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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
February 18, 1999     Shelton Mason County Journal
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February 18, 1999
 
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Changing of the Guard sees SOCK take over the armory By JEFF GREEN The Changing of the Guard at the Shelton Armory last Friday occurred with little pomp but plenty of circumstance. The Washington National Guard unit based at the armory in downtown Shelton surrendered the keys to the building to its now full-time tenant, Save Our Coun- ty's Kids. The military, unfor- tunately, took all of its tanks and hardware with it. SOCK, as the center for at-risk local youths is known, accepted the building with relish. Now it has a real home. "We're terribly excited to have this five-year lease on the build- ing," SOCK Director Sue Sheldon said. She added she hopes the lease extends five years after five years forever. SHELDON SAID her organi- zation will be busy. The game room is being expanded. There will be a "Homework Heaven" with computer access and tutors available to help kids with their homework. And there will be a large area for arts and crafts. "We have a large rent payment to make so we're going to be doing a lot of fund-raising," she said. One of the first funding efforts will go towards purchasing a box- ing ring for the center's popular boxing program. " 'Thank you' doesn't even ex- press what we feel about what you guys have done for us. It's been tremendous," she told the National Guard representatives on hand for the ceremony. SOCK was able to start its program with free use of the armory, though that use involved clearing out for drill days and other events that were traditionally held there. "It's kind of depressing to leave this place," said Washington Na- tional Guard Sergeant First Class Pat Patterson. "We've been part of the community for seven years," he said of the most recent Guard unit based here. A lot of work, heart and sweat went into the armory, he added. REMNANTS OF the National Guard's presence remained. Little signs, "Executive Officer" and "Company Commander," stayed behind on office doors. A stand holding National Guard recruit- ing brochures stood at attention off to the side of a door leading to the armory's gym. A sign reading, "Co. B, 3rd, BN, 161st. Inf (MECH)," hung on the wall be- hind the podium at the event. "This facility is probably one of the most used facilities," Sergeant Patterson continued. The armory has been the site of community bazaars, dances, church functions and more over its years in Shel- ton. A few years ago, SOCK wanted to clean up the graffiti around town that provided impetus for the group's formation. There was plenty of it scrawled on the ar- mory's walls. Patterson made a deal. "You clean up my graffiti and I'll let you use the compound," he told SOCK offi- cials. Shelton needed a place for youth to gather, he said. "The public started noticing something going on here," he said. The youth center started on a part-time ba- sis. Things started to grow and kept expanding, he added. "IT WAS A LOT of work," Pat- terson said. "It was them doing everything." Sergeant Dennis Skeen was so impressed by the group's efforts that he donated a pool table to the cause. "I hope this thing goes on for- ever because the community needs something like this," Pat- terson said. He reached into a pocket, pulled out a set of keys, handed them over to Sheldon, then gave her a hug. "I hardly know what to say," Sheldon told the audience. "We've had a lot of positive response from this community for our efforts." SOCK has registered more than 1,200 kids in Mason County, she said. And atten- dance, which averages 80 to 90 youths per night at the center, is growing. "This is a great kind of pro- gram to use our facility if we can't," said Colonel Rick Read. Due to military downsizing, the National Guard is closing four ar- mories this year in Washington. Besides Shelton, armories in Oka- nogan, Colville and Clarkston are shutting down, he said. The Shel- ton Armory dates back to around 1954, Read said. Slide near Lilliwaup threatens hillside homes on Highway 101 (Continued from page 1.) Popes won't be moving back to their Lilliwaup house. "There's no way they'll ever get water or elec- tricity up there for at least six months," said Paula. CREWS FROM THE Wash- ington State Department of Transportation worked Friday morning clearing mud and debris from Highway 101. They were back at work there Tuesday, clening ditches and scooping out mud, silt, stumps and debris from a roadside bank. By Wednesday morning some 400 yards of debris had been trucked from the slide area to the department's main- tenance facility in Potlatch. "It's still moving," said Larry WHILE CREW MEMBERS work to clean out a culvert along Highway 101 near a mud slide a mile north of Lilliwaup, John Sipp of the Washington State Department of Transportation helps control traf- fic Wednesday morning. Deemer, area supervisor for the Department of Transportation, referring to the saturated ground near the slide. "It's only been moving about an inch a day." Deemer said crews are opening ditches and culverts so water can drain off the hillside. "We don't know if it's all going to come down