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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 15, 2024     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 15, 2024
 
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Page 4 Shelton-Mason County Journal — Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 Let’s remember people how many people in the United States have died of COVID. Their ans swers are generally way low —- before I checked the stat, my answer was way low, too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention, 1,176,639 people died of COVID in the United States from January 2020 to February 2024. More than 1 million Amer— icans dead. Imagine. That’s almost double the deaths from the Civil War. “So, again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done,” the eventually twice impeached and twice not con‘ victed president said Feb. 28, 2020. We’re now in the fourth year of this plague, although now it’s less plague and more plagueelite. Let’s revisit the early days of COVID with some bits from columns I’ve written. Perhaps they’ll stir some unfond memories: I From the first column I wrote on the plague, pub- lished in the Journal on Feb. 20, 2020: “Now we consider I’ve lately been asking THESE . TIMES the threat of the virus that causes COVID-IQ, which has spread from eastern China So, where should you put this virus on your risk list? Me, I’m ranking it low, but with an option to revisit. It wouldn’t hurt to have a mask ready, though ...” I March 5, 2020: “This microscopic, single strand of genetic material has not only infected the U .S. stock mar- ket, it’s made people blame their middle—0fthe-night nausea on the coronavirus, not the Sriracha sauce they shouldn’t have eaten. It’s caused global supply break— downs and anxieties about that single bead of sweat ailing your hairline. And to think: This virus is just a few months old and we have zero idea how old it will get I March 19, 2020: “I now own 25 rolls of toilet paper. When people feel a lack of control in the face of a threat, they want toilet pa~ per. Who knew? ...” I April 9, 2020: “I’m in favor of allowing people to go to church services — as long as they can’t leave until the pandemic ends If some church-goers want to spread the virus among themselves, God bless ’em. However, their right to worship in a crowd shouldn’t trump other people’s right to not have their lungs turn to cement I July 9, 2020: “A couple of weeks ago at an anti—mask rally in downtown Shelton that drew 25 people, Shel“ ton~Mason County Journal reporter Gordon Weeks had a conversation with a dem- onstrator. Gordon asked her why she doesn’t wear a mask. ‘This is based on fear and false statistics,’ she ex- plained. For instance, ‘on the side of the mask box it says, ‘Not to be used for COV- ID'19.’ So why are we wear- ing them?’ Gordon followed up: ‘Where did you, get that information?’ ‘I saw it on my phone,’ the anti-masker said. She waved her phone in front of Gordon’s face w just in Gordon didn’t fully up— preciate the credibility of her source.” I March 25, 2021: I vol— unteered at drive-thru vac- cination event: “I was in a room with a handful of county health workers and a United Way employee, all of whom were ensuring that vaccine was able to flow into people’s arms without inter— ruption Their purpose and the purpose of the scores of other volunteers and health care workers that day was authentic and infectious, like a certain virus this vacci— nation operation, from check~ ing appointments and eligi~ bility, routing traffic, loading syringes with 0.3 milliliters of the Pfizer vaccine, delivers ing the syringes to injectors, ensuring volunteers are fed, was about being organized, deliberate and aware of your surroundings.” I June 17, 2021: “I’ve been thinking about Bill Gates inserting a tracking microchip into each dose of COVID vaccine. I see proir lems with this theory, but the plague, shall we? I’m most stuck on how the person preparing each dose m which requires putting the tip of a needle into a vial to withdraw 0.3 milliliters ofse- rum —- could ensure only one microchip of the five or six in the vaccine vial would make it inside the uptake. And how would the microchip be powered inside the body? By batteries tinier than a micro— chip? By solar flares?” I Sept. 2, 2021: “ ‘Do you have any ivermectin?’ I asked the teenage clerk at Kiperts Korner Feed as she rang me up. I paid $4.99 for a packet of trail mix. ‘Yes,’ she replied. She spoke in a tone as flat as a paving stone. She lowered her chin and looked at me through the tops of her eye sockets ‘Have you been selling a lot of ivermectin lately?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ she said, flat. ‘Have you sold some today?’ ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Do you sell it to anybody who wants to buy it?’ ‘Yes,’ she said, this time with a sigh. ‘It sure is weird what’s going on,’ I said. ‘Do you want your receipt?’ She asked ...” I Kirk Ericson at kirkG‘v masoncounty.