February 16, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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veterans
n games
By ARLA SHEPHARD
Vietnam War era veter-
an Dutch Van Elk has seen
what it's like for soldiers to
return home from combat
feeling unappreciated by
their fellow countrymen.
"Not only was there no
support, there was an-
tagonism and physical as-
saults,"said Van Elk, a Na-
tional Guard veteran who
served from 1956-1968 and
again from 1991-2001. "We
have it in our hearts to not
let that happen again."
Van Elk, who lives in Ta-
huya, is the leader of a new
• nonprofit with" local ties --
the Troop Support Brigade,
which includes veterans liv-
ing in North Mason, Kent
and Auburn.
The brigade is hosting
its first event this weekend
-- a family-friendly games
night at 7 p.m. on Saturday,
Feb. 18, at Allen's Billiards
in Belfair.
The purpose of the night
is for organizers to meet
with veterans coming back
from Iraq and Afghanistan,
who may be in need Of a fun
distraction, Van Elk said.
"It comes down to post-
traumatic stress," he said.
Journal photo by Ada Shephard
U.S. Marine veteran Harry Tachell, left, and
National Guard veteran Dutch Van Elk are
among the organizers of a new nonprofit
dedicated to supporting troops that have
recently returned from combat.
"We were looking for a fun -- is that anybody can join
thing for the troops to do to the brigade.
get their mind off things." "The idea is that anybody
Van Elk has led off-road that wants to assist in being
motorcycle rides for voter- supportive of these troops
ans in the Tahuya State can," said Harry Tachell, an
Forest for the past three American Legion Post 200
years and said he wanted to member and certified ser-
form a group that could do vice officer with the Voter-
more for veterans, ans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The difference between "Doing it this way, anybody
the Troop Support Bri- can get involved."
gade and groups such as As a VFW officer, Tachell
the American Legion -- of helps connect veterans with
which Van Elk is a member the services and benefits
they've earned. He said it's
important to connect with
soldiers returning from
combat.
"We walked the walk and
we talked the talk," said
Tachell, who served in the
U.S. Marines from 1962-
1973. "We don't want them
to suffer like we did. We've
been there. We know what
it means like when you're
not appreciated for what
you did. We want to be
there for them."
Van Elk said he hopes
that the troops will eventu-
ally join the American Le-
gion.
"To keep the American
Legion going, we need to get
the young folks involved,"
he said.
At the games night,
guests can play foosball,
billiards and an Xbox 360,
as well as other coin-oper-
ated video games and darts.
The event is free to
troops and their families.
Free snacks will be avail-
able.
Allen's Billiards also
sells food and beer.
"Our intention is no mat-
ter what happens with the
games night, we'll still keep
doing this," Van Elk said.
"It's a new baby and it takes
time to get the word out."
Historic Lake Nahwatzel resort may get second life
By NATALIE JOHNSON
The historic Lake Nah-
watzel resort has sold, said
Tracy Travers of West Coast
Realty in Montesano.
The property came on the
market in August, and sold
for $225,000 on Wednesday,
Feb. 1.
The resort closed five years
ago. Once a popular resort
and fishing destination, the
property now has two small
one-bedroom cabins -- one
of which is now occupied by a
hair salon ~ two RV sites, a
recreation hall and 30 feet of
waterfront.
Travers and West Coast
Realty declined to name the
new owners of the resort.
On Oct. 21, 1927, the Shel-
ton-Mason County Journal
ran an article called, "Lake
Nahwatzel camp and resort
to be developed."
The article states W.E.
Fields, of W.E. Fields & Com-
pany, and George Barlow
-- both of Aberdeen -- pur-
chased the land the resort
now sits on.
At the time, the land had
been partially developed.
"A small grocery store and
a service station are already
on the site of the subdivi-
sion," Journal staff reported.
Travers said the resort's
restaurant, one of the few
original buildings that still
stands, was a gas station be-
fore the resort was developed.
The owners called the
Journal photo by Natate Johnson
The historic Lake Nahwatzel Resort, four miles
east of Matlock, was recently sold for $225,000.
The property has a waterfront view and 30 feet
of lakefront.
property "Lakemont,"the destination for fishermen
Journal reported, throughout its existence. In
The resort was a popular numerous historic Journal
articles, Lake Nahwatzel was
equally popular and similar-
ly stocked with fish as Lake
Cushman.
In 1949, the Journal re-
ported that rotenone, an in-
secticide, piscicide and pesti-
cide, was used to kill off"scrap
fish" in the lake, which was
later restocked with trout.
A 1985 advertisement in
the Journal suggested read-
ers take part in the rest,
relaxation and good food of-
fered by the Lake Nahwatzel
Resort, then owned by Jerry
and Marlene Richmond.
At that time, the resort
had a fully operational res-
taurant specializing in steaks
and seafood. It also had motel
units, RV hookups, a roped-
off swimming area and a rec-
reation hall with a fireplace.
Patrons could also fish and
water ski.
Travers said the restau-
rant played a special role in
her childhood,
"I grew up out here. My
mom and stepdad used to
bring us out here all the
time," she said.
When the resort was last
open, forested land stood be-
tween the lake and restau-
rant. Now, a home stands in
that area. The resort has a
narrow strip of land for a boat
launch and dock.
In order to operate the res-
taurant again, the new own-
ers will need to upgrade an
aging septic system, Travers
said.
"They have a lot of work to
do," she said.
Your body
needs repair.
We have the best care in town. MGH
Shelton Orthopedics has an expert
team of Orthopedic surgeons, who
specialize in everything from general
orthopedics to sports medicine, hip
and knee replacement, and injuries of
the shoulder, hand, and wrist. Whether
it's a sudden injury, or age-related wear
and tear, our physicians will get you
up and having fun again.
Call MGH Shelton Orthopedics and
talk to one of our specialists.
Mason Genera] Hospital
Shelton Orthopedics
(360) 427-0663
939 Mtn. View Dr., Ste. 130, Shelton, WA
www.Mas0nGeneral.com
iiiiTiiiiiiii:Tiii[,-~ 7
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RIFT STORES
305 & 317 W. Railroad Ave, Downtown Shelton
Quality Donations Accepted Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Mon.-Sat. 9:30am-5:30pm (Bookstore to 5pro)
Sunday 11am-Spin (Bookstore dosed) FOUNDATION
Dessert auction raises funds for United Way
By NATALIE JOHNSON
nataZie@rnasoncoun@ocom,
Supporters of United
Way of Mason County
brought their checkbooks
and sweettooths to the
Shelten Civic Center Mon-
day for the group's fourth
annual Valentine Dessert
and Gift Auction.
Tamra Ingwaldson, Unit-
ed Way of Mason County
executive director, who
started at United Way in
December, attended her
first Valentine auction on
Monday.
"It's a great way to get
people in the community to-
gether," she said.
In 2009, Colin Dysart,
then a Shelton High School
senior, helped organize the
first United Way Valentine
Dessert and Gift Auction,
said Barb Dunbar, Valen-
tine auction chair and Unit-
ed way board member. That
year, and in 2010, the event
~ was locat- Smokin' Mo's provided
ed in the two of the desserts auc-
C o 1 o n i a 1 tioned off Friday -- a sweet
H o u s e, potato pie, flowers and
which is margarita-flavored "It is
located on 5 o'clock Somewhere Cup-
the corner cakes."
of Second Several local organiza-
and Pine tions sponsored the event,
s t r e e t s, including Alpine Way,
Tamra and isSquaxin Tourism and Hood
Ingwaldson owned by Canal Communications.
Green Dia-"We've been really
mend Re- blessed with a lot of great
source Company. sponsors," Ingwaldson said.
Since then, the event has The event included a
been a success each year. In live auction for the dessert
2010, 75 people attended, items, a silent auction and
packing the Colonial House a raffle.
to capacity, Dunbar said. Herb and Linda Cargill
The next year, the event attended the auction, and
moved to the Shelton Civic had their eyes on a triple
Center. This year, United berry pie and tiramisu.
Way expected more than "It's great - definitely a
175 people to attend, worthwhile organization
"I've mentored a lot of to raise money for," Linda
students for their projects. Cargill said.
How can you not support Last year, the nonprofit
that?" said Monica Beben, raised more than $7,000 at
of Smokin' Mo's at Alder- the event, making it one of
brook Golf' Club in Union. the group's most lucrative
fundraisers.
The money goes into the
United Way's Community
Fund, Ingwaldson said.
The community fund pr°-
vides money for many other
non-profit organizations to
provide services to the com-
munity, she said. Specifical-
ly, the fund provides money
for projects in three main
categories -- education, in-
come and health.
Programs receiving fund-
ing in the past provided
early learning programs
for children and promot-
ed successful high school
education, taught classes
on financial planning and
money management, and
provided access to dental
health for area children, In-
gwaldson said.
Each year, the 15 member
United Way of Mason Coun-
ty board meets with an addi-
tional 30 community mem-
bers to allocate money from
the community fund to local
programs, Dunbar said.
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County Journal-Thursday, February 16, 2012 - Page A-3