or just a little is going to come down," he said of the hill- side. "There's quite a bit of water coming out of there." A small slide Tuesday evening just south of PotlatCh'State Park closed the southbound lane of Highway 101 for an hour and a half, said Deemer. The slide was reported at 8 p.m. SOCK DIRECTOR SUE SHELDON is surrounded by departing Nation- al Guard officials during Changing of the Guard ceremonies last Friday at the Shelton Armory. From left, they are Colonel Rick Read, Sergeant First Class Pat Patterson and Sergeant Dennis Skeen. Year's big event Saturday: Republicans set for Lincoln Day dinner Washington State Republi- can Party Chairman Dale Foreman will keynote the Ma- son County Republicans' an- nual Lincoln Day Dinner set for Saturday, February 20, at the Shelton Elks Lodge. Foreman, who has served as the state's party chairman since 1997, is expected to share his vision of the future of the party for participants in the gathering at 741 SE Craig Road, Shelton. Mason County Republican Central Committee Chairman Craig Chapman said the event' "promises to be insightful and fun. "The Lincoln Day Dinner," Cady, former 35th District Representative Peggy John- son, and Bob Lawrence, a re- cent Sixth Congressional Dis- trict candidate. In addition to the auctions, said publicist John Sattgast, a large gift basket full of valu- able items will be raffled. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. and the din- ner is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. The event is expect- ed to wrap up by 9:30 p.m. Tickets, at $25 per person, may be purchased at the door or t'esetvaton, may be id ' in advance. For information or to reserve tickets, call Joane  Swanson at 898-2091. ' he said, "is one of the most im- portant fund-raising events of the year for Mason County Re- publicans. We have some in- teresting speakers, but along with that, there will be musi- cal entertainment, raffles, a silent auction, a live auction and much more," said Chap- man. "We're excited to have Dale Foreman with us this year as we bring Republicans back to- gether for food, fun and a cele- bration of freedom," he said. Musical entertainment will be pr0Vided"by' the' Shelton High School Illusions. Other speakers include Mason Coun- ty Commissioner Mary Jo BRAND NEW PENS AT THE LLER WINDOWS! Dinner 6pm.7"MOpm Dancing 8pro.Midnight Live by the Marvelle$ Tickets on sale now Dinner & Show ,.00nly $25 per couple IblDI C A S N 0 AAA, :: Open Daily * Interchange Hw,/101/106 * Shelton * (360) 42%7711 * www.lilfle-creck.€om :: Check out our new hours: Sanday  WIN/1 m 4m, lm'hy   1 m  II IINIIIIIIIINNINI I (Just one of the big changes you'll see as Centennial Bank becomes West Coast Bank.) WEST COAST BANK Thursday, February 18, 1999 - Shelton.Mason County Journal - Page 3 Changing of the Guard sees SOCK take over the armory By JEFF GREEN The Changing of the Guard at the Shelton Armory last Friday occurred with little pomp but plenty of circumstance. The Washington National Guard unit based at the armory in downtown Shelton surrendered the keys to the building to its now full-time tenant, Save Our Coun- ty's Kids. The military, unfor- tunately, took all of its tanks and hardware with it. SOCK, as the center for at-risk local youths is known, accepted the building with relish. Now it has a real home. "We're terribly excited to have this five-year lease on the build- ing," SOCK Director Sue Sheldon said. She added she hopes the lease extends five years after five years forever. SHELDON SAID her organi- zation will be busy. The game room is being expanded. There will be a "Homework Heaven" with computer access and tutors available to help kids with their homework. And there will be a large area for arts and crafts. "We have a large rent payment to make so we're going to be doing a lot of fund-raising," she said. One of the first funding efforts will go towards purchasing a box- ing ring for the center's popular boxing program. " 'Thank you' doesn't even ex- press what we feel about what you guys have done for us. It's been tremendous," she told the National Guard representatives on hand for the ceremony. SOCK was able to start its program with free use of the armory, though that use involved clearing out for drill days and other events that were traditionally held there. "It's kind of depressing to leave this place," said Washington Na- tional Guard Sergeant First Class Pat Patterson. "We've been part of the community for seven years," he said of the most recent Guard unit based here. A lot of work, heart and sweat went into the armory, he added. REMNANTS OF the National Guard's presence remained. Little signs, "Executive Officer" and "Company Commander," stayed behind on office doors. A stand holding National Guard recruit- ing brochures stood at attention off to the side of a door leading to the armory's gym. A sign reading, "Co. B, 3rd, BN, 161st. Inf (MECH)," hung on the wall be- hind the podium at the event. "This facility is probably one of the most used facilities," Sergeant Patterson continued. The armory has been the site of community bazaars, dances, church functions and more over its years in Shel- ton. A few years ago, SOCK wanted to clean up the graffiti around town that provided impetus for the group's formation. There was plenty of it scrawled on