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A message to a candidate Editor, the Journal, My response to Richard Beckman’s announcement that he is running for the District 2 commissioner seat. First, Kevin Shutty has been present at many of our Mason County Fire District 12 meetings and Matlock community meetings. As one of the leaders of our community, I invite you to attend the next community meeting. I am not sure that Kevin did eveiything that he could do, hilt he did more than most of the elected officials. Thank you, Kevin, for giving the Matlock community your support. Richard, if you do not know about the situation at MCFD 12, I suggest you get up to speed quickly. It is not a dif- ficult task; you only need to visit our website matlockcommunitycom. There you can spend a few hours looking into what some voters in the Matlock com— munity have uncovered about the mis— appropriation and possible outright SHELTON—MASON COUNTY USPS 492~800 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton—Mason County Journal, PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by the Shelton—Mason, County Journal 31227 W. Cola St, Shelton, Washington. Mailing address: PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone: 360—426x44‘l2 Website: www.masoncountycom Periodicals postage paid in Shelton, Washington, theft of hundreds of thousands of tax— payer dollars. This fraud is at the hands of mostly one family dynasty and a few other incompetent dipsticks. I’ve been told I have a loud voice on the west end of the county. Maybe, maybe not, but my signs on the hill out— side of Dayton do raise awareness to taxpayer dollars being flushed down a family dynasty toilet. Richard, if you want my vote and hundreds of voters behind me, you will look to do as much or more than Kew'n Shutty did for the Matlock com— munity. I hope you become informed on the ongoing theft and fraud occur— ring at MCFD No. 12. You say you sup- port “equal respect” between residents and government. At MCFD N0. 12, in M atlock, there is no “equal respect” be— tween residents and government. The suspected perpetrators are in charge of the fire department. All other levels of government are saying it’s not “our jurisdiction.” Dave Pcrscll M allock Owned and published by Shelton—Mason County Journal, Inc. The Journal is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publish— ers Association. Publisher: John Lester Please support West Mason Fire Editor, the Journal, As we all know, Mason County Fire District 12 has been under investiga— tion for fraud. Unfortunately, the fire district to the east of Matlock has suf— fered greatly from this mistake. West Mason Fire, formerly District 16, is an all—volunteer fire department serving the citizens of Dayton, Shelton Val— ley, part of Union and the Skokomish Valley. They have been confused with Matlock several times and have been unable to gain support for their last two levy measures since the neighbor- ing agencies’ fraud was discovered. I ask for your support to right this ' wrong and consider voting in the up- coming levy‘to be run by West Mason Fire in April. As you know, the fire de— partment is essential to our commu— nity, providing vital services that keep us safe and protected. Even if you have never called 911, your neighbors and family benefit significantly from a Front office: Advertising: Theresa Murray, Ad Representative Delivery: Jon Garza Newsroom: David Olson SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $82 per year ($55 for six months) for Mason County addresses and $105 per year ($70 for six months) outside of Mason County. Single issue price $2.00 Justin Johnson, Editor Gordon Weeks, Reporter June Williams, Reporter Kirk Ericsoh, Columnlsl/ Proofreader Shawna Whelan, Photographer Niel Challstrom ' Design: Kim Fowler, Graphics Design Linda Frizzell, Special Projects well—funded fire department. The reality is that West Mason Fire is facing budgetary constrictions with— out an EMS levy to support staffing . and equipment maintenance. Without this funding, we risk losing essential services and putting our community at risk. The department is asking for an initial EMS levy of $.50 per $1,000 assessed value of your property. To make this easier, for a property as— sessed at $400,000, you would pay an additional $16.67 per month or $0.56 per day for full~time EMS response coverage. I understand that no one likes to pay more taxes, but the cost of not siipporting this levy would be far greater. A small investment in this fire department will pay dividends in improved safety and peace of mind for years to come. Thank you for your support. Sam Glover Shelton see LETTERS, page _________________________________________———————-———————————--— Dave Pierik, Office Administrator Karen Hranac, Customer Service All regular editorial, advertising and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. To submit a letter to the editor, email edil0r@masoncounty.com. Office hours: 8 am. to 5 pm. Monday to Thursday, Closed Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays.