. vide an essential service to ev- "At the time the rural areas eryone." weren't getting served, or if Mason, Benton and Frank- they were getting served it was lin county voters approved bal- really expensive," said PUD 1 lot measures in 1934 to create public utility districts. Mason low, which is a priority for the County PUD 1 officially began PUD commission, Gold said. operations on Feb. 4, 1935, and Those costs come from rising was the first operating PUD in costs for hydropower from the Washington. Bonneville Power Administra- "For me, it's a real honor to tion and fish and habitat ad- serve as the ratepaye~s repre- ministration, he said. sentative to carry out the vision "It's a challenge because hav- of the Grange and the Legisla- ing this public power is a real ture," Denison said. jewel," Gold said. "Twenty-five Morrison Pixley, who settled to 33 cents of every power bill is in Union in 1906 and founded for habitat or fish mitigation." the Hood Canal Telephone Co. Gold, who just began his in 1934, helped create the util- third term as a PUD 1 com- ity district. His son, Clark Mor- missioner, said he understands rison Pixley, was the PUD'show higher power rates affect first manager. PIED 1 customers. PUD 1 acquired the Union "It's a challenge to try to Water Co. in 1945 and now keep the rates down," he said. owns and manages 36 water "I know my rates have doubled systems in Mason County. from when I first became a The district has 23 full-time commissioner to now." employees, three elected corn- In recent years, the PUD has missioners and serves aboutworked to upgrade infrastruc- 7,200 water, wastewater andture and facilities, for example, electric customers, replacing aging power meters. PD-D 1, like other public util- "A lot of the infrastructure ity districts in the state, can of- was built right after World War fer lower rates than privately II and much of that's in need owned utilities because of its of replacing," Denison said. "I access to the federally owned hope we can continue to serve hydropower system, Gold said. our customers in the next 80 Increasing costs make it dif- years as good as we have in the ficult for the PUD to keep rates last 80 years," STAFF REPORT news@masoncoun com The Northwest Lions Foundation Health Screening Unit visited seven Mason County schools Jan. 26 through Jan. 30, providing eyesight and hear- ing tests for more than 2,000 students. Volunteers from the Morningstar Lions Clubs can also test adults for dia- The health screening vanvisitedEv-Lions and Shelton Lions clubs spent betes, vision and hearing levels, blood ergreen Elementary, Mountain View 150 hours working at the screeningpressure and glaucoma. Elementary, Bordeaux Elementary, stations. The Morningstar and Shelton Olympic Middle, Mason County Chris- The screening unit is funded through Lions clubs will again bring the van to tian, Southside and Pioneer Primary Lions Club fundraising activities.Shelton on June 27 to coincide with the schools. Using the Health Screening Unit, Shelton Relay for Life. WINTER up to No matter how cold it is outside, Regency Fireplace Products will bring you all the warmth you need. The high efficient heat of a Regency will keep your heating bills at a through the winter months. Come in today to find out how you ...that we use the finest materials and craftsmanship on all the jobs we do. Or that we've been serving Western Washington for over 55 years. You Know that you've got her covered and that the roof over your heads will give years of trouble free protection from the elements while increasing the value of your home. 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