the ar- mory's walls. Patterson made a deal. "You clean up my graffiti and I'll let you use the compound," he told SOCK offi- cials. Shelton needed a place for youth to gather, he said. "The public started noticing something going on here," he said. The youth center started on a part-time ba- sis. Things started to grow and kept expanding, he added. "IT WAS A LOT of work," Pat- terson said. "It was them doing everything." Sergeant Dennis Skeen was so impressed by the group's efforts that he donated a pool table to the cause. "I hope this thing goes on for- ever because the community needs something like this," Pat- terson said. He reached into a pocket, pulled out a set of keys, handed them over to Sheldon, then gave her a hug. "I hardly know what to say," Sheldon told the audience. "We've had a lot of positive response from this community for our efforts." SOCK has registered more than 1,200 kids in Mason County, she said. And atten- dance, which averages 80 to 90 youths per night at the center, is growing. "This is a great kind of pro- gram to use our facility if we can't," said Colonel Rick Read. Due to military downsizing, the National Guard is closing four ar- mories this year in Washington. Besides Shelton, armories in Oka- nogan, Colville and Clarkston are shutting down, he said. The Shel- ton Armory dates back to around 1954, Read said. Slide near Lilliwaup threatens hillside homes on Highway 101 (Continued from page 1.) Popes won't be moving back to their Lilliwaup house. "There's no way they'll ever get water or elec- tricity up there for at least six months," said Paula. CREWS FROM THE Wash- ington State Department of Transportation worked Friday morning clearing mud and debris from Highway 101. They were back at work there Tuesday, clening ditches and scooping out mud, silt, stumps and debris from a roadside bank. By Wednesday morning some 400 yards of debris had been trucked from the slide area to the department's main- tenance facility in Potlatch. "It's still moving," said Larry WHILE CREW MEMBERS work to clean out a culvert along Highway 101 near a mud slide a mile north of Lilliwaup, John Sipp of the Washington State Department of Transportation helps control traf- fic Wednesday morning. Deemer, area supervisor for the Department of Transportation, referring to the saturated ground near the slide. "It's only been moving about an inch a day." Deemer said crews are opening ditches and culverts so water can drain off the hillside. "We don't know if it's all going to come down or just a little is going to come down," he said of the hill- side. "There's quite a bit of water coming out of there." A small slide Tuesday evening just south of PotlatCh'State Park closed the southbound lane of Highway 101 for an hour and a half, said Deemer. The slide was reported at 8 p.m. SOCK DIRECTOR SUE SHELDON is surrounded by departing Nation- al Guard officials during Changing of the Guard ceremonies last Friday at the Shelton Armory. From left, they are Colonel Rick Read, Sergeant First Class Pat Patterson and Sergeant Dennis Skeen. Year's big event Saturday: Republicans set for Lincoln Day dinner Washington State Republi- can Party Chairman Dale Foreman will keynote the Ma- son County Republicans' an- nual Lincoln Day Dinner set for Saturday, February 20, at the Shelton Elks Lodge. Foreman, who has served as the state's party chairman since 1997, is expected to share his vision of the future of the party for participants in the gathering at 741 SE Craig Road, Shelton. Mason County Republican Central Committee Chairman Craig Chapman said the event' "promises to be insightful and fun. "The Lincoln Day Dinner," Cady, former 35th District Representative Peggy John- son, and Bob Lawrence, a re- cent Sixth Congressional Dis- trict candidate. In addition to the auctions, said publicist John Sattgast, a large gift basket full of valu- able items will be raffled. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. and the din- ner is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. The event is expect- ed to wrap up by 9:30 p.m. Tickets, at $25 per person, may be purchased at the door or t'esetvaton, may be id ' in advance. For information or to reserve tickets, call Joane  Swanson at 898-2091. ' he said, "is one of the most im- portant fund-raising events of the year for Mason County Re- publicans. We have some in- teresting speakers, but along with that, there will be musi- cal entertainment, raffles, a silent auction, a live auction and much more," said Chap- man. "We're excited to have Dale Foreman with us this year as we bring Republicans back to- gether for food, fun and a cele- bration of freedom," he said. Musical entertainment will be pr0Vided"by' the' Shelton High School Illusions. Other speakers include Mason Coun- ty Commissioner Mary Jo BRAND NEW PENS AT THE LLER WINDOWS! Dinner 6pm.7"MOpm Dancing 8pro.Midnight Live by the Marvelle$ Tickets on sale now Dinner & Show ,.00nly $25 per couple IblDI C A S N 0 AAA, :: Open Daily * Interchange Hw,/101/106 * Shelton * (360) 42%7711 * www.lilfle-creck.€om :: Check out our new hours: Sanday  WIN/1 m 4m, lm'hy   1 m  II IINIIIIIIIINNINI I (Just one of the big changes you'll see as Centennial Bank becomes West Coast Bank.) WEST COAST BANK Thursday, February 18, 1999 - Shelton.Mason County Journal - Page 3